"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." -Ghandi After reading this quote I sat in a sort of contemplative silence.
I was questioning some things. I was questioning myself. Am I like my Christ? Do I give an accurate representation of my beautiful Jesus to the world? I wasn't thinking of this as a judgement, but as a wake-up call. I am a living, breathing, walking, talking representation. But what am I representing? Am I representing the beautiful and precious light of my Father? Am I representing the healing hand that he has for his beloved and sometimes wayward children? Or am I one more thing to represent a fallen world?
I cannot ignore the greatest calling that God has on my life - to serve him and show other people his love. If I am not doing that, than I have no reason for being here. God has showered me in so many blessings, and like a knight carrying the family crest, so proud and so willing to give up anything and everything to uphold the name of his fathers house. Carrying a banner so precious that everything would be willingly given up to uphold the family name and bring honor and glory to his Father. If a crest was so important as to give all to uphold its good name, how much more precious is the name, honor and glory of Jesus?
I am not even close to perfect in this area. But I will strive to uphold the name of The Father and to carry his message with pride, not letting it touch the ground or be trampled on. I want to bring a proper representation of God to this hurting world. Don't take this as a judgment but as a call to arms and a rally to the faithful, put on the armor of God and fight the good fight. "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Cor. 15:57
~Rachel, with Identity
This was a guest post by a teenage Rebelutionary girl. I hope you enjoyed reading. Since her blog is private, please leave a comment here with your email address if you would like to access her blog. I will personally let her know. Thanks! ~Buttercup
Monday, September 7, 2009
Quote from an Answers in Genesis comic
Hey Y'all, this was in an Answers in Genesis comic last week (the one at the bottom of my blog).
Have you ever noticed if someone calls you a “monkey” it’s an insult, but if they say you came from a monkey, that’s “science?”
EDIT: It's actually, on there right now! Take a look!
Have you ever noticed if someone calls you a “monkey” it’s an insult, but if they say you came from a monkey, that’s “science?”
EDIT: It's actually, on there right now! Take a look!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Last night...
Last night I had a weird thing happen. I was lying down in bed, half trying to go to sleep, half thinking and praying about what project He wants me to do, when a verse came into my mind. I have never read it before, but for some reason, it just came to my mind. So I grabbed my Bible and turned to it. It is Isaiah 52:3. It says, "For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money."
After I got to thinking about it I know why God led me to this verse. I was praying about what I should raise money for, I've always known that you can't save people with money, but I still wanted to help them with money, so God just stepped in to make me stop for a minute, and make me think about what I was doing, and what Jesus did to save us.
In this verse God says that we have sold ourselves for nothing, and we will be saved without money. Jesus saved us, not with money, but with His life. He gave his life for us, He died in our place. We should always look to Him, and bow down to Him, and worship Him. Nothing that we can do will get us into heaven, God saved us, Jesus paid the price, not with money but with His precious life.
I thank God that He showed me this verse, I just needed to stop, and listen.
After I got to thinking about it I know why God led me to this verse. I was praying about what I should raise money for, I've always known that you can't save people with money, but I still wanted to help them with money, so God just stepped in to make me stop for a minute, and make me think about what I was doing, and what Jesus did to save us.
In this verse God says that we have sold ourselves for nothing, and we will be saved without money. Jesus saved us, not with money, but with His life. He gave his life for us, He died in our place. We should always look to Him, and bow down to Him, and worship Him. Nothing that we can do will get us into heaven, God saved us, Jesus paid the price, not with money but with His precious life.
I thank God that He showed me this verse, I just needed to stop, and listen.
2nd Timothy study, part 24
Well, well, well, look who's reading my blog! JK! I wish I knew who you were! Please post a comment when you drop by! :P Remember to pray before we start a'studying today! Btw, today we are doing some incredible verses that I just love! Enjoy!
6. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The first verse is pretty amazing for anyone to say. That is the verse, I think, that every missionary should memorize, study, ponder, and meditate on; having applied it to themselves. See what it says when you turn it into a question. "Am I ready to be offered? Is the time for my departure close at hand?" See? When I asked myself that question, I did not immediately give an answer. For I knew not. Am I ready to go into missions, am I ready to offer myself fully to God, trust Him with everything, even my life? To be honest, I answered no. Why? Because I am a girl, just going into high school, finally starting to dig into God's word, shy, very different from all other girls I know, and trying to learn to listen for God's voice. I am not ready, and I know that. I just pray that God makes me ready. For the other question, I have no idea.
Paul did not ask these questions, and no one asked them of him. He just firmly stated that he was ready to be offered, and that he was leaving soon. Ask yourself those two questions. And, if you want, share your answers with me, I don't have to publish them if you'd rather not tell the world. :) I've done that before.
The next verse is verse seven, it says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." I wish with all my heart that I will be able to say that one day! Don't you? One thing I just noticed as I was typing the verse out, is the different occupations that he uses here. Soldier and athlete. Do you remember when he used those before??? It was in chapter two verses three, four, and five! Paul says that he has fought the good fight. He makes three statements in one. 1. He participated in the fight. 2. It is a good/worthy fight. 3. That he is done fighting, he fought, not IS fighting.
He also says that he has finished his course. He has completed the race, he is done. The last thing he says is the most important, I think. He says that he has "kept the faith." He not only finished, but he finished with honour. He never gave up the faith, he kept it, he never let it go, he always depended on God, even when he was stoned or put in prison or ridiculed. That is the main one that I hope to say one day, I hope to say that I not only fought the good fight, and finished the course, but that I kept the faith, all the way through.
In verse eight Paul tells of things to come. He says that "there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." Isn't it awesome when you win a game/race and get a trophy? It's exciting right? How amazing it will be, when we are given a crown! Of righteousness no less!
Next we need to find out some things about this. Who shall give it? "...which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day." What day? I'm not so sure about that one. Probably on judgment day...I don't know.
To who shall it be given? "...and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." What does that mean? That love his appearing? Well, those who love his appearing will know what's happening, right? Those who will know what's happening, and who's coming, will be the Christians, right? Not necessarily. What about the non-Christians who know some of the things of the Bible? That is a good point. But what does Paul say? Does he say that the crown will be given to those who know what's happening? No! He says that the crown will be given to those that love his appearing! Those that are jumping for joy and coming out of their skin (not literally!) because their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ has returned!
Well, that's all for now. I hope this is benefiting y'all, and that you are enjoying reading them. I know I love this book even more than I knew when I started! God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :D
6. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
7. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
The first verse is pretty amazing for anyone to say. That is the verse, I think, that every missionary should memorize, study, ponder, and meditate on; having applied it to themselves. See what it says when you turn it into a question. "Am I ready to be offered? Is the time for my departure close at hand?" See? When I asked myself that question, I did not immediately give an answer. For I knew not. Am I ready to go into missions, am I ready to offer myself fully to God, trust Him with everything, even my life? To be honest, I answered no. Why? Because I am a girl, just going into high school, finally starting to dig into God's word, shy, very different from all other girls I know, and trying to learn to listen for God's voice. I am not ready, and I know that. I just pray that God makes me ready. For the other question, I have no idea.
Paul did not ask these questions, and no one asked them of him. He just firmly stated that he was ready to be offered, and that he was leaving soon. Ask yourself those two questions. And, if you want, share your answers with me, I don't have to publish them if you'd rather not tell the world. :) I've done that before.
The next verse is verse seven, it says, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." I wish with all my heart that I will be able to say that one day! Don't you? One thing I just noticed as I was typing the verse out, is the different occupations that he uses here. Soldier and athlete. Do you remember when he used those before??? It was in chapter two verses three, four, and five! Paul says that he has fought the good fight. He makes three statements in one. 1. He participated in the fight. 2. It is a good/worthy fight. 3. That he is done fighting, he fought, not IS fighting.
He also says that he has finished his course. He has completed the race, he is done. The last thing he says is the most important, I think. He says that he has "kept the faith." He not only finished, but he finished with honour. He never gave up the faith, he kept it, he never let it go, he always depended on God, even when he was stoned or put in prison or ridiculed. That is the main one that I hope to say one day, I hope to say that I not only fought the good fight, and finished the course, but that I kept the faith, all the way through.
In verse eight Paul tells of things to come. He says that "there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness." Isn't it awesome when you win a game/race and get a trophy? It's exciting right? How amazing it will be, when we are given a crown! Of righteousness no less!
Next we need to find out some things about this. Who shall give it? "...which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day." What day? I'm not so sure about that one. Probably on judgment day...I don't know.
To who shall it be given? "...and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." What does that mean? That love his appearing? Well, those who love his appearing will know what's happening, right? Those who will know what's happening, and who's coming, will be the Christians, right? Not necessarily. What about the non-Christians who know some of the things of the Bible? That is a good point. But what does Paul say? Does he say that the crown will be given to those who know what's happening? No! He says that the crown will be given to those that love his appearing! Those that are jumping for joy and coming out of their skin (not literally!) because their Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ has returned!
Well, that's all for now. I hope this is benefiting y'all, and that you are enjoying reading them. I know I love this book even more than I knew when I started! God bless!
In Him,
Buttercup :D
Gospel For Asia, sponsorship
Hey Y'all! Last night I started sponsoring a native missionary through Gospel For Asia! Her name is Rajwinder, she is eighteen. I might put her testimony on here sometime if y'all like. Please assist me in praying for her. I think this is a great way to help with missions.
It is only thirty dollars a month that you pay to support a native missionary, because four to six people support each. To fully support a missionary is over a hundred dollars a month, so they break it down so that you can support for a long period of time.
If you would like to support a native missionary or a child, click here. If you would just like to give to Gospel for Asia, click here. :D
Also, I am thinking about doing a different project for GFA...so stay tuned! LOL. Thanks y'all!
In Him,
Buttercup :)
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
2nd Timothy Study, part 23
Hey y'all! Well, remember my post yesterday? Today I read verse five, the next verse we are studying, and it goes along with what I was saying yesterday! God works in cool ways! Since it is so important, I am just going to do it today. I really, really, really, really, really like the next few verses too!!! Esp. verse seven!!! Remember to pray today!
5. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
WOW! Sorry, I can't help but see how cool it is that this would be the next verse to study, when I shared my passion for mission work with y'all yesterday!
"But watch thou in all things." What does that mean? It means that we must watch. Huh? What exactly does Paul want us to watch? I'm not sure, lets look at some different versions and see. I like looking at a few different versions, it helps explain it, in my opinion.
The New International Version* says,
But you, keep your head in all situations.
The New American Standard Version says,
But you, be sober in all things.
The New Living Translation* says,
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.
So, between these four different translations, I think we have a pretty clear understanding of what Paul is trying to tell us. He is telling us to watch, to keep our eyes open, to be sober, have a clear mind in all situations, and to keep our heads (to not fly into a temper, to keep calm and think about what we are doing at all times). How would this help? My goodness! It would help a lot! Think how calm and peaceful the world would be if everyone did these things! No one would fly into a temper, they would think before they acted, they would see when something bad was coming, they would be sober, and many other things that go along with this!
In the next part of this verse Paul repeats something he has said multiple times in this book, "endure afflictions." Now that we are nearing the end of this book, we need to ask an important question, "Why does he emphasize this?" I think he emphasized it because it is true, and very important. All Christians, great and small, old and young, will be persecuted in some way, at least one time in their walk.*** All Christians should know this so that they can be prepared, they should know that they have to suffer for the gospel, just as Jesus suffered for us.
Next, Paul lists, "...do the work of an evangelist." What does an evangelist do? They preach the gospel, tell people about God, counsel them in the faith, pray with/for them, etc.
Lastly, Paul says to, "...make full proof of thy ministry." What does that mean? I think that it means that we must not only minister, but we must make full proof of it, we must go full into it, we must do it all the time, encourage, exhort, pray, preach to, and love the body of believers! For non-believers we must pray, preach to, and love them, for they might be one of God's elect, and one of our future brothers or sisters in Christ! We must minister until we can do it no more.
Well, that's all for today, I hope y'all are having a great hump day, and a great week! God bless!
In Christ,
Buttercup :D
5. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
WOW! Sorry, I can't help but see how cool it is that this would be the next verse to study, when I shared my passion for mission work with y'all yesterday!
"But watch thou in all things." What does that mean? It means that we must watch. Huh? What exactly does Paul want us to watch? I'm not sure, lets look at some different versions and see. I like looking at a few different versions, it helps explain it, in my opinion.
The New International Version* says,
But you, keep your head in all situations.
The New American Standard Version says,
But you, be sober in all things.
The New Living Translation* says,
But you should keep a clear mind in every situation.
So, between these four different translations, I think we have a pretty clear understanding of what Paul is trying to tell us. He is telling us to watch, to keep our eyes open, to be sober, have a clear mind in all situations, and to keep our heads (to not fly into a temper, to keep calm and think about what we are doing at all times). How would this help? My goodness! It would help a lot! Think how calm and peaceful the world would be if everyone did these things! No one would fly into a temper, they would think before they acted, they would see when something bad was coming, they would be sober, and many other things that go along with this!
In the next part of this verse Paul repeats something he has said multiple times in this book, "endure afflictions." Now that we are nearing the end of this book, we need to ask an important question, "Why does he emphasize this?" I think he emphasized it because it is true, and very important. All Christians, great and small, old and young, will be persecuted in some way, at least one time in their walk.*** All Christians should know this so that they can be prepared, they should know that they have to suffer for the gospel, just as Jesus suffered for us.
Next, Paul lists, "...do the work of an evangelist." What does an evangelist do? They preach the gospel, tell people about God, counsel them in the faith, pray with/for them, etc.
Lastly, Paul says to, "...make full proof of thy ministry." What does that mean? I think that it means that we must not only minister, but we must make full proof of it, we must go full into it, we must do it all the time, encourage, exhort, pray, preach to, and love the body of believers! For non-believers we must pray, preach to, and love them, for they might be one of God's elect, and one of our future brothers or sisters in Christ! We must minister until we can do it no more.
Well, that's all for today, I hope y'all are having a great hump day, and a great week! God bless!
In Christ,
Buttercup :D
*I don't usually trust the NIV....
**I haven't really read this translation before, it just said something a bit different than the others, and it kinda explained it better.
***Y'all know what I mean by that right? Their walk with God, their Christian life.
**I haven't really read this translation before, it just said something a bit different than the others, and it kinda explained it better.
***Y'all know what I mean by that right? Their walk with God, their Christian life.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Creation Face the Facts, #4 (last one!)
NO!!! I forgot to do it!!!! Well, anyways, here are the last facts. God bless!
23: “The meticulous work of many historians should not be ignored. Their dates of only thousands of years are good support for the biblical date of about 6000 years, but not for billions of years.” – Ken Ham
24: “It is impossible to devise a scientific experiment to describe the creation process, or even to ascertain whether such a process can take place. The creator does not create at the whim of a scientist.” -Lee Strobel
25: “Natural selection and mutations are means of change; however, both of these processes fall short in explaining design because neither can produce new genetic information.” -Ken Ham
26: “Everything in nature is governed by laws. Nothing can function outside these laws. Such governing laws that work in perfect unison cannot be explained in an atheist’s worldview because there is no source for such logic and order. Yet, even the atheist must admit that such laws of nature exist.” -Ken Ham
27: “Genesis 2:13 says that the heavens and earth were finished. Thus, Christians who say God used evolution to bring everything, including man, into being have a real problem. If evolution is not occurring today (that is, if God is not “creating” through evolution today) there is no basis to extrapolate into the past to say that evolution has ever occurred.” -Ken Ham
28: “The Bible clearly teaches that God created in 6 literal, 24-hour days o few thousand years ago. The Hebrew word for day in Genesis is ‘yom’. In the vast majority of its uses in the Old Testament it means a literal day and where it doesn’t the context make this clear.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
29: "In all its bearing upon scriptural truth, the evolution theory is in direct opposition to it. If God’s Word be true, evolution is a lie. I will not mince the matter: this is not the time for soft speaking." -Charles Spurgeon
30: "The theory of evolution itself has continually changed over time. This is in contrast to biblical creationism, which has not changed over time." faithfacts.org
31: "The Bible not only fits the evidence of scientific investigation, it provides an answer for why the world was created. Evolution does neither." -faithfacts.org
23: “The meticulous work of many historians should not be ignored. Their dates of only thousands of years are good support for the biblical date of about 6000 years, but not for billions of years.” – Ken Ham
24: “It is impossible to devise a scientific experiment to describe the creation process, or even to ascertain whether such a process can take place. The creator does not create at the whim of a scientist.” -Lee Strobel
25: “Natural selection and mutations are means of change; however, both of these processes fall short in explaining design because neither can produce new genetic information.” -Ken Ham
26: “Everything in nature is governed by laws. Nothing can function outside these laws. Such governing laws that work in perfect unison cannot be explained in an atheist’s worldview because there is no source for such logic and order. Yet, even the atheist must admit that such laws of nature exist.” -Ken Ham
27: “Genesis 2:13 says that the heavens and earth were finished. Thus, Christians who say God used evolution to bring everything, including man, into being have a real problem. If evolution is not occurring today (that is, if God is not “creating” through evolution today) there is no basis to extrapolate into the past to say that evolution has ever occurred.” -Ken Ham
28: “The Bible clearly teaches that God created in 6 literal, 24-hour days o few thousand years ago. The Hebrew word for day in Genesis is ‘yom’. In the vast majority of its uses in the Old Testament it means a literal day and where it doesn’t the context make this clear.” -Dr. Terry Mortenson
29: "In all its bearing upon scriptural truth, the evolution theory is in direct opposition to it. If God’s Word be true, evolution is a lie. I will not mince the matter: this is not the time for soft speaking." -Charles Spurgeon
30: "The theory of evolution itself has continually changed over time. This is in contrast to biblical creationism, which has not changed over time." faithfacts.org
31: "The Bible not only fits the evidence of scientific investigation, it provides an answer for why the world was created. Evolution does neither." -faithfacts.org
Where? When? How? Why????
Okay y'all, I don't have time to post a Bible Study right now, but I did want to share something with y'all real quick.
I believe God is calling me into mission work. But I don't know where, when, why, or how. All I know right now is, well, nothing really. But I really want to know! I want to know where God is calling me, when I shall go, how it's all going to happen, and mostly, why He wants me. I am at a split in the road, that I haven't traveled very far on, and I don't know where to go. So, if y'all could pray for me that would be awesome. And, if y'all see any clear directions or some encouragement in our great road map/instruction manual (the Bible) that might help me, by all means, please tell me! I know our Heavenly guide is there to help us through, so I pray that I will listen to Him and follow His instruction.
Thanks for reading y'all, for those who know me personally, you know I would never be able to say this out loud, to anyone, and, well, I haven't.
In Him,
Buttercup :)
I believe God is calling me into mission work. But I don't know where, when, why, or how. All I know right now is, well, nothing really. But I really want to know! I want to know where God is calling me, when I shall go, how it's all going to happen, and mostly, why He wants me. I am at a split in the road, that I haven't traveled very far on, and I don't know where to go. So, if y'all could pray for me that would be awesome. And, if y'all see any clear directions or some encouragement in our great road map/instruction manual (the Bible) that might help me, by all means, please tell me! I know our Heavenly guide is there to help us through, so I pray that I will listen to Him and follow His instruction.
Thanks for reading y'all, for those who know me personally, you know I would never be able to say this out loud, to anyone, and, well, I haven't.
In Him,
Buttercup :)
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