Pray in My Name

Wow this movie concisely addresses some of the underlying wonderings behind many of my recent posts. Although it does not fully satisfy my questions it certainly addresses the attitude with which I should seek answers. It speaks to the posts I've had on prayer (always something I hope to be growing in). It sets the ground work for the mindset, attitude, and identity by which we approach God.  It addresses my wonderings on the appropriateness of expectations in our Divine Creator. It sheds light on the will of God. Although many of my thoughts on prayer recently have centered on the beginning of the Lord's prayer, this speaks to the customary "in Jesus name, amen" and talks about what it means to really prayer in name of Jesus. Revolutionizing!





I'd like to really highlight the third point he makes. Approaching God by the work that Jesus did on the cross and in full realization of what that means.

This is truth to fashion your life around!

For those of you who read my blog you’ll know that I have a strong propensity to write my own thoughts along with passages from scripture. I will save you from that this time... This is mostly because there is no exposition that I could give, no internalization of blessing, no comparison, no additional enlightenment –  nothing at all that I could say that would capture in any way the majesty and power portrayed here. My flawed words would only detract and diminish this glory! These, these are words to live by! This is truth fashion your life around!

The law of the Lord is perfect,
     reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
     making wise the simple;

The precepts of the Lord are right,
    rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
     enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the Lord is clean,
    enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
    and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,
    even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
    and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
     in keeping them there is great reward!

Psalm 19:7-11 (ESV)

Following my last post . . . Make WAR!

If You're Struggling . . . (A Soldiers Guide)

Man, sometimes in our struggle with sin we sometimes assign a type of sovereignty to sin. As we fall and fail over and over again we begin to see spiritual conflict as God trying to combat this all-powerful sin that ruined His original plans and holds control over us. I cannot encourage you to drop this mentality fast enough! We are given a promise of absolute victory! Christ is not conquering. He is not defeating. He CONQUERED! He DEFEATED!

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

Romans 8:37

Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen.

Jude 24-25

This passage from Jude really captivated me when I read it. As I fall to sin, I have become increasingly discouraged. After you fight and fight and yet still fall we tend to want to give up. Spiritually these defeats are hard to deal with. Don't give into this way of thinking! Christ IS ABLE to keep us from stumbling! His grace is sufficient. His forgiveness big enough. His strength enough. His victory total! However, ONLY Christ can do this. We cannot even begin to get up off our rear-end in battle except for the strength and protection He provides. He is the one and the way by which we can stand faultless in the presence of eternal glory and absolute holiness. Therefore, if you, like me, are struggling against the lure of the flesh, the world, and/or the devil cling to the One who is able to keep you from falling. Draw on His strength. Use His armor. 

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

 Romans 13:14

Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. . . Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

James 4:7-10 

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

 James 1:2,12

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 

Ephesians 6:10-13

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 

Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 

Romans 6:12-14 

Stop the Little League Arms Race!

*Little League Arms Race*

So I found this article to be humorously interesting. Things you'll never hear at commencement (that you still need to know).

A couple highlights:

1. Fraternities were a good thing
2. Don't worry, it's gonna get worse!
3. The author sets a record high expectation as he encourages us to "not make the world worse"
4. Marry someone who is smarter than you (although mathematically I can only see this working for half of any marriage union lol)
5. Stop the Little League 's arm race (because when you die no one is going to say "here lies so and so, they finished life in 189th place")
6. Your parents don't want what is best for you
7. Don't be a circus animal 

If you didn't start reading the article after about point 3, you and I are probably not friends lol

It would be interesting to see someone write such an article to new Christians . . . maybe once I graduate :)