child-likefaith

[child-likefaith]

Profundity

When I was young, I was taught that I should only cry when I am bleeding. As I got older, I was taught not to cry unless I could not do anything about my problems. The past year has been a rough yet wonderful learning experience. Life has its lows and highs. I don’t cry easily as I view it as a sign of weakness, though I will cry when sympathizing characters in movies. Serious tear jerker yet a wonderful film is I am Sam. Definitely recommend it. For the very first time, I cried the most I have in my entire life and then one day, I decided to shut it off. I could not let my feelings run the show nor negatively affect those around me. I’d much rather spread joy and be contagiously happy because there is Someone who always reminds me of what true joy is. Happiness is conditional but joy lasts despite the problems. A friend told me the importance of crying, she pointed out that it is not a sign of weakness. John 11:35 - the shortest verse in the bible “Jesus wept.” Two words yet it had the most amazing impact on me. Jesus cried not because He could do nothing, but rather He spent time to mourn. By locking up and shoving my feelings into a corner, it was equivalent to smacking on a band-aid only to realize weeks down the road, it is growing infected. I am still struggling what it means to give it up to God. I have been spiritually shaken but it’s good. I needed the wake up call. I have been blessed beyond measure and I smile back fondly in what I have gained and learned. Thank you to all who have checked up on me and kept me thinking in the right direction. True friends are hard to find. May I be able to continue to heal and be a blessing to others in return. To God be the glory.

[child-likefaith]

I just love their short films. So distracted from my studies today despite finals... restless.

[child-likefaith]

Voice in the Wind Quotes

I made the horrible choice of rereading this book for the 4th time during my finals at that… I cannot put my finger on what exactly captivates me so much about the book whether it be the style of writing, the historical references, Francine’s diverse and specific word choice, the dynamic characters, or just the encouragement and reflection it brings me.  Chapters 1-14:

She had said many times before that when one did not serve the Lord, they unwittingly served the evil one instead.

Have faith. Have faith. When you have nothing else, have faith.

We bear the consequences for what we have done to ourselves, and for the sin that rules this world. Jesus forgave the thief, but he didn’t take him down off the cross. 

He knew all about love. It left him exhausted and empty … but when it was over and he left, he found himself still hungry - hungry for something he couldn’t even define.

obeyed  vs. served - What do you believe the difference is?

Life is not about pleasure.

.. see that tradition and archaic values must give way to progress.

How do you reach people who feel no need or desire for a Savior?

[child-likefaith]

One of those nights ...

I am awake although I know I must sleep, but I can't. The mind is a burden, as is the heart.

[child-likefaith]

Busy, the slippery slope

I wish I can say that this doesn’t happen often but I’d be lying. I get caught up in my own life, my own desire, my own wants that I place God on the back burner, then seek Him when I need Him. Yet knowing how I am, He still patiently waits for me and calls me with that ever so quiet voice. Sometime I’m like, scream at me! Reprimand me! Why am I still so blessed by You when I’m so undeserving? And then I always remember that verse, Be still and know that I am God. And God is love. I am an emotional person and sometimes it is so difficult to feel. I have a prayer request for a patient of mine. Her husband has cancer and is suffering from an infection. Aside from the chemo treatments, his body is trying to fight off an infection that you and I can easily recover from. But it’s been weeks for him. She is so tired and she’s broken down from the sorrow, concern, and the physical exertion. Her husband is on so much pain medication that he sometimes hallucinates or keels over because his body just can’t take it. He himself, is frustrated because he cannot care for her and has become so dependent on her. He sees himself as a burden and they are both hurting. Please pray for them! I’m just thinking about Laura Story’s background story to her song Blessings. If you haven’t heard about it before, you should definitely read up on it. It is very touching.

[child-likefaith]

Philemon 1:4-6 (ESV)

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

[child-likefaith]

Happy Father’s Day God. Thank you for loving me unconditionally, for showing me a love like no other.

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[child-likefaith]

Just so you know, as someone who has had a child die in her arms as well as had multiple miscarriages and a medically necessary abortion, your statement about abortions making you the "mother of a dead child" is fairly offensive to those of us who have gone through what I have, as well as those with my particular religious beliefs.

I do not consider miscarriages and stillbirths as abortion because it is not a deliberate termination on a fetus' life. Those occur through natural causes. I merely found the statement profound in the sense that abortions are not temporary and is something that stays with you. It is easier to talk about and even argue about abortion than coping with the after effects of such a procedure. You can't undo what has already been done. Other than knowing that your user is choosechoice, I don't know what your beliefs are in general except for the topic of abortion. However, I believe that even in the darkest times when we face such opposition and are struggling in what we should do, we should pray without ceasing because God can change the results. I am truly sorry that you had undergone all of that and am open to talking about it whenever. I really did not post it with the intention to judge and condemn people for their decisions. It was simply something that really spoke out to me when I first heard it. 

[child-likefaith]

6/2/2013 

Lane Sebring

What does the Bible say about alcohol? Tattoos? Gambling? Dancing? Entertainment?

[child-likefaith]

Prayer Request

My grandpa's health is failing. He has lost his ability to comprehend what goes on around him and is unable to recognize his own family. I pray that God uses any of us to speak out to my grandpa during a moment of clarity where his mind is able to comprehend and take in the message. Also pray for my grandma who believes in her ancestors that she may be saved. When my grandpa had fallen gravely ill that he might've passed away, she still would not accept God. Even in her moment of weakness and absolute despair, she still stuck to her Buddhist ways stating that she'll pray to her god while we pray to our God. My grandpa is still with us but not for long. It is so hard to accept that not everyone is saved no matter how much you pray for them and hope that they will be. But it is their choice. Only God can change their heart. While they are still on this earth, there is a chance.

[child-likefaith]

Out of 100 men, one will read the Bible, the other 99 will read the Christian.

DL Moody (via wongdavidjacob)

[child-likefaith]

As Merriam Webster defines it:

Definition of CHRISTIANITY

1

: the religion derived from Jesus Christ, based on the Bible as sacred scripture, and professed by Eastern, Roman Catholic, and Protestant bodies

2

: conformity to the Christian religion

3

: the...

[child-likefaith]

10 Great Quotes from Francis Chan

We say things like, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and “Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Then we live and plan like we don’t believe God even exists. We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn’t come through. But true faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God’s fidelity to His promises.

Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don’t really matter.

If life were stable, I’d never need God’s help. Since it’s not, I reach out for Him regularly. I am thankful for the unknowns and that I don’t have control, because it makes me run to God.

We are consumed by safety. Obsessed with it, actually. Now, I’m not saying it is wrong to pray for God’s protection, but I am questioning how we’ve made safety our highest priority. We’ve elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God’s best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world.

Christians today like to play it safe. We want to put ourselves in situations where we are safe “even if there is no God.” But if we truly desire to please God, we cannot live that way. We have to do things that cost us during our life on earth but will be more than worth it in eternity.

To be brutally honest, it doesn’t really matter what place you find yourself in right now. Your part is to bring Him glory—whether eating a sandwich on a lunch break, drinking coffee at 12:04 a.m. so you can stay awake to study, or watching your four-month-old take a nap. The point of your life is to point to Him. Whatever you are doing, God wants to be glorified, because this whole thing is His. It is His movie, His world, His gift.

This is the God we serve, the God who knew us before He made us. The God who promises to remain with us and rescue us. The God who loves us and longs for us to love Him back.

God has allowed hard things in your life so you can show the world that your God is great and that knowing Him brings peace and joy, even when life is hard.

A friend of mine once said that Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly.

It is easy to become disillusioned with the circumstances of our lives compared to others’. But in the presence of God, He gives us a deeper peace and joy that transcends it all.

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