Blaming the Snake.

Well it has been a long time since I've done this.. So here goes.

I love listening to Bible studies in the morning, its always the best way to start out your day!

Now, I've been to, listened to and studied the book of Genesis a million times over. But the best thing about the Bible is you can read the same thing over and over again and learn something new every time! 

 

I have looked high and low for this message that I heard the other day and I cannot find it, I have found and re-listened to the messages that were aired around the same time.. But not the one that I am referring to in this blog.

Jon Courson said it like I've never heard it before, He was teaching about "The Fall",

 

"And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” "The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:11-13

 

 Now Jon went on to explain that we cannot blame our sins on someone else. Jon Courson compared it to divorce.

 

"For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one's garments with violence," Says the Lord of host, "Therefore take head to your spirit, that you do not deal treacherously." 

Malachi 2:16

 

We always hear believers try to justify why they divorced their husband or wife. 

We try to blame people that we "sinned with", "well its their fault, or, if I would have never met them, or, if only we would have never been friends, or, if we would have never dated that would have never happened, or if only that person would have never introduced me to her! They made me this way, or, they talked me into doing that...". The human race will never run out of excuses.

But in all reality we are blaming God for the sins we committed. God is after all in control of all things right? So God allowed that person to be in your life, God also gave you the ability to say no and stand up for what is right! 

 

"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 beat it." 

1 Corinthians 10:13

 

It is time for us to take responsibility for our sins and stop blaming the snake!

 

 

I'm thankful/I'm grateful/I love...

So this is different then my usual blogs, but its something I haven't done in far to long.
I am going to list the things I am thankful/I'm grateful/I love with the help of my dear friends, The alphabet. :)

A. Adam Levine
B. Babies
C. Chase Fernandez
D. The Dentist
E. My Eyes
F. Family
G. Girls Nights
H. Heros
I. Irony
J. Joy in My Life
K. Kodak Moments
L. LiveLavaLive
M. Moms
N. Netflix
O. The Ocean
P. Puzzles
Q. Quilts
R. Remixes
S. Sisters
T. Tenderness
U. Understanding
V. The Voice
W. Water
X. The X-Factor
Y. YouTube
Z. Denver Zoo

What is love?

With people "falling in love" like its going out of style these days its hard to differ what love really is. If you Google "What is love" the results are overwhelming and they are all different, one comparison of 'love' that I found and thought couldn't be more true is from the Urbandictionary.com, "Lust is the desire of their body, Love is the desire of their soul."
According to Websters Dictionary love is, 1. to hold dear 2. to feel a lover's passion, devotion, or tenderness for 3. to desire actively 4. to thrive in

I believe love should be selfless, you should be willing put that person far above you and their needs above yours, willing to commit all that you have to that one person for the rest of your life, willing to sacrifice all you've ever wanted but in turn not having to. The word love is said like its nothing, the meaning of love has been misunderstood for sometime now, its up to us to show the world what love really is.

Here are some definitions of love, 

"Love is giving someone the ability to destroy you and trusting they wont."

"Love is, commitment." 

"Love; a word used by many, but understood by few."

"Love; the desire to learn"

"Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast, it is not arrogant or rude. 

It does not insist on its own way, it is not irritable or resentful, it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."

1 Cor 13:4-7

Pride.

Pride; A feeling of dignity, self-respect; satisfaction in your achievements, possessions, or people you care about. 

I have been reflecting on a few different sides of pride today, Pride has such a natural dislike to it but after today I have remembered pride doesn't always have to be so bitter. There is nothing wrong in having pride in someone you love, or being proud of something you have accomplished. Its what you do with pride that makes people like or dislike the pride you have.

My baby sister left for Joplin, Missouri last night to do relief work and for the next week and I couldn't be more proud of her then ever before! I love seeing the amazing young lady she is turning into and I know she has SO much in store for her down the road.
This type of pride is the greatest (next to being proud of your own children I'm sure).

I have recently once again (with the help of our Lord and the people closest's to me.) defeated a past mistake, I didn't give in and run back forgetting all the hurtful things that were said and done. Instead I did every possible thing to keep it from coming back. 

Pride can get dangerous, when you start to think you can do anything on your own it's then you look around and you find yourself in a hole with no way out and in most cases no one there to help you out, after all you can do anything! 

The Aftermath, Blessings and Chocolate.

A. The Aftermath;
     The aftermath of this last month is hard to digest, I spent the last month preparing, going to and returning from Japan.

What do I do with what I saw? 

What did I learn?
How do I apply it to my life?
How do I tell others about it?

You can't even begin to describe what happened there, its beyond what you can imagine. My heart goes out to all those nameless faces, people I have never met. They lost everything and in some cases everyone!

B. Blessings;
     "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35

We cant expect to be continually blessed without doing anything... It's like rewarding a child who never does anything. As I get older I understand more and more how a parents mind works. When their children do "good" things for them (or someone else), it pleases them and in that they want to bless their children. The Lord works in the same way with us. When we do things for others in a selfless way the Lord blesses us, in many different ways.



C. Chocolate;
     In the last month or two I have been craving chocolate like it is going out of style. Some might say this is no where out of the ordinary. But for me, IT IS! 
Most days the thought of an excessive amount of chocolate gives me a sugar high and makes me want to puke just thinking about it! 
After little research I have learned that, 
A. my body is lacking vitamin B 
     or
B. I have become addicted to chocolate like a heroin addict is addict to heroin, a caffeine addict is addicted to caffeine or like a pot head is addicted to marijuana.

I'm going to go with A :)

Emotional Hunger.

So I left off last nights blog with a sense of hopelessness.
While I have always known this, It just seems I need to be reminded of it continually, tonight during worship we sang the song, Hungry. I realized once again, I am just hungry for our Lords love, I deprive myself of something I love so much, something that brings me joy and happiness, something so refreshing, the only thing that keeps me sane.
If only I could remember to surrender the emotions I dont know how to deal with to the Lord, and let Him deal with them, doing this will allow me to live freely, to love and be loved!


Hungry, I come to you
For I know You satisfy
I am empty, but I know
Your love does not run dry

So I wait for you
So I wait for You

I’m falling on my knees
Offering all of me

Jesus, You’re all this heart is living for

Broken, I run to You
For Your arms are open wide
I am weary, but I know
Your touch restores my life

So I wait for you
So I wait for You

I’m falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus, You’re all this heart is living for

Emotionless

At times I find my self with the feelings and emotions of a robot, nonexistent!
I tend to put up a wall and block anything from coming in and anything from going out, I believe this to be a defense mechanism. Ever since I was little I have always been uncomfortable letting people know how I feel, what I am thinking, what scares me, and even what excites me. I have become really good at being a brick wall and not letting people see past the look on my face. I have gotten so good at it at times I even have myself fooled. I start to become angry and cold, I distance myself from everyone that is anyone to me. I just want to find a reason to cry and empty my emotional tank.

What Do I Want?

I want to be a mystery, yet be known
I want to be together, yet alone
Is it too much to ask, To be famous yet unknown?
To be a wanderer, yet have a home?
My insecurity makes me sick,
Yet my confidence makes me thick
Can I be harmless, yet grip the stick,
Be completely smooth yet have a nick?
Can I live in a lie, yet be true
Can I be unique, yet so like you?
Have no control, yet know what to do?
Can I be ugly, yet beautiful too?
Answer me, I need your help,
Can you help me or someone else?
I need your help, can't you see,
Are you even listening to me?

by: Kara Douglas