Pine Cove was Rocking, Served, served and served the Lord. Made it to 22 on ultimate volley ball, played 132 downs of football, strolled through the piny woods, executed extreme jumping, collected mucho` carpet burns, felt the rain, and went home with that kinda God pain(which is sooo good).
Alright, onto the prep. for tomorrow, this is a lengthy one!
We will be starting our 4th lesson in The Blazing Center
Q#1: What is wrong, if anything, with these 2 statements below;
"Oh, how valuable I must be that he died for me"?
"Not only is man God-centered, but God himself is God-centered."
Q#2: Ecclesiastes 8:8 "No man has the power...over the day of his death."
How often do you think about death & what is your attitude towards it? How could someone glorify God in their death...what kind of death brings God glory?
Read Philippians 1:18-23-what reason does Paul give for Hope?
Q#3: Hedonism: "A life devoted and given over to pleasure."
Given this definition of hedonism, is it a bad thing? Why or why not?
Here is a different def. of hedonism; "a theory according to which a person is motivated to produce one state of affairs in preference to another if, and only if, he thinks it will be more pleasant , or less unpleasant for himself."
Q#4:What might you think the term "Christian Hedonism" mean?
Read this summary of Christan Hedonism below and summarize in your own words;
http://www.desiringgod.org/AboutUs/OurDistinctives/ChristianHedonism/
http://www.desiringgod.org/AboutUs/OurDistinctives/ChristianHedonism/
Blog away resting in He who cares for you,
-James
"oh, how valuable I most be that he dies for me"
ReplyDeleteThis is like the cat and dog theology.
We feed and water and groom, the dog, we give him a place to live, and we give him love and care. The dog looks at us and says "you take such good care of me, you must be God"
We do the same thing for the cat, and the cat looks at us and says "you take so much time to take care of me, I must be God"
Why did Paul hope?
Because he knew that he would never have to be ashamed of his Lord! Also, that because Christ would be honored in his body whether by death or by life.
"A life devoted and given over to pleasure"
This could be a bad thing. Depending on where you find pleasure.
what does "Christian Hedonism" mean?
To me, It means Taking pleasure in being completely engulfed in God's love and overflowing with a passion to live a life that gives glory to God and God alone!
Some things from the note that I found helpful was
"we value most what we delight in most" "Pleasure is not God's competitor, Idols are. "Pleasure is simply a gauge that measures how valuable someone or something is to us. Pleasure is that measure of our treasure."
"If God is the source of our greats delight then God is our most precious treasure; which makes us radically God-centered and not self-centered. And if we treasure God most we glorify Him most."
I had to think about the questions on death some more before I could answer them...
ReplyDeleteOk, so just to be completely honest, the thought of death scares me.
I know that "to live is Christ, and to die is gain" which to me means, that to live is good, but to die is even better. I believe that, But it is the thought of stepping into something new, and unknown scares me. This is where faith comes in, and its not that I don't believe that, its just that that belief scares me.
I always feel bad/ashamed, because of that fear. It seems like every time I hear people talking about death, its always something along the lines of "I can't wait to die and leave this earth" "I can't wait tell I die and get to go to heaven" etc... Yes, I can't wait tell I will get to spend eternity uninterrupted glorifying God, I can't wait until this body no longer feels pain... I can't wait. But I also feel like there is so much to do here on this earth, so many hurting people that I want to help, that I don't really want to die.
ok, I laid it all out... does anything that I just said make sense?
does anyone else feel like me?!?!?!?!
More than you may ever know!
ReplyDeleteDepression isn't a sin,
ReplyDeleteYet Joy is commanded.
How do these truths coexist?
And yeah Laura, the whole human race and I can sympathize with your statement of fear of death. Ya not alone. ;)
ReplyDeleteWhat is your reason behind, depression isn't a sin? What is depression? Just curious!
ReplyDeleteLaura, I love reading your comments! You think of so many things I woul never think of!
ReplyDeleteBut anyways, we just studied(in world view),salvation, and I just finished "what happens after death." And now that I have read some things, it makes me really want heaven all the more!Today we were talking about what heaven is going to be like(holy, pure, perfect,and tons more!)and it makes me want to go there just to be with God! But then my teacher said today "On one hand we want heaven really badly because we are ready to see Jesus, but one the other hand, we know so many people that don't know Him yet." Anyways, I guess it was just a new thought I wanted to through out there, sort of talking on the death subject. And Laura I think we all have some sense of fear of death, just because we don't know what it is like. I mean,People don't come back every day to tell us what exactly it will be like, so that unknown part just scares us.
One other thought that does not have to do with anything on here, but we were looking at suffering. And it is so neat to see the basics of some of the reasons God puts us through somethings. But like 1 Peter 5:10 (And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.) talks about how God can restore us and make us strong through our suffering. Then, John 9:3 says "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." So maybe, if we respond with a good attitude with the suffering it will stand out to others, who in the end might notice and aske about it. Anyways, the main thing I was going to say, or the main theme that we were talking about was that we suffet for a reason. Not always because God is punishing us, but because it is for our benefit, and ultimatly it will bring Him glory!! We can not always see the results right away, or we may never see them but we have to trust God to do what is best for us whether we see it or not. Sorry that this ended up being so long! Well, I think that is all I have to say right now.
Well, good, I am glad that I can help!
ReplyDeleteSo just another thought on suffering... if we didn't suffer, we wouldn't need God... and then we would not at all be filling our purpose of Glorifying God, nether would God be in character if he did nothing to strengthen His glory!
R.J.
ReplyDeleteYou rock!
That's all.
Well depression isn't a sin in the same way illness isn't. Depression is a medical problem.
ReplyDeleteDepression occurs when two of the main neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and serotonin)are flooded into the brain. Change in the levels of these chemicals in the brain can cause an increase in unhappy thoughts and feelings. Negative thoughts and feelings can then cause further changes in brain chemicals. This cycle continues as the problem spirals into depression. The main treatments for depression (antidepressant medications and talk therapy) both help stop this cycle and restore brain chemicals to their proper levels.
Also, being Bi-polar or depressed can be hereditary. Depression IS a medical condition. Being "sad" is not, but legitimate depression is.
Alright, and on that note I re-ask my question:
Depression isn't a sin,
Yet Joy is commanded.
How do these truths coexist?
Can God know more and be a better cure than His creations medicine?
ReplyDeleteDoes God want someone battling depression (hereditary or not) to go to Him every moment?
Can the Joy of the Lord in their lives, be their strength?
Isn't this a command just as he commands us to not to just be hearers of the word but doers?
Forget everything I just said...
Lets ask the One who created us:
Here's the deal...I have Diabetes and have many family members who have clinical depression issues! Can God heal me at this very moment...YES!
Whether I was given this opportunity of having this disease or b/c of the fallen world we live in, or it is hereditary, or I stole candy and ate lots of it when I was a kid, or I live in America where we eat trash or my body went crazy and attacked itself....I am not 100% sure!
BUT!
What I am sure of is this;
"The Joy of the Lord is our Strength!"
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
I am a funny, unknowing, evil Human,Yeah!, I forget that all these verses in God's LOVE letter are...
Unconditional!!!!!
It doesn't say "Let the joy of the Lord be your strength if you don't have depression or diabetes, etc."!
Look at most every person God used in the bible, major issues, and there's a reason.
I could go on but I pray this truth is made evident in His word as I have given other verses below to anyone wondering these things or anyone who may be battling through these things!
And by the way...I believe my diabetes isn't a sin (though it can be caused by it by what we do to our body's) I strongly believe it can become a sin depending if I do or don't daily submit it unto the Lord and cast it upon Him and don't do what my Loving Lord has commanded me to do with it. I think depression can be viewed the same way!
Love,
-James
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you.” Isaiah 43:1-4
ReplyDelete'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.' Isaiah 41:10 (NASB)
“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you’”. Isaiah 41:13
“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous. Be strong and very courageous. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5, 6, 7, 9
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
“For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” Proverbs 1:33
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. AMP)
“Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:10
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear.” Psalm 46:1-2
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” Psalm 94:19
“I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
“You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
“I, even I, am He who comforts you.“ Isaiah 51:12
“The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:14-17
“For He Himself is our peace.” Ephesians 2:12
“The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.” Isaiah 32:17
“My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.” Isaiah 32:18
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day. ” Psalm 91:1-2, 4-5
“Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16
“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
ReplyDelete“God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.’” Hebrews 13:5-6
“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.” 1 John 4:18
“’For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” Jeremiah 29:11-13
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” Ephesians 1:18
“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.” 2 Peter 1:3
“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
ReplyDelete“Finally, be strong (be confident) in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (anxiety, fear) For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Ephesians 6: 10-17
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called the children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1
“One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that you, O God, are strong, and that you, O Lord, are loving.” Psalm 62:11-12
“Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is mighty.” Psalm 93:4
"He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him." Psalm 22:8
"The LORD be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant." Psalm 35:27
“The LORD delights in those who fear (reverent awe) him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147:11
“The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11
“I will listen to what God the LORD will say; He promises peace to His people.” Psalm 85:8
“Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear; your God will come….He will come to save you.” Isaiah 35:4
Wow! You put a lot of effort into this! I'm impressed. :) I think I'm gonna put those verses into a happy thoughts folder. =)
ReplyDeleteIt is good that you are not one of those sad/anger = sin peeps. ^_^ And on an unrelated note that my brain just thought of b/c I'd ADHD:
How do you be joyful when your depressed or angry? How do you just will yourself into Joy?
What is it that I am doing wrong that keeps my from just saying "I will be joyful now" and *poof!* it happens.
Wow!! God must really want us to not have fear!!! That is a lot of verses!
ReplyDeleteApril...
ReplyDeleteWe can't! There is not a way that we can "poof" and be joyful. We are weak and helpless... WE CAN DO NOTHING ON OUR OWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We have to depend on Christ!!!! really, look at all those verses that James put up for us... Not one of them says that we will be able to sustain our own joy... If we don't give it all to Christ, it will be very hard to be joyful...
If you are feeling depressed or angry... GIVE IT TO GOD!!!!!! He wants to help us. He wants to share our burdens..
It is only by the Grace of God that we are able to be Joyful!
Thanks James for all the verses... its nice to see so much of Gods word on one subject all together...
lol, you're right, I'm blonde. :)
ReplyDeleteO.k.,
ReplyDeleteI had this all written out but I accidently signed out!!!
Anyway, I would like to say...I struggle with this as well from time to time!
Without out God it is impossible
BUT...
As we rely on, give our thoughtd and desires to and joy and pain and laughter and love and confusion and sadness and happiness and suffering and syndromes and diseases to and tears and hurts and praises and so much more to Christ and acknowledge in all our ways, only He can give us understanding...
Proverbs 3:5-6 ..."Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."
He can give us Strength! All things through Christ, even finding Joy in hard times!
There is rarely a "poof" effect with God as I study the scripture and good reason!
Hey, if your blonde them I surley am as well! Your not alone, were not alone!
Fianl summary:
...We have to trust Him!!! and Mark 10:27
-Love,
James
Thaz beautiful! ^_^
ReplyDelete