Until recently I had never thought about the purpose of questioning and the potential benefits or negative consequences that can arise as a result. I have always, to a large extent, thought of it as a good thing, to ask questions. I love to think about things, and so, I naturally ask a lot of questions, which generally helps bring me to a better understanding of something. So of course, in thinking about the purpose of questioning, I asked myself some questions.
Are there different types of questions? Is there such a thing, as a stupid question? Are some questions unanswerable? What kind of answer am I looking for? How will asking this question help me to glorify the Lord? These are the questions I considered. I believe there are different types of questions. There are those asked to find out information. What time is it? Just for example. There are those that are meant as a challenge. Why? Why do I have to eat food? (These are spoken in a certain tone that makes it evident what the person is really asking. Many times the person already knows the answer.) There are those questions asked to find deeper meaning. What is our purpose in life? There are those that help us to relate to and show sympathy to others. How are you feeling today? There are many different types of questions that are asked with very different purposes in mind. So, should we ask questions, is the question? The answer depends on what type of question it is and what kind of answer you are looking for. I love questions. I tend to ask a lot of questions whenever I write blog posts, in fact. Additionally, asking questions and reflecting on them is how God speaks to me the most. It goes something like this, a verse stands out to me, I stop and think about it (which means I ask a question), and as I am thinking God reveals to me the truth behind the verse and how it relates to others. Questions are good and God teaches us through them. However, (you knew it was coming) I do not believe all questions are beneficial all the time. I am not talking about stupid questions. And by stupid I mean questions that are asked for the sake of asking. I am talking about those questions, which probe, at the great mysteries of God, which we cannot possibly understand. Questions like, “Where does God come from?” and “How can we know he is real?” if taken too far, will lead us to doubt everything and have faith in nothing. Now, I am not suggesting that we shouldn’t think about these things, only that we are careful when and how much we do. You will drive yourself insane if you try to prove God’s existence because you cannot possibly prove it. You will find all sorts of evidence to support it, but that is not a proof. Likewise, to consider from whence the Lord came, will cause you to despair. Everyone, at some point in their faith, has to wrestle with some hard questions, to which the answer is to put your faith in God or abandon all and live for nothing. Ask hard questions and seek the Lord to find an answer, but do not stay there. Do not dwell on these sorts of questions. There is a point at which you either believe in the things unseen or you don’t. That is what faith is. If you have doubts of God’s existence, but want to believe. Then believe and put your trust in Him. Trust Him to take you through. This is my battle, now, but I choose to believe despite how I feel that God is real. Perhaps you struggle with something else; then trust that God will give you understanding in time. We must remember that we are made to have a personal relationship with the Maker of heaven and earth so that he may be glorified. If our questions begin to interfere with our relationship with him and his ability to use us for his glory; then stop asking and simply trust. Be still and know that he is God. My friend, I pray that the Lord will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation to know what is the hope that has called us, that you may know the greatness of His power, and the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints. Pray for me too. God Bless and protect you my friend. Whenever the discussion about the roles of men in women in the church and at home arises, the argument that separate but equal is inherently unequal inevitably arises too. I do wish sometime soon to have a discussion on the roles of men and women, but for now I’d like us to consider this political truth for a moment.
From where did this truth come from? The answer to this I already let slip out but let us now consider its origin. The idea that separate but equal is inherently unequal is not written anywhere in your bible or mine. It’s not there because it comes from our government. We so readily accept it as truth because it just seems right (and given its context I believe it is right) forgetting where it came from. The dangers of this are great, which I will expound upon in a minute. For now let us take a closer look at the statement and its context. People were using the idea of separate but equal to justify treating people unequally. Many people were clearly unkind and unloving towards African-Americans treating them as if they were worth less than others were. So it follows that to deny someone something because of the color of their skin is treating them unequally. But what about the tribes of Israel? Was God treating them unequally when he assigned them different roles and tasks based on what tribe they were born into? Now, I am in no way suggesting that African-Americans shouldn’t have equal rights. I am simply suggesting that God had different roles in mind for different people at one point in time and that did not mean they were unequal in worth. I am not aware of any for the time we currently live in, so I believe they should have all the same rights and privileges. However, if scripture laid out what people should do specifically, like for the tribes of Israel, then I would be ok with that and I would not think it to mean they were inherently unequal. Why? Because the only source I trust and believe truth can be found in, is God and his word given to us. Here’s the most important point I want to make. Please do not use political truths to interpret scripture. They are not by necessity one in the same. Think about something and it’s origin before accepting it as a universal truth. Look to scripture to find the truth and interpret scripture with scripture. It is a dangerous road to take, to interpret scripture by political truths or popular cultural truths. Think about the truths that the government is proclaiming today. Most importantly come to scripture to find the Truth, not to find only what you want to find. Be willing to let the Lord teach you and he will teach you, but not before he blasts us out of our preconceived notions. Lastly, my friend, fix your eyes upon Jesus and let him be your first love. Remember, always, He is alive and he wants a relationship with you. I pray that you will be filled with knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so you may lead a life worthy of the call. And may the Lord grant you peace at all times and in all ways. God Bless you, My Friend! It breaks my heart so, to see and hear so many of you, my beautiful sisters, cry out because you believe the lies of the enemy. Too many, too many are trapped thinking they do not measure up in some way, shape or form. If only you knew, knew in your inner most being, just how beautiful you really are. The Lord, creator, of heaven and earth, created you. “For everything created by God is good…” 1 Timothy 4:4 Our Father makes beautiful things out of dust, not hideous or ugly. (Gen 2:7) How could he? How could such a marvelous God create something less than marvelous? He would not dare because than his glory would not be seen in all the earth. I know you know this but I want to remind you once again. I know what it is like to feel ugly. I know what it is like to feel like you are always going to feel this way. To think there is no escape. It matters not what size you are, body image issues do not discriminate. As someone who is small I have felt like everyone hated me for my size. I have been approached by complete strangers who asked me if I was anorexic. Asking someone this, is not a compliment, my friend, and it hurts just the same as someone calling you fat. To me it seems like the media glorifies those women who have “some meat on their bones” while looking with disgust at those who are tiny. I am too big. I am too small. I have too much acne. I have bad hair. I have thought, “I am ugly.” Body image issues do not discriminate. Here’s the great news, I no longer feel this way! And neither do you have to! Our wonderful Bridegroom in heaven died, “for freedom to set us free.” Christ did not die so we could continue to struggle and be held down in bondage. He died so we could be free; so that you could have life more abundantly! Do not believe the lies. The enemy wants you to believe you must always struggle with this. But, I am here to be a witness to you, so that you might know you can be set free. So that you might be encouraged to know it has happened for others. A great hymn says, “It is no secret, what God can do; What He's done for others, He'll do for you.” When your identity is in Christ you will gain a confidence like no other! Where before I used to care what others think, now I know who I am in Christ. I know I am beautiful and no one can tell me otherwise because the Lord himself told me so. Quick story. One night when I was driving home from Wal-Mart a song came on the radio. That song was, Just The Way You Are by Bruno Mars. As I listen to the words I could hear Jesus saying those very words to me (minus the sexy part). I broke down crying when I got home because I was so overwhelmed by His love for me. Listen to it as if the Lord is singing to you (Zep 3:17) and see if you too are not encouraged. (Just listen, close your eyes and picture Jesus singing to you. Don't watch the video lest you get distracted.) As I was saying, I now have this confidence that I could have never imagined having. It’s not a cocky or arrogant sort of confidence but one that comes from putting your trust in God. It is quiet and peaceful yet strong and bold. It lives in your inner most being and no one, save yourself, can take it from you. My friend whenever thoughts of you being unworthy come, take them captive immediately. Thoughts come to me sometimes and I must do this very thing so that my peace is not disturbed. Do not dwell on the lies the enemy sold you. Dwell on the truth found in the word of God. I pray that the Lord will strengthen you in your inner most being and that your hearts may be comforted so that you may comforts others. That you may have the power to comprehend what is the depths of the love of Christ so that you may be filled with the fullness of God. God Bless you my friend. And may you find your freedom and identity in Him. He loves you so!
How many times have you heard some girl say, “Jesus is my boyfriend?” So many of us say it with out meaning it or really understanding the implications of it. Think about it, if you had a boyfriend would you still be actively seeking another? And yet how many of us do this with Jesus? Now if, you are seeking another, than there is clearly something wrong with the relationship that needs to be worked out.
It’s no different with Jesus. If he is really our boyfriend than we should not seek another. If we are really committed to Jesus, than we will work on our relationship with Him instead of trying to find another to replace Him. If you were married would you not do everything you could to save the marriage? And not just save it but, make it grow stronger? Guess what? Jesus is not just our boyfriend; he is more. He is our bridegroom and we are His bride waiting patiently for Him and the wedding day. So let us work out our relationship with Him. Let us take it from dysfunctional to functional, so that He may be glorified in all the earth. Relationships are hard and take work. We shouldn’t expect it to be easier with Jesus in this regard. We must take the time to spend with Him and learn about him in His word. We must seek him and wait quietly upon him. In the end all the work put into the relationship will be worth it and we will find that it is far more rewarding than any other relationship. Today was difficult. As I drove to school today I went down main St. and all that is left are a few homes and a bunch of abandoned buildings. Half of Calhoun is abandon buildings. This made me feel so hopeless inside- to see such a desolate place. I still do not remember Christ during my day, which makes me feel all the more hopeless. I get so overwhelmed by all that has to be done that I forget what we are really made for.
Still I can’t help but think about how these students must feel. They live in the middle of nowhere in a run down town and probably do not know Jesus. There is such darkness at that school. I must, I must remember the power of Christ to change things. It does not have to be so hopeless, if only, if only. On Wednesday I started my student teaching placement. Ever since then I have been learning things non-stop. Things ranging from where the teacher’s lounge is to what skills do the students have to how important test scores really are. The only way to really learn something is to experience it, but there is so much to learn.
Here’s the problem, I have been so distracted by everything that I have to do and learn that I keep forgetting why I am here and where my focus should be. I am here to praise the Lord and my focus should be on him. What I do at my placement has an eternal consequence and I keep forgetting this. Oh, I wish I could remember! These students are not just students but souls that will one day go to heaven or to hell. I do wish to remember this when I teach and interact with them, but so far it eludes me. It is so strange for me to be so distracted. I am very much used to having time to think on things above. I do believe this will pass. Once there is not so much to learn each day it will be much easier. Still, meanwhile, pray that I may remember that these students are more than just students and that God has me here for a greater purpose than to just teach math. Now, I am not one for talking about politics much. It tends to get heated very quickly and I do not wish to argue with anyone. However, I would like to point out a few things regarding Christians and politics because I hear many people complaining and such, about the current state of affairs these days. (I myself am not particularly happy with them.) As a Christian it is important to put our trust in the Lord and not in the government. Since our trust is in the Lord, we do not worry about tomorrow, right? Didn’t we surrender all to the Lord, for Him to use in whichever way he should choose. Personally, I believe that he could choose to work within the government in ways that we may not like. He is the One who gives and who takes away, blessed be His name! When we find ourselves getting very upset over some of the politics, we should ask ourselves, “Why?” See, in California the state tax was just increased, but since we don’t love money and most of us have more than what we really need this wouldn’t bother us right? Or are we upset about it because we love money more that God? When we find ourselves upset or some new legislation we should stop to consider why we are upset. What about other personal rights? Did we not give those up to the Lord too? So if he decides to take some away, even if they are in the constitution, does he not have the right to do so? God is sovereign. He engineers our circumstances so that He may receive the praise and glory. Who can understand His ways? It may be that what is happening, some of it at least, God has allowed so that His will may be done. Let’s take higher taxes for an example. Could it be that God is trying to get us to love Him before money? Finally, what about moral issues in politics? Even when it comes to these, we must be very careful that we are not trying to be God. Or that we do not forget that, in the words of C.S. Lewis that “You have never met a mere mortal.” It is not the actions that matter so much as the heart. We must pray for those who are lost; but not that they act rightly, but that His goodness would lead them to repentance, so that their heart is right. Too many times, it seems, we get caught up in the argument and forget that it is human life, human beings we are talking about. Let us not get so distracted by the current affairs that we fail to “pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. [And] to that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” Ephesians 6:18 Trust in the Lord and remember to pray for all those who are lost, there are so many! I must admit though I pray everyday, I do not really know what to pray for. So, I started noting things that those in the bible have prayed and have composed a cheat sheet, if you will, that I find myself using often. It is in no way complete; this is only the beginning. Still I hope that someone else may find it helpful as they seek the Lord.
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What I write AboutMy posts are all about the Christian walk in some way or another. I do my best to make what I post worth reading, thus there are many more things that I write about but do not post. Some of my posts are my reflections on scripture or a quote, other posts are simply my testimony, and others still are letters of encouragement. I hope that you will be encouraged or challenged in your walk with Christ as a result. God Bless you, my friend.
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