Saying Things Twice

I just got done listening to a message by Roy Comfort called Hell's Best Kept Secret for my Theology class. Amazing message! Worth hearing if you haven't yet. But there was one part I thought was hilarious and wished I could share it on my blog. He was talking about how men need to hear things twice. Made me think of Brian Regan's stupid husbands skit. And how totally awesome it was that I found his sermon typed out on his website.

He says; 

"So we’re going to now very briefly look at examples of law to the proud and grace to the humble. Luke 10:24...Luke 10:24. And when I give you a reference from the pulpit I’ll give it twice, because I know that men are present, and men need to be told things twice....Men need to be told things twice. This can be backed up biblically. When God speaks to men in the Bible he uses their name twice. “Abraham, Abraham...Saul, Saul...Moses, Moses...Samuel, Samuel...” Because men need to be told things twice. Women once. I don’t know how many times I’ve sat in a pew, preacher said, “Ah, Luke 10:25.” I turn to my wife and say, “What’d he say?” She says, “Luke 10:25.” I say, “Thank you, dear.” HELP-MATE. That’s why God created women, because men could not handle it on their own. The whole thing is: men lose things, women find things. “Where’s the keys love?” “Hangin’ on your nose, Dear.” I mean, I don’t know how many times I’ve opened the cupboard, “[Burp] There’s no honey here, Honey!” She says, “Here is here, Dear.” Where would man be without women? Mm? Still in the Garden of Eden. Eve found the tree. Adam didn’t really know what was going on. In fact, if you look at the creation of woman, to create woman the Bible says God put man into a deep sleep. And Scripture doesn’t say he ever came out of it."

A Snapshot from Life

02/26/2012

{Instagram}

A Snapshot from Life

02/25/2012

{Instagram}

A Snapshot from Life

02/24/2012 - Some weird weather in VA

{Instagram}

Keep Moving!

Like I mentioned a few posts ago, I have been reading an amazing book for my Theology class called, Found: God's Will. Find the Direction and Purpose God Wants for Your Life by John MacArthur. An amazing little book! It was definitely a gift from God in this time in my life! Throughout the book, MacArthur tells us that in order for us to know God's will we must be saved, Spirit-filled, sanctified, submissive, suffering, and to do whatever you want.
I loved the whole book, but chapters 6 and 7 I really enjoyed. 6 was on suffering. MacArthur says,
"In the will of God, greatness follows along behind suffering, often far behind. And if a man signs on with Jesus with greatness in mind, he better be aware that suffering comes first. Otherwise, the will of God may begin to look pretty undesirable to him after he's been on the way a short time..... You may say, "But I don't suffer any persecution." Then maybe you're not living a godly life in the face of the world. But if you do suffer, it is a wonderful thing. The Spirit of grace and glory rest on you (1 Peter 4:14)."
To me that is such a comfort. At times, I feel like I have struggled way more than anyone else my age... I look at my siblings, and they seem to be living a "perfect" life. None of us have a "perfect" life. I realize that God used those times to teach me, to challenge me. "Suffering is linked with faith", MacArthur said. I wish I would have been walking in the light during those dessert times... but I hate to say I wasn't. And I wish I could say those suffering times are over. But they aren't. I did fall from God during those times in '07-'10... but what's different from then to now, is that now I'm walking in the light. Now, God has given me a hope, peace, and has opened my eyes to truth. I'm able to see Him at work, when during those 3 years, I couldn't. I still suffer. But God uses these times to make me stronger.

In chapter 7, keep moving (do whatever you want), is the last principle MacArthur talks about in knowing God's will. He says;
"So many people sit around waiting for that celestial crane to move them and saying, "I don't know what God wants me to do." They need to start moving so God can steer them to that area of service He has planned. Knowing God's will may mean pushing down a narrow line until you hit a dead end. At that point, God will open a door so wide, you won't be able to see around it - only through it!... You may bounce off a lot of closed doors but that is God's way of forcing you into His open one. Get rolling! Be persistent."
Keep moving! When suffering comes, don't stop! God is good, and I'm pretty sure He knows what is best for you.
It's sweet how God does things! Chapter 7 led me to my new memory verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (ESV) What a great God He is!

A Snapshot from Life

02/12/2012

{Instagram}

♫O Great God♫

Lately, God has really been teaching me to trust in Him with my future... which seems to be a common lesson for me. But once again, He keeps showing me that He has control in the driver seat. One way is a book I am reading for my Theology class by John MacArthur called Found: God's Will. Find the Direction and Purpose God Wants for Your Life. A little book everyone should read at some point! And other ways through songs, scripture, and even through the little things in life.

Thursday morning I was really struggling, and a line from a song on Vally of Vision popped in my head, o great God of highest heaven, occupy my lowly heart. EGG! I had to listened to it on my iPod.  

O great God of highest heaven
Occupy my lowly heart
Own it all and reign supreme
Conquer every rebel power
Let no vice or sin remain
That resists Your holy war
You have loved and purchased me
Make me Yours forevermore

I was blinded by my sin
Had no ears to hear Your voice
Did not know Your love within
Had no taste for heaven’s joys
Then Your Spirit gave me life
Opened up Your Word to me
Through the gospel of Your Son
Gave me endless hope and peace

Help me now to live a life
That’s dependent on Your grace
Keep my heart and guard my soul
From the evils that I face
You are worthy to be praised
With my every thought and deed
O great God of highest heaven
Glorify Your Name through me

This is now my life prayer at the moment. Help me now to live a life, that's dependent of Your grace. Not what is here at the moment, not what lies ahead, but on Your grace alone! For You have a way! Your will be done! O great God, glorify Your name through me!

If you think of me, please pray that I will continue to look up, and not forward. That my heart will be occupied with His grace, and not my desires. 

A Snapshot from Life

2/11/2012
"You do not lack anything!... 'And ye are complete in Him' (Col. 2:10). Complete!" -MacArthur --- What a comforting thought!

{Instagram}

A Snapshot from Life

My fear came true! I knew when I got an Instagram, I would no longer post my snapshots. Sooooo, I have concluded, because of my crazy busy life, I'll be posting my Instagram pictures using the new Blogger app! What a wonderful thing the iPhone is!
So here is the first one:

02/06/2012

{Instagram}

♫Your Grace is Enough♫

Don't you wish you could just totally depend on God all the time? Where you had no questions in your mind on what lies ahead. No fear in your heart on the road that is at your feet. Where you could totally say, "God, you are in control, do Your will!" And that was the end of it. I know I do! But that's not how He does things. Because through those hard times, He wants to teach us to put our life totally in His hands. He is so kind though! He promises never to leave us!

Right now, my favorite song is by Chris Tomlin, Your Grace is Enough. 

Great is Your faithfulness, oh God
You wrestle with the sinner's heart
You lead us by still waters and to mercy
And nothing can keep us apart


So remember Your people
Remember Your children
Remember Your promise, oh God


Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me


Great is Your love and justice, God
You use the weak to lead the strong
You lead us in the song of Your salvation
And all Your people sing along


Yeah, Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me


God, I see Your grace is enough
I'm covered in Your love
Your grace is enough for me, for me

Something I need to be reminded of daily. His grace is all we need! Funny thing is, I googled to see if there was a verse that went with this song, and the verse that came up was the very verse I have been memorizing! "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9) 

What a God moment! Don't you feel God is speaking to you in those moments? When you are reading, or in my case, listening, and God keeps showing you things one after another that goes right along the same line. What peace that brings to my wondering heart!!! He leads us by still waters, and nothing can keep us apart! Your grace is enough for me!!!