tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7621636691987176192023-11-16T02:28:59.423+11:00immeasurably more...Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-32538671612374273422010-07-28T23:26:00.000+10:002010-07-29T00:31:52.247+10:00Setting Boundaries<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Body: Day 38 - Setting Boundaries</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1 Thessalonians 4:3-8</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity. Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body, not abusing it, as it so common among those who know nothing of God. Don't run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters. Their concerns are God's concerns, and he will take care of them. We've warned you about this before. God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful - as beautiful on the inside as the outside. If you disregard this advice, you're not offending your neighbours; you're rejecting God, who is making you a gift of his Holy Spirit. </span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-47983525819171344452010-07-27T23:19:00.000+10:002010-07-28T00:22:41.141+10:00Pure as Snow<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Body: Day 37 - Pure as Snow</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Isaiah 1:18</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."</span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-14464591381882693232010-07-26T23:00:00.002+10:002010-07-26T23:00:34.780+10:00Humble and Pure of Heart<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Body: Day 36 - Humble and Pure of Heart</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Matthew 5:8</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.</span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-85812228251177016602010-07-25T23:55:00.002+10:002010-07-26T00:02:41.663+10:00God of my words<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Body: Day 35 - Pure Speech</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ephesians 5:4<br />
Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, Christians have better uses for language than that. Don't talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn't fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My words are something that I have had always had a problem with, I talk too much and more often than not I don't think before I speak and this is something that I really feel like God has been challenging me with recently. Over the last couple of years, I would like to think that I have learnt the power of keep secrets I am entrusted with, and I would also like to think that more often than not I use my words to encourage and build others up. But I know that there are often times when I say thinks I shouldn't, I seek information that I shouldn't and I choose words that I shouldn't. Sometimes I ask myself if God was standing with me (which he is anyway, but if I could see it in the flesh) and the answer 9 times out of 10 is no.... So I guess I need to knuckle down and focus on using my tongue better rather than as a weapon of the devil, as harsh as that sounds. </div>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-67491926756393069542010-07-24T11:03:00.000+10:002010-07-24T11:03:26.923+10:00Safe, Healthy & Empowered<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Body: Day 34 - Safe, Healthy & Empowered</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Titus 2:3-5</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how o love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don't want anyone looking down on God's Message because of their behaviour. </span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-65143839627832969872010-07-23T22:51:00.000+10:002010-07-24T10:57:28.223+10:00You Are Loved<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Body: Day 33 - You are Loved</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Luke 15:20</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him.</span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-26170421064645571572010-07-22T23:59:00.000+10:002010-07-24T11:05:23.342+10:00Looking for Love<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Body: Day 32 - Looking For Love</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Matthew 9:35-36</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jesus made a circuit of al the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. </span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-53453892930455989402010-07-21T23:01:00.004+10:002010-07-22T23:55:48.448+10:00Waiting for Self-discipline<div style="color: magenta;">Purity of body: Day 31 - Waiting for Sex</div><br />
<blockquote>1 Corinthians 6:12-13<br />
Just because something is technically legal doesn't mean that it's spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever i thought i could get by with, I'd be a slave to my whims. You know the old saying, "first you eat to live, and then you live to eat"? Well, it may be true that the body is only a temporary thing, but that's no excuse fir stuffing your body with food, or indulging it with sex. Since the master honours you with a body, honour him with your body!</blockquote>So here is the thing... even though the point if this devotion was about waiting for sex, I think what I got out of it was something completely different... I am sure that I have read this verse before but I perhaps not this version (the message) or with my current eyes because I had never put eating the way I do and sex in the same indulgence category.<br />
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This past week I have been in Sweden at the World Youth Convention, Raised Up and a lot of the convention was focused on Holiness and what it means to live Holy. I think one of the things that hit home heaps this week to me was the fact that part of holiness is self-discipline and self-control. These are two things that I particularly struggle with, especially with my food and something, with my upcoming nuptials, amongst other things I would really like to get more of. <br />
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I guess the good news is that in 2 Timothy is says "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love and self-discipline", so really this self-discipline that I am seeking is a promise of God's Holy Spirit, so I just have to claim it...<br />
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So here I am, God, asking that you would give me some self-discipline, help me to practice this and to honour you with it.Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-35689781535827263792010-06-05T09:55:00.000+10:002010-06-05T10:59:22.977+10:00Help us remember<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 30 - Help us remember</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Romans 3:24-25</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. </span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-84036304179901185072010-05-25T22:51:00.004+10:002010-06-05T10:55:39.973+10:00The Shadowlands<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 29 - The Shadowlands</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Titus 1:2</span><br style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">My aim is to raise hopes by pointing the way to life without end. This is the life God promised long ago - and he doesn't break promises!</span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-75445137972848292032010-05-24T18:15:00.001+10:002010-05-24T18:16:13.854+10:00A Thankful Attitude<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 28 - A Thankful Attitude</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Psalm 138:1-3</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thank you! Everything in me says "Thank you!" Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: "Thank you!" Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. the moment i called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.</span></blockquote></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-89275990019273491332010-05-23T21:08:00.000+10:002010-05-24T18:11:12.128+10:00Dreaming of Heaven<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 27 - Dreaming of Heaven</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 Peter 1:3-5<br />
Beacuse Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you'll have it all - life healed and whole.</span></blockquote></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-66240137506202151182010-04-16T23:06:00.000+10:002010-05-24T18:08:20.751+10:00Daring to Dream<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 26 - Daring to Dream</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ephesians 3:20<br />
God can do anything, you know - far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working with us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.</span></blockquote></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-90742260754332158492010-04-15T22:03:00.000+10:002010-05-24T18:08:33.285+10:00Overcoming Loneliness<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 25 - Overcoming Loneliness</span><br />
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<blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1 Thessalonians 5:23024<br />
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together - spirit, soul, and body - and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you in completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!</span></blockquote>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-23674422964709144432010-04-14T18:00:00.000+10:002010-05-24T18:03:13.974+10:00The Centre of His Will<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 24 - The Centre of His Will</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Jude 1:20-21<br />
Carefully build yourselves up in this most holy faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, staying right at the centre of God's love, keeping your arms open and outstretched, ready for the mercy of our Master, Jesus Christ. This is the inending life, the real life!</span></blockquote></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-28361179381613404302010-04-12T21:56:00.000+10:002010-05-24T17:59:42.531+10:00A New Attitude<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 23 - A New Attitude</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ephesians 4:21-24<br />
Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truely righteous and holy.</span> </blockquote></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-45833699477802757322010-04-05T22:52:00.000+10:002010-05-24T17:56:44.275+10:00Do Your Possessions Posses You?<span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 22 - Do Your Possessions Posses You?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><blockquote><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Matthew 6:31-33<br />
Do not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.</span></blockquote></span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-57488499103902684252010-03-31T23:47:00.001+11:002010-05-24T17:52:23.349+10:00Explaination<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So its been a really long time since I posted anything on here and there is a few reasons for this... 1. I haven't been doing my devotions as regularly as I should and 2. When I have done them I haven't been bothered blogging... but to once again give myself some accountability, I have decided that even if I don't discuss the devo I will at least post the bible verse... so that you know, and I know I have done it... So there you go, thats the new plan, stay posted.</span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-61223750360710136712010-03-04T22:59:00.000+11:002010-03-04T22:59:36.626+11:00Community<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 21 - Communal Thinking</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Acts 20:32<br />
I'm turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can make you into what he wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">One thing I am really glad about is the fact that God made us to want to live in community. I am a social kind of person, I don't really like being by myself for long periods of time, so moving up here, out of a fairly big family to just me has been really hard. One thing I have been really grateful for is my new cell group up here and the Salvo's in Castlemaine too. Without them, I think I would have struggled a lot more and perhaps even thrown in towel, but I think they fact that they have constantly welcomed me, supported me, loved me and shown an interest in me has made more difference than they will ever know. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This week at my cell group, we looked at the forth week of a Salvation Army series called 'Salvo's out there' and the main theme was 'a fair go for all'. I was really challenged about whether or not I do this, not just for the poor and needy but for everyone, every race, every gender, every age, every sexuality, every disease...do I give them all a fair go by showing them God's love? By including them in my community and giving them respect and dignity... Probably not always, but I guess its something that I am working on...something that I will probably never stop working on. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">God designed us to live in community, with him and with others.... all the time. </span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-79636324932419672852010-03-01T22:28:00.001+11:002010-03-01T22:34:49.166+11:00Dad<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 20 - Thinking Like a Child</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Ephesians 5:1-2<br />
Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behaviour from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn't love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. </div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So since I have moved out of home and Dad has moved back from China we have been getting closer and closer, its actually been really nice. I have always known that Dad loved me, and I never really doubted it, but I think that over the last little while I have seen his love more than normal. I have been able to chat to him about whats happening in my life, what I want to do, who I want to do life with etc. But I have also been able to seek his advice. Most recently while I have been car shopping, Dad has shown his love by helping me research and investigate everything I needed to know to chose the right car and then how to work my money so that I can pay for it. Its been super helpful, because if it were left up to me I think I would still be looking, not because of lack of trying, but just lack of knowledge on where to look and how to work it all out. The thing is Dad has gone out of his way to help me out and its been really nice. Our newishly found good verbal relationship has also allowed me to learn more about my Dad. The thing is that the more I get to know of him, the more amazing I think he is. I really loved my Dad before, but I am only just starting to understand what an amazing person he actually is. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think that this is whats its supposed to be like with God...he is my heavenly father, and I need to take the next step with my relationship with him too. Go from this, taken for granted love, to one that reveals more and more each time we talk. One that helps me to see what I am aspiring to. One that actually sees me experience God the Dad like I am supposed to. </div>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-28190472932839496662010-02-03T20:39:00.000+11:002010-02-03T20:39:45.403+11:00Cheating on God<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 19 - A Different Way of Thinking</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1 John 2:15-17<br />
Do not love this world not the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything thing we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today's devo challenged me about what I want in life, I think it challenged me simply because lots of the things I want are super worldly, you know the regular things, a nice house, a good job and some nice stuff to go with it all, but this stuff and seeking after this stuff doesn't actually please God at all, in fact it turns him away. Sure I can enjoy these things, i think, as long as my heart is after God's heart and not the satifaction that comes from having the nice stuff. One verse that really stuck out for me was this: </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own was, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of god and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that 'he's a fiercely jealous lover.' And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find.' James 4:4-6 (The Message)</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think I have spoken about this before, but I really need to start trusting God a bit more when he says he knows what's best for my life, rather than desperately trying to stay in control like I am, because I can't have it both ways.</span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-41841231881028979602010-02-02T20:22:00.000+11:002010-02-02T20:22:39.255+11:00Seeking<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 18 - Searching for Truth</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Jeremiah 33:2-3<br />
This is God's message, the God who made the earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: "Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own."</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think a lot of the time I take everything I know about God for granted. It wasn't until when Dave first became a Christian, it dawned on me that I really had learnt heaps about who God was and what he did, but sometimes I wonder if its all really true, and how can I be super sure. So often I look at other religions and wonder what would happen if I had been brought up in an Islamic house, or a Buddhist home, would I have just accepted those religions instead? Thankfully, I guess I have had my own encounters with God and I know that he is real and that he has saved me, and continues to use me. But this whole idea of truth and proof is something that I really struggle with in that, I feel like I need to be 100% sure all the time because if I am not than I fear I might be in trouble. I know this is where faith comes in and all that kind of stuff, but sometimes I wonder what I could actually prove if I needed to, without just saying 'well I just know'. In my devotion today, the author challenges me to seek God out, to test it all and to search, because God will prove himself time and time again. I have often thought about doing this, but then I think of the verses about not testing God and wonder if its really ok to seek like that. I think the other thing in all this is that even if I really wanted to search and test, I wouldn't even know where to start. How does one start to research God...and the authenticity of the stories? I have no idea. </div>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-7373123462352994762010-01-30T13:05:00.000+11:002010-01-30T13:05:55.227+11:00It's under my feet<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 17 - Sweet Surrender</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Psalm 146:3-5<br />
Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. </div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I am not really sure what I wanted this blog to look like, I don't think its quite there yet, so bare with me. I think its hard to talk/reflect on what I have read with the blogging community if you aren't reading the book at the same time. I guess, I also don't want to just regurgitate what I just read coz whats the point in that... so I am not really sure what the plan is, I just thought I would let you know my predicament. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, after a my last blog when I was super pumped and hungry, not much has changed, I am still hungry but I haven't really done anything about it...enter new blog (a week later) which suggests that that some of the biggest spiritual warfare weapons facing us today are 'distraction, discouragement and discontent' and I think that this week I have let the devil walk all over me with the first D. Seriously, that's all it took, this week I have been distracted but lots of little things, but all of them have meant that I haven't been putting God first. I think I need to wake up a little to the fact that distraction isn't just something that happens, but that it can be actively used against me in my efforts to get closer to the king...So right here and right now I am putting a stop to it. Distraction is under my feet, and it won't stop me from doing my devotions anymore...</span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-45167255224617496302010-01-23T12:49:00.000+11:002010-01-30T12:56:09.880+11:00Hungry<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 16 - Mind Motivation</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Psalm 26:2-3<br />
Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motivations and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I think for the last little while I have been in a bit of a spiritual rut. I have still been going through the motions and learning a few things here and there, but I certainly haven't been moving mountains, so to speak. At the moment though, I am hungry. I don't know if its just because its the beginning of the year and the things that has been propping me up previously haven't been on for a while so I have started to notice or whether its because I am actually hungry...but I like it. I want more, I want to spend more time in God's presence and I want to do more for him in my day to day stuff. I haven't quite worked out what that will look like yet, but all I know is I am hungry! I want to know God more intimately, I want to know his plans, his ways, his majesty... I want it all. </span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-762163669198717619.post-10335617668064554702010-01-22T12:29:00.000+11:002010-01-30T12:49:01.673+11:00Who am I feeding?<div style="color: magenta; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Purity of Mind: Day 15 - Mind Protection</div><blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">James 1:21<br />
Get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls</div></blockquote><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Today's chapter asked me to consider what part of my soul I was feeding more regularly, my flesh or my spirit. What do I let permeate my brain day to day, are they things that are God pleasing? Or are the things that still remain from my flesh. The author challenges that the one that gets feed the most frequently grows the most and becomes the strongest. This concept really made me stop and think about which part of my mind I feed most often and to be honest when I really think about it, I think that there are probably days that my spiritual part doesn't get fed at all, but constantly I choose to spend time in front of the telly feeding my flesh with stuff and making it strong. How can I ever expect to be who God calls me to be if I don't actively feed into that part of who I am. I think I need to start purposely spending more time with God, and while this little blog has been helpful and kept me a little more accountable, there still needs to be more, its about more than just a quick devotion at the end of the day...its about the things I watch and the things I read and the things I listen to. </div><div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">'The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things' - Philippians 4:7-8 </span>Emhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16142485425935363773noreply@blogger.com0