Beauty

If you look outside, you'll probably notice that the leaves on the trees are starting to change colors. Their morphing from shades of green to shades of red, orange, and yellow, just like a caterpillar in it's chrysalis. An interesting thought that I had never considered was pointed out to me earlier today, though; the leaves are nothing like the caterpillars in their chrysalis's', and for more than just the obvious reasons. While a caterpillar is changing into it's next stage in life, the leaves aren't. The leaves are only so beautiful because they're dying.

That's kind of how it is with us as humans. Now, when I say this, I don't mean literally. Most of us don't look very fabulous when we're dying--at least, not when we're physically dying. I'm not talking physically, though; I'm talking spiritually.

As a Christian, I have two "selfs" in me. I have my "old self" (which is the side of me that does all of the bad things) and I have my "new self" (the "self" that has been redeemed by Jesus Christ and isn't really me anymore, because me by myself is just the old self). These two "selfs" are at war with each other, always trying to get my attention. The old self wants me to go back to my sinful ways, but my new self wants me to follow God's Word. What am I to do?

To put it bluntly: Part of me has to die. Again, I'm not speaking in a physical sense, I'm speaking in a spiritual sense. I have to do something about that old self, and that "something" is to get rid of it. I have to "die" to the world, which means that I can't be doing all of the evil and wrong things that the world around me is doing; I have to be "transformed by the renewing of my mind". I have to put good things in to get good things out; I can't just be filling my brain up with all of the junk that the world is throwing at me.

To really change and be a beautiful person on the inside, I have to fill myself up with God. I have to cling to what His Word says. I have to trust Him and have faith in Him. I have to stop listening to the world and start listening to Him.

That doesn't mean that I can't have friends that aren't Christians or I can't associate with people who don't know Jesus Christ as their savior. It just means that I can't be like them. I have to stand out. I have to be different.

I have to be "beautiful."

Just like the leaves that die and become beautiful, my sinful self has to die so that I can become truly beautiful from the inside out.

Just think about how lovely our world would be if everyone did that.

I don't get it...

Okay, am I stupid or something? Because I don't get why people hate other people... it confuses me. Like, Hannah Montana. What did she ever do to those people that hate her?? Do you have an answer for that? No, neither do I. There are lots of things I don't like, but...I can't think of anyone or anything that I absolutely detest. Pain, well...that's one thing I could do without. But, I learn to live with it, so I don't hate it. Do I like it? No. I just...I don't get the whole "Hate" thing... The only thing I can think of that I hate is evil stuff. Stuff that goes against the Bible. *thinks hard* ...nope, I can't think of anyone who I despise to the marrow of my being. There are movies I don't like, but I'm not going to go around saying "THAT'S A STUPID MOVIE! I HATE IT!!" I have least favorite movies, but I don't go around bashing it. That's mean. So, maybe it's less of the "hate" thing that i don't like, maybe it's more of the "people-going-around-being-haters" thing I don't like...

I don't know. I don't get it. Someone clue me in, will ya?

Happy Easter, Peeps!

Little bit of punny humor, there. :P Well, happy Easter to you, my blog readers. :D I've had an awesome Easter. First, we came down stairs and found our Easter baskets, which my baby brother loved because his had Play-Dough in it. :P I liked mine because it had BOLT in it. My other brother got a small sketchpad and blue jeans. Very practical. :P

Next, we went to church and we kids did a program telling the story about Jesus coming to Earth to save us all from our sins and death. (Also, one of the guys in our church recited like, 100 and some verses from the book of Luke about the death and resurrection of Christ. He did it very well.) The program was really good. :)

Then we came home and ate lunch and died Easter eggs and watched BOLT! Which I love.

But even through all the festivities, we must remember the true reason for the season: Jesus dying on the cross to save us from our sins, then rising again on the third day and conquering over the grave! So, I will now wish you all a happy Easter, and hope you remember and are thankful for the sacrifice Jesus made.

We're at war (preachy post)

With the Devil. This morning in Sunday school, we were talking about how the Devil will give us some big evil to focus on, while he sneaks up from the side and attacks us, knocking us off guard. We also talked about how the Devil masquerades as different people to lead us astray. He'll even disguise himself as a pastor or some religious leader to lead people astray! So, we have to be careful. It's easier for the Devil to sell us something when there's truth intertwined in it, then just to tell us a story that's all lies. If there's truth in it, we're more likely to believe it. So be careful guys, and be sure you know what you believe in is true.

Warning: Preachy Post

This is some of the notes that I've taken at chapel at camp and at church from the past few weeks. I thought they were cool, so I wanted to post them. (I'll also post the verses)

2 Truths regarding my spiritual development (1 John 2:12-17)
1. I must realize realize that spiritual maturity is a process that is strengthened by God's Word.
(2:12-14) 12. I write to you, dear children, ("children" means all believers)
because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name.
13. I write to you, fathers, ("fathers" means the spiritually mature)
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you have overcome the evil one.
I write to you, dear children,
because you have known the Father.
14. I write to you, fathers,
because you have known him who is from the beginning.
I write to you, young men,
because you are strong,
and the word of God lives in you,
and you have overcome the evil one.

What areas do I wish to improve?
Worship
Fellowship
Discipleship
Ministry
Outreach

2. I must realize that I have a strong opponent that can hinder my spiritual growth. (2:15-17)
15. Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16. For everything in the world-the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does-comes not from the Father but from the world. 17. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Dealing with obstacles
1. Identify the issues
2. Recognize it doesn't help me love God better
3. Find out what God's Word says.


3 reasons why we need Jesus Christ in our lives to be useful. (1 Corinthians 1:26-31, 26. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, 29. so that no one may boast before Him. 30. It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God-that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.")
1. Because most of us are foolish and not wise. (Proverbs 14:16, A wise man fears the Lord and shuns evil, but a fool is hotheaded and reckless. 15:5, A fool spurns his father's discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. 17:10, A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. 18:2, a fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. 26:11, As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.)
2. Because most of us are weak and not strong. (Strong or weak in spirit, not muscle.)
3. Because most of us are common, not noble.

3 lies I can easily believe about my sin. (1John 1:6-2:2
1. Sin doesn't affect my relationship with God and others. (1:6-7, 6. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin.)
2. Sin doesn't exist in my nature. (1:8-9, 8. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.)
3. Sin doesn't exist in my conduct. (1:10-2:2, 10. If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 2:1. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But it anybody does sin, we have one who speaks for the Father in out defense-Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.) ("Confess" means "say the same thing"; If God says it's wrong, I say it's wrong.)

This post is already really long, so I'll post the rest later.

I love church...

A year ago, I probably wouldn't have said that to you. I dunno where we were a year ago, but I know it wasn't here. But I love it at our church. Our pastor makes you look at things differently, and it's really good. He taught our Sunday school lesson this Sunday, and it was about Psalm 23. He had us write it down, then split it up into 9 couplets, like a poem. When we looked at it again, we realized there was a beginning, middle, and an end. We just looked at it in a different way. It was awesome. :) I thank God that I like my church so much, and the people there too.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Merry Christmas, you guys! (If anyone actually read my blog, that is. :P) Happy holidays to you all! :D Wow, it seems like Christmas has jumped up on me...anyways, last night we did a Christmas program at our church, and it turned out really cute, I think. My baby brother was a little angel (in the part of the Christmas story where the multitude of angels come to the shepherds) and he sang "Away in a Manger" with some of the other little kids. IT WAS SO CUTE! And bonus, when the angels were supposed to run up the aisle, he just walked behind them, making everyone laugh. :) So cute.

Well, anyways, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOODNIGHT! :D

My brother is the next great theological mind!

Okay, that's stretching it. :P By a lot. But, the other night, he did say something very deep. So deep, that I have to put it on here.

"But being human means going back to your sinful nature. I'd rather be Christian and be thought of as weird than go back to my sinful nature."

That may not be exact word-for-word, but it's pretty close. Here's MY version of it, meaning my wording.

"Being human would mean reverting back to your sinful nature, because we as humans are born with it. I'd rather be a Christian and be considered weird than go back to sin."

And now you have your lovely quote for the day. ;)

Dude, church ROCKS! (well, not litterally...)

Okay, in church, we've been doing a study of Joshua, and it's been really cool. Today, some of the people actually got to move around. :D I'll tell it in "story version" because I find it easier to describe things that way.

The sanctuary was a large, rectangular room with pews down the two long sides. The pulpit was at the front of the room, so it could be seen by everyone. The pews were full, but not to the point of breaking. The pastor was behind the pulpit, speaking to the congregation.

"Today, we're going to do things a bit differently." He said with a smile. He took his Bible and walked out from behind the pulpit. He had a small stack of papers in his hands as well as the Bible. He looked around and began picking people from the congregation, some children and some grown adults. He began putting them in different areas according to the piece of paper he had given them.

"Gilgal," he began, pointing to a boy with that written on his piece of paper, "you go into the back, okay? I need the Israelite army" he motioned to three people with numbers on their papers "to go back to Gilgal, where the army is stationed. And Joshua," he pointed to a tall man with a paper that said "Joshua" on it, "you can head back there too." All of the designated people went back to where they were supposed to go, some with more flare than others. Laughter was heard as "Joshua" began walking like an army man, looking rather ridiculous doing it.

"All right, Bethel, you go up to the front with your army," he pointed to two men holding papers with "Bethel" and "Bethel's army" written on them and the two men walked up to the pulpit. "And Ai and Ai's army, you can come over here." He pointed to a pew near the front of the church and two men went and stood there. He had another person hold two pieces of paper with a picture of the sun on one, and the moon on the other, to remind us all what time it was in the story.

The story began, of a great fight with the Israelites against Ai. Joshua sent a legion of men from Gilgal to hide in the rocky mountains behind the city of Ai late at night. (At that time in the story, a young boy designated as the correct amount of the army hid behind a pew behind the city of Ai and it's army) Next, Joshua sent more of his army to ambush Ai. Joshua then followed with the main army, situated on the mountain opposite of Ai, and they prepared for battle.

The next day, all of the army of Ai went to confront the main army of Israel. (At this time, all of the designated people were in their designated spots.) Joshua and the main army of Israel faked defeat and began to retreat, then God told Joshua to stretch out his spear towards the city of Ai. (At this point, Ai's army and the main army of Israel and Joshua are in the isle between the two rows of pews and "Joshua" pretended to hold out a spear in the direction of "Ai") At that time, the rest of the army that was in hiding attacked the city and set in on fire, to show the army of Ai that they had nowhere to run. Joshua and the main army of Israel attacked and defeated the army of Ai, and the army of Bethel, which had come to help Ai's army. They then returned to the city of Ai and set it on fire once again, and it fell to the hands of the Israelites.

Okay, didn't that sound like fun to watch? (Not the real thing, the thing we did in church.) It was really cool, and it helped you visualize the story better. God had told Joshua some of the stuff to do, but other parts were from Joshua's knowledge of battle and from things God told them in the book of Deuteronomy. There were three points to the message which I will tell ya in a different post, once we're done with the book of Joshua. If you haven't read that book, and like adventure, then I would say READ IT!!! I mean, the Bible has everything! Adventure, prophecy, romance, all of it. (Ruth, I will tell you right now, [even though I haven't read the other book I'm about to mention] kicks Twilight's toosh.) It's the greatest book ever written, and can really change your life, for the better. So read it, and you'll won't regret it, promise.