Midterms and Research Papers.....

Hey there....
I've been pretty busy lately studying for my midterms (which means 7 weeks left of my junior year. CRAZY!) And, on top of that, I was already started on a research paper that I knew nothing about.....So, I'm starting a new topic.
Oh well :)


“A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” - Psalm 23:1-3

This was BibleGateway.com's passsage for the day. He will guide me and you....Don't worry :)

-K

God Speaking....

Hey peeps!
Long time, no blog....So, today I have something to say.

Recently I had to make a tough decision and I didn't really know what to do. So, instead of going with my personal feelings (which is what the world would tell me to do..) I went to God. I prayed about it, and I read my Bible. I know a lot of you are now thinking "Well, God doesn't speak to me..I've never heard Him".
Well, I didn't think He really would speak to me either. It was through His word...I was just praying and trying to figure out what His plan entailed and all the sudden I hear "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Tim 4:12.

This is a verse I had to memorize for school last year, but it's always been on my heart. I kinda base this blog around that verse. I am young, but that doesn't mean my faith can't influence someone else. I've learned I can't be shy in my faith. If I am shy in my faith, there is no reason to have faith. Because faith without works is dead. (James 2:20)

My point after all that rambling is,
a) it is important to memorize Scripture for times like this.
b) Always turn to God..Even if it is just opening your Bible to a random spot, He'll show you SOMETHING.
c) Don't be afraid to set an example for others even though you are young or afraid. You SHOULD be afraid to stand up for God. It develops perseverance.

-K

When Will They Realize...?

I was reading Hosea 11 tonight, and verse 3 really stood out to me...
"It was I who taught Ephriam to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them."

So many times in this world you hear "The universe gave me this"...."My horoscope said this" or "Mary gave me this..." even "My ancestors are looking down on me and gave me this.."
This passage says GOD gives us what we need, and everything good that happens to us, and everything bad that happens to us comes from His master plan.

We are often so tempted to say "Wow...I got lucky!" Actually, you didn't. God gave you that.

Remember that next time you are thinking about being "lucky"

You Must Confess...

Isaiah 1: 10-20 (Good News Translation)

Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the LORD is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you. He says, “Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? I have had more than enough of the sheep you burn as sacrifices and of the fat of your fine animals. I am tired of the blood of bulls and sheep and goats. Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping around in my Temple? It's useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your New Moon Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are all corrupted by your sins. I hate your New Moon Festivals and holy days; they are a burden that I am tired of bearing. “When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood. Wash yourselves clean. Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil and learn to do right. See that justice is done—help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows.”
The LORD says, “Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow. Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool. If you will only obey me, you will eat the good things the land produces. But if you defy me, you are doomed to die. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

I first read this passage is the NKJV, but went back and read it in this version and it sounds so cool. "{God Speaking} Do you think I want your offerings?... They are covered in sin!" He will cleanse us if we confess our sins to Him. He doesn't want us to come to Him expecting He won't see the sin that we are covered in. We need to confess our sins to Him before we can freely worship Him.

Standing Out...

Tonight in Deeper (our Student Ministry's Sunday Night Bible Study..) we were talking about Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Yes, those people you've heard about since you were two...They went into a furnace and came out alive. Blah blah blah... It was in the Veggie Tales movie with the chocolate bunnies! It is actually more than that.

If you read Daniel 3, you will see the whole story.
Daniel was away, but his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were in Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar built a huge idol that everyone is Babylon was to bow down and worship. These 4 men decided that they were not going to defile God by doing this. They could have just bowed down to the ground like everyone else, and worshipped their God silently...but nope, they were the ONLY ONES in Babylon that stood up while they were commanded to worship this idol.

Nebuchadnezzar called them and basically gave them another chance. Their response is amazing. They basically said, We don't need another chance. You can try to kill us if you want to, but we have our God whether we are dead or alive, and we are going to worship Him.

Nebuchadnezzar got upset and ordered that they be thrown into a fiery furnace...that's not all..it was 7 times HOTTER than it normally was. The children's story doesn't mention that the soldiers that escorted them into the furnace died because of how hot it was. So, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego fell into the furnace. Nebuchadnezzar is watching all of this and is like "Wait...weren't there...three...men?" The officials assure him there were three. They all looked, and there were 4 men (The three original, and an angel protecting them) standing, unharmed, in the middle of the furnace. They walked out, and Nebucadnezzar was so impressed that he said that anyone that tried to blasphemy these men's God would be killed.

WOW. That is faith. This is an extreme case, but if just a few of us stood up for what we believed in...look at what could happen!

Have No Fear!

"Have no fear of sudden disaster, or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will kepe your foot from being snared"
-"Proverbs 3:25-26"

Long time, no blog...I've been really busy! I know, no excuse :)
I almost forgot to memorize this verse for my Bible class in school...and I'm so glad I remembered. It's SO true.

Have no fear for the Lord is at your side and will watch out for you.


This is just what I needed today.

-K

It's a New Year!

Wow....It's 2011. Crazyness!
Well, everyone knows that at the start of the year, everyone makes New Years Resolutions. I have made a few in the past, but they never last. SO, this year, I've decided to not make "resolutions" but rather just things to work on....What are yours?
My biggest thing I need to work on is:
To be more interested in God's Word. Yeah, I read my Bible daily, but sometimes, it just feels like I am making myself read it. Why do I (along with many other people) feel that way?

Maybe because society doesn't see a need for a personal relationship with Jesus, and therefore it is difficult to actually be different and take time out of your "busy" schedule to spend time with your Maker and Savior.

Think about it...you are on this earth by the doing of 1 omnipotent God. We owe a debt to our Savior, because He died for our sins, so we wouldn't have to rot in hell. We sing songs about owing a debt we can't pay, and how we thank Him for it...but do we really thank Him? To often we all sing songs at church that have a catchy tune, and we forget about the words. God has spoken to the people that have made the songs we sing in church, and a lot of the songs come directly from Scripture. Why is it so hard for us really thank Him for dying for us?

Why is it so hard for us to even talk to Him, or even let Him talk to us through His Scriptures? I am going to be more excited to be in His Word this year. There really is no reason not to. He is the only reason I am alive.

Anyone with me?

-K