Uncertainty

2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.-1 John 3:2

Uncertainty in life is scary, it can make you do things that you didn't really want to do. Uncertainty in life can make you decide not to retire, get married, move away, or fall in love. Uncertainty causes worry and stress and even anxiety and depression in some. Most often times in my life, I feel uncertainty in school work, work, family, friends, and love. Uncertain if I will make the grade, disappoint, or not make the right choice. I'm uncertain if I will make the right choice in who I love, cherish, and adore. All of these things will make you go insane, it is what is making some of my hairs turn gray at 20 years old  and even before that time.

Tomorrow is uncertain, this is a fact. We don't know if we will do all the things on our check list tomorrow or if we will finally get to go on that vacation a month from now. We don't have any right to boast about tomorrow as we don't know what tomorrow will bring forth; however, we do. We go about life, with all this uncertainty, certain that we will have tomorrow to live it out better.

Below are devotions by Oswald Chambers. These really spoke to me as I always say that I'm certain in my faith, but I am stuck in my ways. I do not allow for spontaneity, fun, excitement, happiness, or joy to come from anything because I'm so worried that that is not what is supposed to happen. I always think of the "What if" in life, this is no way to live. I am complex; every move thought out. I will always second guess every action, reaction, and thought. I never can just enjoy myself as thoughts race through my warn out mind.

As these devotions say, when I second guess my actions or motives, I'm not trusting God. Yet, as I second guess my actions, I'm a creature of habit. I do the same thing every day, when I find something that works, I keep doing it. So I second guess my actions, as I'm sure you have read on here, and I do the same thing over and over. This seems that I'm an oxymoron - no surprise there though. Even though I move a lot, I've went to many different schools, and churches, I've never felt stable. Maybe this was a good thing. Still, I keep looking for some consistency in life, I want something to be certain; however, the only thing certain in life is God. All else will waver and fade, but God remains.

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Naturally, we are inclined to be so mathematical and calculating that we look upon uncertainty as a bad thing. We imagine that we have to reach some end, but that is not the nature of spiritual life. The nature of spiritual life is that we are certain in our uncertainty, consequently we do not make our nests anywhere. Common sense says - "Well, supposing I were in that condition . . ." We cannot suppose ourselves in any condition we have never been in. Certainty is the mark of the common-sense life: gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God. Immediately we abandon to God, and do the duty that lies nearest, He packs our life with surprises all the time. When we become advocates of a creed, something dies; we do not believe God, we only believe our belief about Him. Jesus said, "Except ye become as little children." Spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not uncertain of God, but uncertain of what He is going to do next. If we are only certain in our beliefs, we get dignified and severe and have the ban of finality about our views; but when we are rightly related to God, life is full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. "Believe also in Me," said Jesus, not - "Believe certain things about Me." Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/hl-devos-mu/~3/z0jEwAmBjIE/utm.cgi
#Bible http://j.mp/k94D7c

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This is the unshakable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him - "I will give thee thy life." What more does a man want than his life  It is the essential thing. "Thy life for a prey" means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life, nothing can harm it. So many of us are caught up in the shows of things, not in the way of property and possessions, but of blessings. All these have to go; but there is something grander that never can go - the life that is "hid with Christ in God." Are you prepared to let God take you into union with Himself, and pay no more attention to what you call the great things  Are you prepared to abandon entirely and let go  The test of abandonment is in refusing to say - "Well, what about this " Beware of suppositions. Immediately you allow - What about this  - it means you have not abandoned, you do not really trust God. Immediately you do abandon, you think no more about what God is going to do. Abandon means to refuse yourself the luxury of asking any questions. If you abandon entirely to God, He says at once, "Thy life will I give thee for a prey." The reason people are tired of life is because God has not given them anything, they have not got their life as a prey. The way to get out of that state is to abandon to God. When you do get through to abandonment to God, you will be the most surprised and delighted creature on earth; God has got you absolutely and has given you your life. If you are not there, it is either because of disobedience or a refusal to be simple enough.
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#Bible http://j.mp/kuRwlc

1 Corinthians 15

 

1 Corinthians 15 is segmented (by man) into three parts: resurrection of Christ, resurrection of the dead, and the resurrection body.  I'm not entirely sure why, but the following really spoke to me.

45 So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed-- 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

I already grasped the concept that I would not die and go to meet our Lord with my jeans and a hoody on; however, God's last victory on this earth will be the victory over death and I will no longer be a "human body in the flesh" when I meet God.  


The emboldened scripture (15:56) states that "the sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law." If the sting of death is sin, it is not death that I fear, but rather the regret that I leave behind me. If my last words to my loved ones were not "I love you" but rather a fight, what would I do with my self. If I died sinning, I cannot repent of that sin and, thus, it may not be forgiven. The second half of this scripture takes me back to the book of Romans as I did not know sin until the law told me it was so. Because of this, the law must be upheld, but sin ( something black and white) becomes gray as we try to find the "loop-holes" in life. 

This passage of scripture puts things into perspective: we have the likeness of two people within us, just as Romans states; however, we cannot enter heaven with our earthly form or mindset. Our sin is the "sting" of death, the thing that will cause it to happen and the knowledge of sin comes from the laws that we are to abide by.

1 Corinthians: Part 1

I have decided that I will be reading the writings of Paul. This is including the books of the Bible that are said to be Paul's but are not clear as to who wrote them. I have already read Romans (Lesson 26); thus, I will be reading the 1 Corinthians. I read the first part (chapter 1-8) tonight. 

As far as a 12:30 am thought process is concerned, I gathered this during my study:

1. We (believers) should all speak the same thing so that there is no divisions among us. We should be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1:10)
2. Faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. (2:5)
3. We cannot fathom, see, or hear that which God has prepared for those that He loves. (2:9)
4. We are the temple of God and He dwells within us. (3:16-17)
5. The wisdom of the world is foolishness with God. (3:19)
6. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (4:5)
7. I know nothing by myself (4:4)
8. Them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person. (5:13)
9. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (6:12) -- All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. (10:23)
10. Every sin, except fornication, is without the body. (6:18)
11. We are bought with a price. (6:20), (7:23)
12. When we are unmarried we can fully commit our time and desires to God as opposed to pleasing our significant other. However, marriage is not bad. (7:32-39)
13. Do not do in front of others that which is their downfall. Do not drink in front of a recovering alcoholic, or eat meat in front of a new vegan. We will cause them to stumble. When we are stumbling blocks to others, we wound their weak conscience and we win against Christ. (8:9-12)

 As a final thought, as it is near 1 am, the things that are emboldened were said twice within the books that I read tonight. The Bible repeats that which is very, very important to remember. All things are lawful for me, but not all of it is something that I should do and  "we are bought with a price" was said twice. We must remember that just because we can do something doesn't mean that we should as it comes with a price; the price of Jesus' blood.

Happy Easter!!!

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"Who Am I?" - Point of Grace

Over time You've healed so much in me,
And I am living proof.
That although my darkest hour had come,
Your light could still shine through.
Though at times it's just enough to cast,
A shadow on the wall.
I am grateful that you've shined your light on me at all. 

CHORUS:

Who Am I,
That you would love me so gently?
Who Am I,
That you would recognize my name?
Who Am I,
That you would speak to me so softly?
Conversation with the Lord most high.
Who Am I? 

Oh Amazing Grace how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost,
But now am found.
Was blind,
But now I see.
And the more I sing that sweet old song,
The more I understand.
That I do not comprehend this
love that's coming from your hand. 

CHORUS 

Grace, grace.
God's grace.
Grace that will pardon, and cleanse within.
Grace, grace.
God's great grace.
Grace that is greater than all my sin. 

CHORUS 

Lord, Who Am I?
Who Am I?
Lord Who Am I?
Who Am I?
Who Am I?

Lesson 43 - Regrets

"Eleven Regrets" - Manic Drive

Put my head up against the wall
I couldn't help but stall
With eleven regrets
One flower
I'm lost and I'm ashamed
Cause all I have to give
Is eleven regrets
One flower

My God what have I become?
A broken man with no second chances
Who am I to say that you're to blame?
I want to be who I say I am
But my actions show that I modestly can't
Have I've turned into what I hate?
And I wonder what You think
When You're staring down at me
Is it time to intervene?

Put my head up against the wall
I couldn't help but stall
With eleven regrets
One flower
I'm lost and I'm ashamed
Cause all I have to give
Is eleven regrets
One flower

I'm lost and I'm ashamed...

Consequences are interesting
When the thorns penetrate
But can't go deep enough to bleed
Oh I wish right now that was the case
What kind of example am I
If I continue this way defiling my life?
What if they knew me like You do?
And I wonder what You think
When You're staring down at me
Is it time to intervene?

And I wonder what You think
When You're staring down at me
Is it time to intervene?
And I wonder what she'll think
When she's staring down at me
Maybe it's time to intervene?

 The verse in this song that is emboldened and underlined is pretty much exactly how I feel with my life. I have so many regrets, something that I shouldn't have. I should have done this for that one person that I pushed away, I should have lived instead of living to die. 

I regret actions in my past. I'm not saying that I regret where I am in life, I just wonder who I could have been had I stuck to what I said I believed in. I have tried my entire life to make everyone else happy all the time. I have worn myself thin and I know that I need the breath that God breathed into me. He will give me that freedom, but am I willing to accept it? Do I forgive myself for the wrong that I've done. It isn't that I have done anything that every other human hasn't done, but that is just it; how am I different? I say that I am reborn in the Spirit. I am just now starting to show it. I then go back to my old ways for fear of losing that control that I know that I don't have that I speak of often. I regret stopping going to church every Sunday just because no one would go with me. No one else will be standing with me at the judgment bar, I and I alone will be responsible for my actions and my reactions. To blame another for my lapse is not the right thing to do. This is my biggest regret. I wasn't who I wanted to be; I'm still not who I want to be.

There are so many things that I could say that I regret, but there is a longer list than I would like to provide to the world. In my blog post "Words to Live By," I posted the poem "Myself" by Edgar A. Guest. I still am hoping that I can say this. I want to get involved more so in the church, I want to get to know the people in the church so going alone doesn't feel like I'm alone. I have always been a person that didn't need others, maybe not staying after and "conversing" has hindered me. I was instilled with the "okay, next thing to do" attitude. I never stop, just stop and think about it all. I never second guessed the life I lived until 3 months ago. 20 years of misunderstanding my purpose, I understand my purpose now. The question now is, will I continue to regret or will I do something to ensure that I don't become what I hate.

Backstabbing Christians

1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power. - 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

  When we profess our faith to others, what are we really doing? Are we trying to boast about what we have learned about ourselves, or are we boasting about God? Are we nothing when we come before others, or do we try to make ourselves look better than they are? We are competitive by nature; thus, I have a feeling that it is more about ourselves look great than about bringing others to God. 

When we testify, we should do it in a way that shows that we are nothing without God's power and grace. We should testify in a way that will make us as they are. This is what Paul did; he became - if only at face value - what others were in order to show that he was no better than them. Jesus became the lowly so that others would know that He was approachable and that He understood what they were going through. We then must not think of ourselves as higher than others or we will inevitably drive people away. 

We should know nothing except that Jesus was crucified for our sins and was resurrected on the third day. We shouldn't shove our religion, denomination, or belief structure down any person's throat! When someone tells you your wrong in how you believe and just shoves it down your throat without an open mind, how do you feel? I want to hurt the person, personally. It's one of those "shut up" moments in life. All I can do is plant a mustard seed within someone: a desire to know more and to want to learn. From that, I cannot do anything, it is up to that person and God. When all you or I do is shove a religious thought into someones head that doesn't believe, it just makes them want to run farther. They already have everyone else telling them they're wrong and how to believe, why then should they want to hear it, and except it, from you or me? They don't! When we realize that it is our lifestyles and our words, not just words themselves, that will bring others to Christ, we will become better Christians. 

Who are we to judge in a negative light another person's life? We have a log in our own eyes; thus, we should not point out the thorn in theirs. When you make a negative judgment call against another based on looks or first impression, you are going against the faith that you preach! I have no right to judge others except in a way that is positive. Now, do I have the right to judge how I will interact with a person after knowing their reactions with certain things in life, yes! I have a right to judge how I will make a decision in my own life like who will watch my animals, who I trust, and who I don't. However, we should still give others the benefit of the doubt, wouldn't you want to be judged that way?

Lesson 41 - Love of Money

5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." - Hebrews 13:5

 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. - 1 Timothy 6:10

11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. - 2 Corinthians 5:11-17

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    The love of money is something that is the foundation of America. Capitalism, while not meant to be what it has become, has become a greed infested blood bath. In many ways, our culture is what is described in Shania Twain's song "Ka-Ching." This is depressing as we were a country built on Faith; now we are built on the religion of money. Companies and industries only exist, in the words of Milton Friedman, to increase profits. While Milton Friedman also said to play within the "rules of the game," companies rarely do. These motives have spilled over into the thoughts of the individual, not just the companies. We chose a mate based on money, not love. We decide where to take our families based on money, not safety. We are making our lives about money, not God. Furthermore, where God is absent, there is chaos.

I am not, by any means, pointing fingers. I know that this has been an issue for me. I cannot completely blame the world in which I was brought up in either. I have to take responsibility for my own actions, as should America. I understand that, as the Movie Cabaret says, " Money makes the world go around." Still, it is my own error, my own lack of faith that causes my fear of not having enough when God has always provided.

Many can say that "I like money, I don't love it." My only issue with this statement is that if you think of it all the time, worry about it all the time, or if it destroys your family you love it enough to lose everything else -- even yourself. In many ways, this has been my life. I've always worried about, thought about, and seen what money can do. When you see what the lack of it can do to a family, it makes you think about it all the time; however, I have learned something that is profound: A family should not be destroyed by money if there is love in that family. Love will always prevail, especially if it is the love of money. A family that, even if they loose their home, loves each other will stick together. A family that is built on money, or the fear of money, will surely fall. If all you're in it for is the money, I can bet you you do not love that person, just what they give you. When this is all that is in your heart, God cannot be present with it as "one cannot serve to masters."

I have seen both sides to this story, what a family should really look like and what they are today. In my life, I have thought about, in a spouse, financial stability. This is one reason I wanted to become an Accountant, for the shear fact that I would be financial secure. Now thinking to myself, while I love accounting and I don't want to change it, financial security isn't everything. Homeless people, while not able to do everything they have ever wanted, are more pleased when they get the smallest item or scrap of food. When we give them "chump change" they are truly thankful. If you were hungry in this day and age and someone handed you a quarter, would you be happy? No! You'd be angered deeply. I would be! God knows what is in our hearts, He knows our motives. Our conscience should tell us what He sees. If you don't like what you see, change it. I have to.

Why can't we, as Americans, be content? Why do we always want more? We, like a fire, are never satisfied. Though God didn't warn about Americans and our always wanting more way of life, He did warn about the love of money. I've seen what it can do, I have felt what it can do. I am a product of what it can do. Because of that, loving God is what needs to consume my life. God will never leave you or forsake you like people or money will- remember that!

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"Ka-Ching" - Shania Twain

We live in a greedy little world--
that teaches every little boy and girl
To earn as much as they can possibly--
then turn around and
Spend it foolishly
We've created us a credit card mess
We spend the money that we don't possess
Our religion is to go and blow it all
So it's shoppin' every Sunday at the mall

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

[Chorus:]
Can you hear it ring
It makes you wanna sing
It's such a beautiful thing--Ka-ching!
Lots of diamond rings
The happiness it brings
You'll live like a king
With lots of money and things

When you're broke go and get a loan
Take out another mortgage on your home
Consolidate so you can afford
To go and spend some more when
you get bored

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

[Repeat Chorus]

Let's swing
Dig deeper in your pocket
Oh, yeah, ha
Come on I know you've got it
Dig deeper in your wallet
Oh

All we ever want is more
A lot more than we had before
So take me to the nearest store

[Repeat Chorus]

Can you hear it ring
It makes you wanna sing
You'll live like a king
With lots of money and things
Ka-ching!

Temptation and Sin

Temptation is surrounding us; what will you do with it. If it is you against temptation, you will lose. If it is me against temptation, I will lose. No matter how far we run from, keep away from, or pass by our temptations, they will come back! Jesus himself was tempted in the desert; thus,  you cannot say that you will not be tempted. However, you must run to God to get through the temptation without sinning. Being tempted does not mean, by default, that you have sinned. When you are tempted, when I am tempted, thoughts can race through our minds. It is what we do with those thoughts, those desires, that drive that can make or break us.

When I am faced with temptation, alone I will fall. When I run to no where, I will fall. When I try to ignore it I, again, will fall. No matter what I do, if I do it alone, I will fall. When I put God into the equation, anything is possible. I can overcome the temptation, I can set my mind free, I can be at peace! But this isn't what I've always done. I, being human, have sinned. I have given into temptation many times as I'm sure you have too. I have places other things as a higher priority than God in my life. Studies, school, work, guys, money, friends, and family have all been more of a priority than God at some point in my life. One cannot serve two masters, I have to make my priority God and everything will fall into place.

Being tempted, as I said above, is not sin; it can, however, cause one to sin. When we live a life without God, we are tempted feverishly. When we live a life with God, we are tempted even more. God never said it would be easy!

I used to say that "God will only give the burden you can bear;" I was incorrect. Life will always put on you more than you alone can handle, that way God is a necessity in your life. If you could handle it all on your own, you wouldn't feel you needed God. Life sucks because we need to know Him. Even when we do, it doesn't mean that it will all get easier, it means that it will get harder. In Mathew, Mark, and Luke it talks about being persecuted because of God's name; it also says that if you stand with Him you He will not deny you. If I believe as I say that I do, I will have more hardships. If you are looking for an easy way out, then that's not what God promises. It isn't about ease of life, it is about knowing where you will go after your body dies.

Temptation only reminds us of how weak we are without God in our lives. Will there be temptation, yes. Can you conquer it alone, no. Will you sin if left alone, yes. Can you conquer it with God, yes! Will you sin if you are running (not walking or strolling) toward God, no -unless of course you are only saying you are.

I fail at this in life, as do most people. Temptation is hard mountain to get over!

Lesson 39 - Love Once Again

Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast;  it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoings, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. (1 Corinthians 13: 4-8)

Once again, I return to love. So many things can happen in life to make one feel like love doesn't exist; I know I have felt that many times in my past. This cannot happen, no one acts like this! I know that there is times in my past that I have thought that I had found love, but I obviously hadn't; it ended. Previously, when I spoke of love in my blog in February, I just stated what it was and that I had never really felt it before. What I didn't do was state what it means to act like that or to find it. I also didn't go into much other detail. Because of this, I will do it now. I feel that, to really understand love (an impossible task without God), it must not be rationalized, but rather felt.

Is Patient and Kind - When I was a child, I was a patient and kind individual. As time progressed, I became more impatient and less kind. With every "love" I thought I had, I realized that patients was never involved. It was alway "right now." It was never about kindness, it was about what the other could get, what I could get. Love is patient and kind; that means that every time I get impatient with my parent I wasn't showing them love, I wasn't being kind. They have always been patient with me, why did I treat them that way? Disregarding rationalizations, I was not showing love to my parents; I was dishonoring them and God.

Does Not Envy and Boast - If love doesn't envy and doesn't boast, then I'm really bad at this. I am competitive; thus, I envy. I am competitive; thus, I boast. I'm all around bad at this, if I am competitive with my family and friends, how can I ever find love that is truly love? I was competitive with my parents - that isn't good at all. I couldn't even show true love to my family.

Is Not Arrogant or Rude - This one I think that I have a handle on; still, lets discuss it. Arrogance and rudeness, two things that most everyone stays away from as they cannot stand people that are such. To be arrogant, to feel you are better than everyone else would cause someone to be rude to others. Because of that, I can see why the Bible put them together. When arrogance steps into your life, you put yourself first and God last. To be rude is to not be kind.

Does Not Insist on Its Own Way -In many ways, this relates to being arrogant and rude; however, it means that you should be willing to give up everything for it. Your way wouldn't be to give everything up that you possess, so that is what you might have to do. It should never be all about you; if it is, it isn't love.

Not Irritable or Resentful - With the exception of "the time of the month" or pregnant woman, the irritable thing should be upheld. However, the resentful thing should always be upheld. I've noticed in life that when someone has to change to be with you, or if they change because that is what they think you want, that is when people start to resent others and become irritable with them. When one isn't patient, one becomes irritable. Thus, one should be patient with others, something we already know, and one shouldn't force others to change, goes along with not insisting on your way too. Even if you don't force change, someone can resent the other for changing them. For instance, if you change for fear of losing them, if you change for fear of anything, it will cause resentment. This is just something that I have noticed, and something I have been on both sides of.

Rejoices in The Truth - No lie, even a white lie, is rejoiced in love. If I look fat in this dress, TELL ME!!! If you tell a white lie to "not get yelled at" and then someone else tells me I look fat, I would be upset with you for not telling me the truth. So, while you might get scorned woman will appreciate it later. In other ways, always tell the truth, even when you fear the consequences. Something my mother always told me was "if you tell me the truth it doesn't guarantee that you won't be punished, it just means that it will be less punishment than if I found that you lied about it." This is a very good thought to live by, so go Mom! When one lies to others, even once, trust is lost. When trust is lost, even a little bit, you won't get it back. Even if you live by the "forgive and forget" model, God didn't let us forget our past, our wrongs are still in our mind to remind us we need Him. Because of this, the wrongs done, though we shouldn't through them in our loved ones faces, will always be there. 

Bears all Things -This is a "just in case you fail at everything above" thought. Forgive always. It will go through any hurt, any torment, and pain. If it is true love, it will happen.

Believes all Things -If you always tell the truth, easily done!!! If you lie, then this is saying that you believe that they will not lie again. This is, in many ways, against human nature, but it what would need to happen to keep the love alive. Then again, if it dies, it really isn't love now is it?

Hopes all Things -Always strive for the best with the one you love. You can hope for the best in all that you do, you can help each other achieve the best.

Endures all Things -Like I said above, love endures all the pain, the torment, the drama. It stays true and will remain when times are hard, even when they seem impossible. God should always be the most important things in love, when He is your number one, anything can be endured.

Never Ends -With every relationship in your past that failed, that you said to yourself " this is love", you were wrong. Many people say that "they never forget their first love," when really, you never forget your first lust, your first hurt, your first kiss, your first happy feeling. That is what you don't forget, but if you really loved your "first love" you'd still be with them. Just sayin'. After its over, many try to go back, they aren't going back to love, they are going back to comfort. Thus, the love you thought you had wasn't there. I think I might get attacked for this, but you can only truly, truly love when it doesn't die.

Lesson 38 - Prejudices, Vices, Sin and Time

"We have a strange illusion that mere time cancels sin. But mere time does nothing either to the fact or to the guilt of a sin." - C.S Lewis

“Have no fear of robbers or murderers. They are external dangers, petty dangers. We should fear ourselves. Prejudices are the real robbers; vices the real murders. The great dangers are within us. Why worry about what threatens our heads or purses? Let us think instead of what threatens our souls.” - Victor Hugo

Prejudices, Vices, Sin and Time

The quotes above really hit home for me. I have so many worries and fears about my surroundings, past, and future that I reluctantly think of the wrong inside of me. I have prejudices, I have vices, I have thought that if a secret stays a secret long enough that it will go away. They have all come back to bite me, hard. 

Prejudices - 

The Bible says "judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" (John 7:24). We are not to judge when we have insufficient or superficial information, when it is based on a personal opinion, on the basis of appearance, based on something that we have done, we cannot neglect mercy. Appearances can be deceptive, "some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden" (1 Timothy 5:24,25). I judge, a lot. As Christians, we are told we shouldn't judge; however, that is all we are taught to do. This person isn't right because they don't believe, they're gay, they're a Democrat, they're Republican, they're white, they're black, they're Hispanic,they're Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, etc. All we know to do is to judge. We should judge in a light that is giving the other party the benefit of the doubt! We shouldn't judge when we don't have all the facts. We really shouldn't judge when we ourselves have been in that situation. This is the hardest for me. Because I have lived through something, or I hated myself for that action, I decide that they are wrong for that action. Who am I to judge them for something that I did and didn't like. They will judge themselves, God will judge them. The more I think of my own actions, the more that I realize that I cannot judge someone unless it is in the best possible light. 

Vices -

We all have our extreme behavior. Aristotle gave many examples of vices and virtues. He said that with every character trait, there were extremes (vices) and the mean (virtue). We have to work very hard constantly to attain the virtue in our lives; however, we all have our vices. We can be rash or a coward, we can be self-indulgent or insensible, we can be boastful or understate everything, be can have envy or spiteful, we can be shy or shameless. We are rarely have courage, temperance, patience, proper ambition, truthfulness, modesty, or righteous indignation. We are all one extreme or the other. These extremes will kill us; these extremes will consume our soul. 

Sin and Time- 

I always try to forget my sin after I ask for forgiveness. Me trying doesn't mean I succeed. Just because time elapses doesn't mean that the sin is a okay; it doesn't mean that I can continue in a lie. Like C.S Lewis says, guilt doesn't go away with time. A sin, or a lie, will haunt you until you come clean. It will haunt you even then. It is better to never lie and sin, but we all have fallen short of the glory of God. We are all screw ups; thus, the reason that we are equal.  I know that I mess up, I know that time can't make it go away; however, I want to believe that it will. This isn't what life is about (waiting for the wrong we do to pass), it is about fixing it, becoming more virtuous, and having a relationship with God.

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"I Run To You" - Lady Antebellum

I run from hate
I run from prejudice
I run from pessimists
But I run too late
I run my life
Or is it running me
Run from my past
I run too fast
Or too slow it seems
When lies become the truth
That's when I run to you

[Chorus]
This world keeps spinning faster
Into a new disaster so I run to you
I run to you baby
And when it all starts coming undone
Baby you're the only one I run to
I run to you

We run on fumes
Your life and mine
Like the sands of time
Slippin' right on through
And our love's the only truth
That's why I run to you

[Repeat Chorus]

[Repeat Chorus]