Soak, Wash, Rinse, Sin

“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order [garnished, decorated]. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Matthew 12:43-45

This unclean spirit did not return to a body that was emptied of its sins. The body to which it returned was actually garnished to suit this spirit's tastes: secret desires and entertainment of temptations adorned the interior. When the unclean spirit returned to this man, it found a body empty of Christ's presence. 

Why would an unclean spirit even leave a man if it were not Christ that had cast it out? One reason could be to deceive that man into believing he had achieved some form of holiness on his own. If the man resolves to be a better person and attempts to overcome his sin on his own power, he will only be able to make an outward show of his righteousness. On his own, he has no power to cleanse his inward being of unrighteousness. I suppose this unclean spirit left in order to allow that man to believe he had succeeded in overcoming sin without Christ.

I keep finding myself in a sin cycle. I pray that God will grant me a better understanding of His gospel. He is the only One that can change me on a heart level.

A Surrender Song

Take this life,
     make it Yours
All I am,
     Lord I'm Yours
For all You are
     is all I need
My desire
     is Your will for me

I couldn't find these lyrics online. 
It leads me to believe that Dustin (someone please tell me his last name) wrote this.

Coloring Page - Eutychus Falls - Acts 20

Over this past summer, I taught first and second graders about the story found in Acts 20:7-12. It's the one about Eutychus. While preparing for the lesson, I realized that there weren't any coloring pages online for this story! I really wanted to have a coloring page for it! So, I resolved to make one.

Click to enlarge to original size, 11"x8.5" 

I helped the kids to paste googly eyes to Eutychus' face, as if he were jolted awake by the fall. It worked out really well!

If you are at a loss as to which story I am referring, read it here.

If anyone else is looking for a coloring page for this lesson, go ahead and use mine. (I'm no artist, but I can vouch that this is at least decent enough for first and second graders!)

Today's Highlights

In my Bible:


Luke 6:12-13 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles.
(Realizing to not be hasty about certain decisions)


Luke  6:35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
(Realizing the character of God)



With my Peeps:


new church experience
new tye dying experience
new baking experience
new movie experience
new frisbee technique

God, Who Fulfills His Purpose in Me

I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

Psalm 57:2

This is also translated as, "God, who fulfills His purpose in me."
The ways that I have been praying for God to work in and through my life have not been the ways that He has been working in and through me. Nevertheless, He has been fulfilling His purpose in me. And it has been surprising to see the ways in which He wants to use me and to show Himself through me. I have begun to see His hand in the little things of my day, such as keeping me in work fifteen minutes late so I could run into a Christian sister on my walk home.
 
Has He shown Himself to be working in or through you in such small yet profound ways?

Tu Amor Hace Eco

I translated this song (with a few liberties) from Spanish into English. You'll love it even more in Spanish. LOVE! It's called "Tu Amor Hace Eco en Todo Mi Universo" and it is by the band Rojo. Scroll down for the YouTube video!!

God, Your Love Echos

There on the cross, in its whole,
Was cleared all that had been charged against my soul.
It was you, Jesus, Lord,
Who paid the price for me to be restored.

There are no words
That I'd want to speak
Nor are there songs
That I'd want to sing;
Because if they're not for You,
They're not anything that I'd want to pursue.

You are the air, the rain, the joy of a child's laugh,
Power, calmness, the Guide with rod and staff,
Mysteries, galaxies, surprises like the ocean's breeze

You are the daylight, the moonlight, the one Light that can set me free,
Destiny, history, treasure of most worth to me,
The key and door, the voice that beckons to eternity

God, Your love resounds throughout all my universe.

I'm no longer lost now that I've felt Your grace,
All my pain leaves under the strength of your embrace.

God, Your love resounds throughout all my universe.
God, Your love resounds throughout all my universe.

가위 (Gawi)

Gawi is the Korean word for torment by demons. It has very specific circumstances:

So, you're sleeping. Then you wake up. It's still the night. You realize that you can't move your body. Your entire body is paralyzed, all of it save for your eyes. You can still blink and move them around. You hear a piercing sound to your right. You slowly roll your eyes to the right and look. Beings you never could have imagined are malevolently advancing on you. They're taunting you because they know that you cannot move or pull away. These are demons.

Koreans are warned that the only way to stop the demonic activity of Gawi once it happens is to pray.

My friend was telling me about Gawi last night as we walked alongside the cemetery. It wasn't my first time being exposed to the concept. It was, however, the first time that I had an uneasy night because of it.

I was going to bed and couldn't fall asleep because I heard a lot of strange sounds. I know the familiar sounds that usually fill my room at night due to my leaving the windows open, but last night's noises were exceptionally disturbing. I wasn't sure if I wanted to open my eyes to find the source of the strange sounds or if I wanted to keep them closed. While I was still deciding, a new clamor arose that far surpassed any of the previous sounds in volume and clarity. This new one pierced the air and may have woken me up had I been able to fall asleep earlier. It was a shriek.

The familiar shriek that Carly makes when her personal space is violated. Oh, the antics of her wonderful room mate, Jennifer :)

And I slept well, knowing that all in life was normal.

All Scripture is God-Breathed and Useful

These are the verses that I am in the process of memorizing. I know that some of them are basic, but those are listed here because I've never actually memorized them before. Maybe you should quiz me on my progress when you see me.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful,  who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you will be able to bear it.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.

Ickies

Two things that I considered icky: sin and confession. Sin is still icky, but confession... not so much.

Have you ever been too ashamed to tell God your sin? I was. Then it became a limb on my body and I figured that God already knew about it so I didn't have to confess it to Him. Then my sin didn't bother me.

But I knew that was wrong. In John 8:11, Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you; go now and sin no more." That struck me because I know that we are sinful beings and can't fully rid ourselves of that sin nature while we are in our earthly bodies. Did Jesus really expect her to stop sinning??

But that is what repentance is about. Galatians 4:9 -- But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

It wasn't until I found myself confessing my sin to a friend that I felt shame again. I wasn't numbed to my sin anymore; I was forced to confront my bondage to it.

And now I'm holding on to another one of God's promises: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV). I believe the Holy Spirit lives within me and that I have the ability to claim this freedom from the sin to which I once thought I had to be in bondage. That was the truth that came out during my time of confession and prayer with a sister.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

And that applies in EVERY SINGLE TIME I am tempted.

Now I better understand what freedom in Christ is. I also see the value of confession.

I hope you will be encouraged by these scriptures and that you will endeavour with me to cease tolerating open and rebellious sin in your life.

I will be held accountable now; I know I won't be able to ignore this certain sin anymore. I expect to see breakthrough, too. I hit a wall last night when I had to confront my sin. Prayer got me through it. Now I will have better quiet times with God and I will learn how to pray better and how to better glorify Him through my life. I know a roadblock has been removed! I can walk again with my Father!!

Extended Family

I was part of a group of five who went to the Adirondacks this past weekend. It was a lot of fun: water activities, hiking, bouldering, corn on the cob, photo opps, bugs, and family.

I especially liked the family part. Not only did I grow closer to my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I also met Carly's family. It was such a blessing! Carly's mom and I shared our experiences from and hopes for our our Sunday Schools. Carly's dad avidly wanted us to experience the lake via sail boat, and he was a real trooper about the gnarly gash and lump combo he earned from that excursion. Carly's little brother, Paul, even changed his socks to better impress me. The Sombric family was super hospitable and loving. I'm glad that I can consider them my own family too, through Christ's adoption (Galatians 4:4-6).

I really enjoyed getting closer to my Christian family this past weekend. The dynamic of the Sombric family was also encouraging to me, although I could only get small glimpses of it.

Also, I ask for prayer. I need to be more responsible in praying for the friends that I have grown close with, especially as I learn how they need God to reveal Himself to them.

I'm excited to grow closer with the other brothers and sisters that God has placed in my life! And I hope God blesses your fellowship like He has mine :)

Two Steeples

Here are two points that I have heard recently about the body of Christ, His church. I've really enjoyed them.


1. The church is not designed for isolation but for fellowship and accountability.

And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone..." Genesis 2:18a

ALTHOUGH our personal relationship with God should give us far more fulfillment than any other relationship. (Luke 14:26)


2. If the church is His body, even His appendix is vital.

From Pastor Francis Chan's book The Forgotten God:

"If you say you are called to be in the place you are, then a few questions need to be considered. For example, how would you be missed if you left this place? What would change? Basically, what difference does your presence here make? Or, as my youth pastor once asked me, what would your church (and the worldwide church) look like if everyone was as committed as you are? If everyone gave and served and prayed exactly like you, would the church be healthy and empowered? Or would it be weak and listless?
...My purpose in these questions is to get you to take 1 Corinthians 12 seriously, to believe that you have been given a manifestation of the Spirit and that your church, the worldwide body of Christ, and the world are crippled without your involvement. I write this beccause I love the church and want you to trust that you are more than just a helpful addition. You need to believe that you are a vital member. (I added the bold)
... It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But it's absolutely vital to grasp that He didn't call you there so you could settle in and live out your life in comfort and superficial peace. His purposes are not random or arbitrary. If you are still alive on the planet, it is because He has something for you to do... (Eph 2:8-10). Do you believe that you exist not for your own pleasure but to help people know the love of Jesus and to come fully alive in Him? If so, then that will shape how you live your life in the place where you are."

ALTHOUGH, we should not be prideful in our service but minister unto God with the heart of a servant. (Matthew 6:1-4, among many others)

Your first few bites.

How strange it is to post my thoughts online! I could avoid it for the most part with Facebook, but that aversion would defeat the purpose of a blog.

I woke up at six thirty this morning from a nightmare. I was too afraid to close my eyes again, so I flipped on the television.

I turned to TBN, Trinity Broadcasting Network. They air Joel Osteen, women pastors, and other individuals who preach the health and wealth gospel (see Galatians 1:6-12 for a contrary gospel, the gospel of grace). Don't ask me why I like listening to these people; I myself cannot be sure of that very thing. I always take TBN with a grain (or a canister) of salt, and often try to exercise my discernment of biblical truth from those words spoken to win the approval of men (Galatians 1:10).

Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? Matthew 6:27

The pastor on television was claiming that God wants to give us good health and that He wants to dress us more richly than King Solomon, which I find to be an extortion the scripture of Matthew 6:25-34. However, the truth that God cares for my anxieties (Matthew 6:27 & 1 Peter 5:7) made me feel better about my recurring nightmare. Isn't He my fortress and my shield? Do I have to worry about any threat in this life, whether of my conscious or subconscious?

Stature as used in this verse of Matthew 6 refers to life-span or age (according to TBN and confirmed by Strong). I have eternal life! There is no end to my days! And I can spend every single day from here on out with my God!! What have I over which to worry?

I read this in my QT when I woke up for the second time today, at noon:

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

Thank you, Jesus!

This is going to be the second promise from God onto which I hold tightly. I've noticed that a lot of my friends remember the Lord's promises from scripture and the ways in which these promises pertain to their personal lives. I feel like there has only been one promise that I can remember especially pertaining to my life from before today. God spoke it to me the night that I first got saved:

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. 1 John 4:18

I am seeing a trend here: fears and worries. Maybe this is something to which I should pay more attention. 1 John continues to state:

But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 4:18

So here is to remembering God's promises and being sanctified in His love :)

Which of His promises have you held onto most firmly of late?