It is busy times like these when I realize how much I miss God's word and fellowshipping with other Christians. Only the past few days I started lab rotations, and already I am seeing much free time disappear. Don't get me wrong...I am starting to really enjoy the process...but working two labs is pretty time consuming. I've been going back home around 10pm. But things are looking up! Because I am yearing for God more than I have been lately. How joyful and precious is the time I get to spend meditating on his word.

A Triple Whammy Comes if any seek to maim, kill, and destroy the inhabitants of this house:


 

Well....not exactly what I had in mind to post originally.... I am just playing with words. It has a double meaning. If you can catch it, great. Kudos to you, but if you misconstrue it...oh well. The price of making analogies... but seriously the following three passages are really powerful and speak to my heart: (the triple whammy to my heart)

Psalms 94
Proverbs 3
Ecclesiastes 2

Guard your hearts brothers and sisters in Christ. Smother and fill it with His Truth.

Hmm, I started to think of this like my conscience and the Holy Spirit telling me what I am doing is right/wrong. You know that feeling when you are being tempted, and you are thinking about it? You know its wrong deep down? Well, the awareness is always there, it is just how much you supress it.

In all practical ways of life I fail to listen to such awareness. So dangerous it is... just to show you an example please see this post on a poor guy being punched broadside of the head...be very attentive when reading the body language, also I highly recommend the comments too.

http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/2007/02/object-lesson.html

Here is the video:

Thank God for His patience with me. I have been so foolish this past quarter. I am also finding that I am struggling...maybe more than ever with temptation. Wow! The decietfulness of my "rational mind" is truely disheartening. I find myself rationalizing things too often.... Oh Lord hear my cry! This passage really spoke to my heart-Psalm 88 and Psalm 89.

Also, a wonderful email reminder to me as well-

Friday, June 13, 2008

Becoming New

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

— 2 Corinthians 5:17

The Scripture is full of descriptions of the believer's new spiritual life. God promises He will give us a new heart. In Ezekiel 36:26, God says that He will "give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; [He] will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

God also will give us a new song. The psalmist wrote, "He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God . . ." (Psalm 40:3).

The Bible also promises there will be a new self. Ephesians 4:22–24 says, "That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

As believers, our spiritual lives are new, but we still have the capacity to sin. And though we have the capacity of sin, the tyranny and penalty of sin in our lives has been broken. However, sin's potential has not been fully removed, because we have two natures within us that are constantly at battle: a new nature and an old nature.

As you know, it's very easy to sin. It comes naturally to us. But the new nature doesn't come naturally; it comes supernaturally. These two natures are battling, and each day, you determine which nature you are going to build up.

Which will prevail? The one you build up the most. Every time you obey God and resist sin, you are building the new nature.

And this remind me of what Jesus told his disciples about stumbling blocks...which I am really struggling with right now: Matthew 18

7"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come! 8If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. 9And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.

Maybe this will bless anyone else who comes by it. In anycase, I will be really striving to know God more and reading, praying, and meditating on His Word. Maybe, finally, I will start knowing Him more. I think I will be working on Psalms and Proverbs (new for me), and continue on in Matthew. So much to learn! There is so much I forget, but each time I go back, God reveals much more! What a blessing indeed. Thanks LORD!

I have been asked why I am a republican. I'll keep it short since I am not eloquent...

1.) I absolutely believe in a triune God who has saved me from sin and death. And therefore I have many convictions and philosphies of life and how we should live it taken from God's Holy Word. All philosophies of Republicans are not perfect...in fact they are far from perfect. But there are many key issues that happen to be in the "conservative mentality" that makes me a Republican.

2) Key Issues-

A) We as a people have personal responsibility for our lives-Proverbs 6:1-19 (therefore there is no need for a large government that has too much control...because a government that has the power to give....has the power to take away.

B) Life is a Gift from God - I believe humans have basic rights elaborated by the constitution of the U.S. (every single one of them! Not to be messed with by any oppressive government-foreign or domestic, because the government's purpose is to protect those rights, not rule them!) Here is some elaboration if you are interested: http://www.gotquestions.org/war-Bible.html and http://www.gotquestions.org/self-defense.html

C) Taxes are fine...just not to the point of the government having enough money take control of our lives (or that we become dependent on the govenment for making our lives run smoothly...) Hmmm...I won't really elaborate on this one because I  don't know much....but there are certain cases which are ridiculous. *YES this is an area where you are free to attack. It's a weak spot....a huge gaping one at that... hehe

D) I believe there are explicit morals that all man should strive to abide by the strength of God (when made righteous by the blood of Jesus, these things are done because of the Love of the Father for us, where we then love Him in return, these "morals" are pleasurable for the saved), because when we do not, we bring judgement to ourselves-Romans 1:18-32 (adultery, fornication, selfishness, pride, anger, hate, etc) and we should absolutely spread and share our ideas with everyone (if we believe, Love, and hold the TRUTH-which is God's Word-we should teach, serve, and disciple to others, even if it is offensive to those who hate Him-Romans 8:5-8)

3) Democrats, Republicans, Independents- all of us have some overlapping morals. All I believe, and hope, want the same end goal of a Nation that is a well functioning machine....it is just how we get there that drives us bonkers over each other. But anyway....I guess I am trying to say I am not a Republican because I like Republican values...(all of them in general). But I am a Republican because my morals and convictions which are revealed to me through God's Word just happens to coincide with many values that Republicans hold...

Does that sound wierd? Please comment or criticize (constructive please). I don't mind....no really, I don't. I would even appreciate it if it is not an all out flaming...