Bitterness is essentially the result of not forgiving others (responding in the wrong). Hebrews 12:15 - When a seed of bitterness is planted, we need to forgive and "nip it in the bud" before it can take root.
Forgiveness (Luke 17:3-10):
1. Forgiveness is to be granted only if a <strong>sin</strong> has been committed against you.
2. Sometimes the offended party must initiate forgiveness. The one who knows, is the one who goes.
3. Forgiveness is costly.
4. Forgiveness is fundamentally a promise. Hebrews 8:1 - you will no longer hold their trespasses against them.
5. Forgiveness is not the same as trust. (The offender still has to earn back the trust. Holding back trust where it is deserved is wrong).
6. Forgiveness does not focus on secondary causes but on the sovereignty of God.
7. Forgiveness involves an act of the will - not emotions. Romans 12:7-21 - can only "fight" with good.
Things that depend on you:
Have I provoked him/her?
Have I protracted/aggravated his evil?
Have I prolonged the problem by not dealing with it correctly?
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15 August 2009
12 August 2009
Names of God: Yahweh
(Better late than never, eh? ;-)
Yahweh
(yah-weh)
Lord, Jehovah
Yahweh is the name used of God more times than any other in the Bible - in fact, it occurs over six thousand times! Literally it means "He is", describing God's self-sufficiency. Yahweh doesn't need us to exists, He exists own his own, by His own power, and He will always exist for all eternity. It is amazing to think that Yahweh chose me, that He cares about me, that He loves a sinner like me!
By Yahweh's Grace,
Jessica
Yahweh
(yah-weh)
Lord, Jehovah
Yahweh is the name used of God more times than any other in the Bible - in fact, it occurs over six thousand times! Literally it means "He is", describing God's self-sufficiency. Yahweh doesn't need us to exists, He exists own his own, by His own power, and He will always exist for all eternity. It is amazing to think that Yahweh chose me, that He cares about me, that He loves a sinner like me!
By Yahweh's Grace,
Jessica
03 August 2009
BWSC: Standing on Evidence From Mt. Saint Helens (Dr. John Morris)
This talk contained many picture visualizations, so you really had to just be there! ;-) However, he did make a really good point: the key to the young earth issue is Noah's Flood. The earth doesn't look old, but it does look flooded!
BWSC: Stop Treating Me Like A Child: Growing Into Adulthood (Dr. Lou Priolo)
What does it mean to be a teen? The meaning of adolescence is "the time between" - it is the time between being a child and an adult.
Adolescence is a recent invention. Earlier in history, you would be a child or a man - there was never an interim period between the two.
In our relationships with our parents in our young adult years, it is lessens in authority and subordination, and increases in friendship. More independence is desired, but we must remember that independence comes by trust - we must prove ourselves worthy to gain more independence.
Adolescence is a recent invention. Earlier in history, you would be a child or a man - there was never an interim period between the two.
In our relationships with our parents in our young adult years, it is lessens in authority and subordination, and increases in friendship. More independence is desired, but we must remember that independence comes by trust - we must prove ourselves worthy to gain more independence.
BWSC: Joseph: A Prophet Becomes an Economist (Dr. Jeff Roach on Biblical Economics)
Economics is also know as "dismal science". Literally it means "House Law", "Management of a household". What is economics? It is the efficient allocation of scarce resources in a market place. It is a study of the markets.
What does a healthy marketplace have?
A. Right incentive structure.
B. Free flow of good information.
C. Minimal impediments to bargain.
D. Appropriate role for government (i.e. property rights and contract enforcer)
A healthy market place has individuals who are:
Loving participants
Honest; not bearing false witness; do and say the same thing
Not respector of persons
Respectful of others' property; not stealing
Joseph:
Why Joseph of all people? He probably had a similar background, and his personal qualities are worth emulating.
Joseph implements the proper role for collateral. (Genesis 47:13-25) In a similar situation in the US during 2001-2006, there was not enough considerations of risks, and that is why we are in this mess today.
Joseph dealt with the 'credit crisis' via temporary control of property He also instituted a 20% flat tax. This was the collateral (something to help offset risks) that he used.
Applications:
Some of Joseph's personal qualities that we can emulate are:
Respect for what was not his; differed to God, and took no glory for himself.
Professional qualities:
Served his master well; delayed present consumption for future consumption
What does a healthy marketplace have?
A. Right incentive structure.
B. Free flow of good information.
C. Minimal impediments to bargain.
D. Appropriate role for government (i.e. property rights and contract enforcer)
A healthy market place has individuals who are:
Loving participants
Honest; not bearing false witness; do and say the same thing
Not respector of persons
Respectful of others' property; not stealing
Joseph:
Why Joseph of all people? He probably had a similar background, and his personal qualities are worth emulating.
Joseph implements the proper role for collateral. (Genesis 47:13-25) In a similar situation in the US during 2001-2006, there was not enough considerations of risks, and that is why we are in this mess today.
Joseph dealt with the 'credit crisis' via temporary control of property He also instituted a 20% flat tax. This was the collateral (something to help offset risks) that he used.
Applications:
Some of Joseph's personal qualities that we can emulate are:
Respect for what was not his; differed to God, and took no glory for himself.
Professional qualities:
Served his master well; delayed present consumption for future consumption
The Future
I've found that it can be so very easy to get caught up with the future - sometimes at the cost of missing out on the present. Thoughts and plans can fill the mind. Now don't get me wrong, planning for the future (while always keeping in mind, Lord willing) isn't always, but letting ourselves become consumed with it is. It can be tempting to dwell on what life will be like five, ten, twenty years from now...what will life look like - will I be single or married and with kids? You wonder, wouldn't it be easier if God could just give you a plan, a checklist for the next five years? Once you think about it though, if there was a simple checklist of what God had prepared for you in the future, how would we learn to trust in Him? Our very existence, our next breath that we draw are all gifts from above. Yes, we need to prepare for the future, but all the while serving God in the present.
The other side of this is living so completely in the present, that you take no mind in the future. I have to admit that I fell a bit into this trap when I was younger. Just recently I discovered how predominate this type of mindset may be in the churches today. It is the belief that Jesus will most likely be coming back soon, so why bother with things like marriage, children, good deed and building on those things that will last? Are we to become so arrogant that we put aside all other important parts aspects of our faith? It is necessary for us to invest for the future, to have a legacy for our future generations. For, who is to know when Christ shall return? Yes it may be tomorrow, or it could be a thousand years from now. The Bible tells us it will happen as a thief in the night. As Christians, we should be ready at any moment to meet our Savior, our Adonai face-to-face, but yet we need to be building foundations for the next generations. We need to be praying even now for those that may follow us, as past generations have done for us. We must find that delicate balance between the present and the future and stick to it until the end.
By Yahweh's Grace,
Jessica
01 August 2009
Names of God: Adonai
Adonai
(ad-o-noy')
Adonai means "Lord, Master". We can not serve two masters. I praise Adonai that He is my master and lord and I may serve Him!
Further information on the name Adonai (taken from a previously linked website):
Meaning and Derivation: Adonai is the verbal parallel to Yahweh and Jehovah. Adonai is plural; the singular is adon. In reference to God the plural Adonai is used. When the singular adon is used, it usually refers to a human lord. Adon is used 215 times to refer to men. Occasionally in Scripture and predominantly in the Psalms, the singular adon is used to refer to God as well (cf. Exd 34:23). To avoid contravening the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exd 20:7), sometimes Adonai was used as a substitute for Yahweh (YHWH). Adonai can be translated literally as, "my lords' " (both plural and possessive).
(ad-o-noy')
Adonai means "Lord, Master". We can not serve two masters. I praise Adonai that He is my master and lord and I may serve Him!
Further information on the name Adonai (taken from a previously linked website):
Meaning and Derivation: Adonai is the verbal parallel to Yahweh and Jehovah. Adonai is plural; the singular is adon. In reference to God the plural Adonai is used. When the singular adon is used, it usually refers to a human lord. Adon is used 215 times to refer to men. Occasionally in Scripture and predominantly in the Psalms, the singular adon is used to refer to God as well (cf. Exd 34:23). To avoid contravening the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain" (Exd 20:7), sometimes Adonai was used as a substitute for Yahweh (YHWH). Adonai can be translated literally as, "my lords' " (both plural and possessive).
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