So today, I've found the connection between that guy that claims to be the prophet Elias/Elijah and John the Baptist. Matthew 17:11-13. I wondered about this for so long. I had kinda forgotten about it though until I stumbled upon those verses tonight.
Chapter 15 (9, 14, 17-18) were particularly reassuring during my read tonight. I love the Bible so much, it gives me so much peace and whenever I start to doubt some of the things that have happened and wonder if I'M the nutty one, I open the Bible and He reassures me. Praise God :)
Lately, I've been trying to figure out how I feel about whether or not God is inclusive or exclusive. I've always been raised that God is very INCLusive. And looking at how Jesus was, he seemed very inclusive and accepting. I know somewhere in the Bible (NT) it says accept others as Jesus accepted you. ("Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." Romans 15:7) BTW, I tend to use the NIV version of the Bible although I like to compare it with the Douay Rheims & the Greek/Hebrew interlinear. Anyway, so Jesus accepts us as we are. (Praise God, again) And I would love for everyone, yes EVERYONE, to feel how I feel on the inside- the peace, the reassurance, how Christ/my faith takes away my worries, helps me to relax. But, for someone that may have all those things in a different religion, how can one compete with that? And, how do I know that God would ultimately turn someone away for that? I don't know that. And honestly, no one will truly know that until they are there before Him. People can make exceptions, then God can MOST DEFINITELY can make exceptions. And personally, I don't feel comfortable putting God in a [small] box. I added small because I am only human, my mind naturally has limitations so naturally I put him in some kind of box, I just try not to put him in a small one :)
So I'm trying to figure out how I feel about that issue. But really, does it even matter? Because I have faith in our Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ so I know I'm covered. And I'm going to continue to make relationships and have open conversations to maybe lead people to the peace I have within me but if someone is already at peace... This is where my problem lies. Ok I'm seriously going in circles. Anyway, I've been reading C. S. Lewis' book, The Screwtape Letters, it is very interesting! It takes me a minute to figure out what he's saying sometimes but it is a very good read so far. I suppose I'll end here, with a quote from C.S. Lewis (although, not from The Screwtape Letters.) "Preach the Gospel; when necessary, use words." I love that. :)
-xo
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
First steps
Writing is very therapeutic for me, although I am not the best at expressing myself with the written word. And though this is more for me than for you, should you stumble across my blog, I hope it is in some way helpful or enlightening.
I had been thinking about starting a blog after a certain event happened in my life. Through this event, I truly found what it meant to believe in Jesus Christ, as our Lord & Savior. Growing up, I had been raised 'christian' but we didn't regularly attend church, I knew virtually nothing about the Bible and I have a lot of memories of being told I was going to hell throughout high school. Because of many of those condemning so-called 'christians,' for a long time I refused to ever call myself a christian despite the fact that I believed in Jesus Christ.
So, back in August of this year, the unexpected happened (I don't yet feel comfortable publicly sharing this 'event') and it lead me to search the Bible for some answers. And praise God for that. Even though what happened quite literally turned my life upside down & inside out, it truly has given me life through Jesus Christ. I have been doing lots of things to help further my knowledge about Christianity (going to church and researching) and though those things are very beneficial, nothing gives me inner peace as that of the Bible.
I'd like to share a few things: A poem by Mother Teresa (inspired by Dr. Keith's poem)
"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." -Mother Theresa
I love this poem. It reminds me it is not about me, about recognition, or scoring any kind of favoritism. It is not about giving money only to those who are going to spend it wisely, but giving because it may help, they may change their mind and spend it on something positive even if their intentions were poor. I am trying to read it every morning. I'm not doing so well at that at the moment though. Well I suppose that is all I feel up to sharing at the moment.
-xo
I had been thinking about starting a blog after a certain event happened in my life. Through this event, I truly found what it meant to believe in Jesus Christ, as our Lord & Savior. Growing up, I had been raised 'christian' but we didn't regularly attend church, I knew virtually nothing about the Bible and I have a lot of memories of being told I was going to hell throughout high school. Because of many of those condemning so-called 'christians,' for a long time I refused to ever call myself a christian despite the fact that I believed in Jesus Christ.
So, back in August of this year, the unexpected happened (I don't yet feel comfortable publicly sharing this 'event') and it lead me to search the Bible for some answers. And praise God for that. Even though what happened quite literally turned my life upside down & inside out, it truly has given me life through Jesus Christ. I have been doing lots of things to help further my knowledge about Christianity (going to church and researching) and though those things are very beneficial, nothing gives me inner peace as that of the Bible.
I'd like to share a few things: A poem by Mother Teresa (inspired by Dr. Keith's poem)
"People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway." -Mother Theresa
I love this poem. It reminds me it is not about me, about recognition, or scoring any kind of favoritism. It is not about giving money only to those who are going to spend it wisely, but giving because it may help, they may change their mind and spend it on something positive even if their intentions were poor. I am trying to read it every morning. I'm not doing so well at that at the moment though. Well I suppose that is all I feel up to sharing at the moment.
-xo
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