It's a sin and a shame

The Oxford's new dictionary aimed at children has taken out words such as sin and added words like blog and MP3 player. While I understand the need to keep up with the times, the words they took out were of eternal value. (Read the story: here) Baudelaire wisely noted that: "the devil's best trick was to convince us he doesn't exist". This broken fallen world is increasingly becoming more corrupt and evil and we sit idly by. I pray more people's eyes will be opened to God's love. It is only through living a life of obedience that we can truly thrive. Sin has consequences.
Take for example Sabbath rest. This is a commandment, but it is for our benefit. It is a gift to us so we are not overworked.

The Power of Prayer

I am currently reading The hiding place by Corrie Ten Boom. The thing that stands out the most for me in this book as that through good times, hard times, through birth and death this family prayed "without ceasing." They prayed for small seemingly insignificant things, for life and death things and for the impossible. They then sat back and left it to God and saw the impossible unfold before their eyes. How much are we missing out on by not praying enough or with enough faith? How many souls are waiting for us to be open to God using us to expand the kingdom?

"13If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
-Luke 11

"21 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do what is done to the fig tree, but even if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea, it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 23 "
-Mathew 21:21-23

"12 rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing stedfastly in prayer..."
-Romans 12:12

"17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints,"
Ephesians 6

The harvest is ripe

"34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36Even now the reaper draws his wages, even now he harvests the crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37Thus the saying 'One sows and another reaps' is true. 38I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor."
-John 4

Jesus is calling his disciples and us to join in the work of witnessing and harvesting souls for the kingdom. Isn't that amazing if you think about it? God doesn't need us. It isn't like he can't save people without us. He blesses us by allowing us to take part in changing people's lives and the chance to see them in heaven someday. How often do we take advantage of that?

The greatest of these is LOVE

"1If I speak in the tongues^[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,^[b] but have not love, I gain nothing......
13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

-1 Corinthians 13 (view all of chapter 13 here)

In America it is really easy to fake being a Christian. If you use the right terms like "saved" and give answers most have grown up hearing to questions about the bible. Go to church, sing songs, go home. If God's love is not in you through these things then they are meaningless. We often underestimate the power of love. Love held Jesus on the cross, love washed away our sins and love prompted God to forgive us wretches so he can spend eternity with us. Yes, he loves us enough that he wants to see everyone in eternity.

(Love is the movement is a shirt you can buy from To Write Love on her arms)

Light the darkness

My job is a dark place with little light. There are few Christians who work there. I try my best to stay away from gossip and backstabbing and the other kinds of sin that are prevalent, but lately I have been swept up with it. I dissapointed God, myself and hurt my witness. I do not confess this to you all,because I have already confessed to the Lord. That is the first, most important step after sinning. It feels like every battle I win against sin there is a battle I have lost. It reminds of the verse

1 Peter 5:8
Your adversary the devil prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

It also made me realize that the American church fails in being open about their sin. Sin would be a lot less prevalent if we were honest to our brothers and sisters.

Poems

Chartless
I never saw a moor,
I never saw the sea;
Yet know I how the heather looks,
And what a wave must be.

I never spoke with God,
Nor visited in heaven;
Yet certain am I of the spot
As if the chart were given.
-Emily Dickenson

"When I was one-and-twenty"

When I was one-and-twenty
I heard a wise man say,
'Give crowns and pounds and guineas
But not your heart away;
Give pearls away and rubies
But keep your fancy free.'
But I was one-and-twenty,
No use to talk to me.

When I was one-and-twenty
I heard him say again,
'The heart out of the bosom
Was never given in vain;
'Tis paid with sighs a plenty
And sold for endless rue.'
And I am two-and-twenty,
And oh, 'tis true, 'tis true.

-A.E. Housman