Even Kanye West knows...

Strength in times of weakness

As Christians we can get so discouraged when times are tough. We can feel frustrated when we don't understand why God hasn't answered our prayer. It frustrates us because we often feel like we have the right to a great life because of our faith in Jesus. This assumption often leads to great disappointment when moments of weakness comes along.

Nowhere in scripture are we told that the Christian life is going to be the coolest thing since sliced bread. We are not told that our relationship and faith in Jesus Christ is going to be like a trip through Sesame Street with sunny days.

Paul was a man that knew this well. The bible tells us that Paul had some sort of affliction which he described as "a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me" The bible also tells us that this problem (whatever it was) was given to keep him from becoming conceited (2Cor 12:7).

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me" (2Cor 12:8)

Just like us, Paul spent a good amount of time in prayer over this issue that was troubling him. Three times he asked God to take this problem away.

"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness..." (2Cor 12 9a)

Without removing this affliction from Paul's life, the Lord solved the problem in a much greater way. He didn't end things, but told Paul- when you're weak, I'm strong! My power can be strong within you because you are depending on me, Your God, to carry you through these things.

Paul comments on this answer from God:

"...Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2Cor 12:9b-10)

Paul really carries this out. He says not only does the Lord's power rest on me during times of weakness, but because of that power I have a strength from Christ. I will rejoice when my life is seeming to crumble because that only means Christ is all the more present with His grace to carry me through.

Are we going through anything we don't understand? Maybe there is a big issue we're struggling with? Perhaps its something smaller, but still bothersome? I think from these scriptures we can be encouraged and know that we are not alone. From such experiences, we are stronger because the power of God is with us. I pray that we can all apply some of this truth to our own lives and appreciate the presence of our Lord's love and grace in times of trouble.

I'm a princess.

Alright confession time! Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed about being a princess. Like most little girls I envisioned a castle, poofy dresses, and a pretty tiara sitting on top of my head. When Halloween would come around I was quick to purchase a tiara (even if I wasn't dressing up that year). I simply fell in love with the idea of being a princess. This idea carried over into my teenage and adult years as well. I mean really, who wouldn't want to be a part of a royal family?!

Ever since the LORD saved me when I was 19 years old, my life has changed. My desires and thoughts and ways have changed over the past few years. But my desire to be a princess has never changed. Then it hit me about a month ago- I am a princess!!

Now don't think I've lost it. I'm not currently dancing around my house in a gown with a crown upon my head or anything like that. But I was thinking about this- God is the KING. Numerous scriptures tell us this.

"Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray" (Psalm 5:2)

"The LORD is King for ever and ever..." (Psalm 10:16)

"Life up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle" (Psalm 24:7,8)

"I am the LORD, your Holy One, Israel's Creator, your King" (Isaiah 43:15)

"No one is like you, O Lord: you are great, and your name is mighty in power. Who should not revere you, O King of the nations? This is your due. Among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like you" (Jeremiah 10:6,7)

We also know that God is our Father in heaven. Once we have given our lives to Him, we become His children. He adopts us as His own.

"...And by him we cry, "Abba, Father". The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs- heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:15-17)

"he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-"(Ephesians 1:5)

Christ Jesus Himself encouraged us to call upon God as our Father.

"This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:9,10)

So if the scriptures are true it works out like this:
1. God is King.
2. God has made us His children.
3. By being God's children, we are now princesses and princes!

Do you guys realize how huge this is? Our Heavenly Father is the King! When I think about this I can't help but smile. This thought takes away so much anxiety and stress. Who cares what the world says? If they have a problem with us, they can talk to the KING!! But its more than just having an amazing Father who is KING. By having Him as our Father, we are also called to a higher standard than the world. We not only represent ourselves as prince and princesses (Christians), but we represent the King.

What do I mean when I call myself a Calvinist?

This summer I came to the realization that i was a Calvinist. I find myself answering a lot of questions about Calvinism and what I mean when I say I'm a Calvinist. To avoid repeating myself or typing up long explanations frequently, I figured I'd share this explanation I recently sent to a friend that asked.

When someone says they are a Calvinist they are saying they hold to 5 theological points about soteriology (the study of salvation). This is a huge theological system that effects every other doctrine and belief of scripture (or so I believe). Its called "Calvinism" because a man named John Calvin (an early Protestant/reformer) was one of the first teachers to document these teachings in written form. Before him, the most well known person to teach these things or document these beliefs in written form was St. Augustine. Calvinists do not follow all teachings of John Calvin, just 5 specific points regarding salvation. Sometimes I refer to these teachings as "The doctrines of grace". But mostly I stick with the title Calvinist because its the most familiar term with most people. But please keep in mind, I'm a Christian and follower of Christ first and foremost. I just agree with the teachings that Calvin outlined.

What are the 5 points? They can be known by the acronym TULIP.

T-Total depravity
U-Unconditional election
L-Limited atonement
I-Irresistible grace
P-Perseverance of the saints

Total Depravity: We believe that man (apart from Christ) is in a position of spiritual death. We believe that man is corrupt, wicked, sinful. Scripture goes as far as to say man is dead spiritually. We believe that on his own, man does not desire the things of God, nor can he see them, hear them, or comprehend them. Apart from the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, we are walking corpses (spiritually speaking). We lack the ability to come to God on our own without the work of the Holy Spirit.

Unconditional election- We believe that God elected certain individuals for salvation before the foundations of the earth. We do not believe He elected everyone. We believe this election is not based on anything thing He foresaw in us (good or bad) or whether or not we had a desire for Him (because as the first point said, we can't even have that desire for Christ unless God gives it to us). We believe he predestined some individuals for salvation, others for vessels of wrath.

Limited atonement- We believe that while the death on the cross was sufficient to save all men and powerful enough to atone for all sins and all people, it was only efficient in redeeming the Lord's elect people. So what we're saying is that Christ did not die for every single person, but only those God has predestined for salvation.

Irresistible grace- We believe that salvation is wrought in the sinner by the work of God the Holy Spirit, not by man. We believe that if you are truly one of God's elect, then when the Holy Spirit regenerates you, you will ultimately come to Christ and be unable to resist the Holy Spirit and the grace given to you. Which just means- if you're one of God's elect, when He calls you, you can't resist that grace. We believe that all people are able to hear the external call of the gospel- the teaching that Jesus is God in the flesh, a call to repent and accept Christ by faith, and the promise of forgiveness. But we believe that only the elect can respond to that call by the irresistible grace given by God.

Perseverance of the saints- we believe that if an individual is truly one of God's elect and has been redeemed, then they cannot lose their salvation. We believe the elect cannot lose their salvation because it is in the hand of God, not of man. Once we are saved, we cannot part from the Father. This is not the same as "once saved always saved". That term suggests a false carnal Christianity where you can live however you want and claim Jesus as savior, but not acknowledge Him as Lord over your life, and still make it to heaven. That term almost implies a license to sin. We do not believe eternal security is a license to sin. We believe it is a gift and we should remain and abide in God's love and press on towards the goal. We believe that there is personal responsibility and that if one is truly a Christian, they will persevere to the end.

If anyone has a question about a specific point or would like some scriptural proof for a specific point, please let me know. I will do my best to reply as quickly as possible.

Direction of my blog

If this blog was a small child I'd hope to be deemed as an unfit mother. I've forgotten about it really. I'd like to redeem the relationship that I've developed with this blog though. Even my expression of small thoughts about theology or philosophy always left me feeling so happy. I miss that happiness. It kept me balanced in my mind. I hope to write something, anything really, sometime this week. If there is anyone that still follows this blog I thank you. I hope to fix it and give you something worth reading.

If you're interested, follow my new poetry blog. You can find it on my profile. I've been writing poetry lately. It rhymes a little too much, but other than that, I'm quite happy with it. I hope to have that blog setup and running by Monday morning.

Amazing Grace 2- oh yeah!!

So I know I haven't been around much lately. I've gotten so lazy with this blog. I've been promising at least one blog on Catholicism for a while now. That posting is sitting in the draft box, still incomplete. But I've been taking some time out to study the Word more and I hope to have that blog completed and available for you guys to read by no later than Thursday. So please check back. I'd also like to warn you guys- I doubt I'm taking the direction you expected me to take with the Catholic post I'm working on.

Now for the real reason why I'm posting right now- I learned last night that in 2010 "Amazing Grace 2: The Foundations Of Reformed Theology" will be released on DVD. This is such awesomeness!! The first DVD, "Amazing Grace: History and Theology of Calvinism" was so great. It served as an excellent introduction into the world of soteriology and covered the basics from a Calvinist perspective. I highly recommend this DVD for anyone who is seriously trying to examine Calvinism.

As for the second film it will cover the 5 Solas and why the Reformers insisted on them. But the brief preview I read says that they will cover some of what has plagued the Church and it mentions "emotional experientialism". While I haven't seen this DVD yet, I'm pretty sure that section is going to be about the Charismatic movement or Pentecostal Churches and the emphasis they place on emotion. So I probably won't be super fond of that section since I do come from a Pentecostal background. I think there is plenty of room for the Pentecostal faith within the realm of Calvinism, but I seem to be one of the rare few that holds this belief. But other than that, I'm super excited to see this DVD.

I know this is kind of geeky of us, but my friend Daniel and I are eagerly awaiting the release of this DVD. Daniel and his wife Becky are both Calvinists. While I'm not yet a Calvinist, I appreciate Calvinism and view it as a consistent system of soteriology that will effect your entire system of theology. But Reformed theology is more than just Calvinism and I'm happy to see another resource explaining this. I only wish 2010 was closer so I could start counting down the days til I watch this.

I want one of these one day.

This morning I was watching some TV. What show? The View. Yeah I know... the jokes aren't necessary. I don't have cable so I'll watch whatever is on (if and when I do watch TV).

Anyways, they had a few members of the Duggar family on as guests. Apparently this family has a total of 18 children (I counted 17 in this picture, so this probably isn't the most recent). They have some TV show on the TLC channel. This family was new to me and I fell in love with them.

This is a Christian family. The women in this family all have long hair (trying to live in accordance to 1st Corinthians 11). From what I saw I believe all of the women wear dresses and skirts only. The family discussed how they are debt free. That blew me away! 18 kids and no debt? Amazing! They shop at thrift stores, have never had a brand new vehicle, and they even make their own laundry detergent to save money. I guess you sort of have to make your own detergent when you do 40 loads of laundry a month.

They spoke of their oldest son who just recently got married. They shared that the son and wife never even kissed during their engagement, but saved that for marriage. How precious!

The older daughters wear purity promise rings. When they reach a certain age the mom takes the daughter out shopping or out for a lunch and has a serious conversation about maturity, purity, and lady-like topics. The father also takes the daughters out and tries to show them how they should be treated properly like young ladies. They encourage their children to remain pure until God sends them the one they're meant to marry.

The couple discussed how God revealed to them in scripture what a blessing it is to have children and since that day, they've been pregnant almost nonstop. The wife said that if the Lord was willing, she'd love to have even more children.

Call me crazy but I want this! What an adorable Christian family. God has truly blessed them. I'm not saying I want 18 children. I don't have a specific number in mind. If I have one then the Lord has truly blessed me beyond what I deserve. But how great is that? Having a family that lives the Christian life and values the Bible... I don't think family can get much better than that. I'll be content if I even marry one day. Children would just be a bonus.

Yeah, I realize that posts like these creep people out. Yes, I also realize that posts like these only add to the long list of reasons why I'm single (that list is another blog for another time).

Calvinist lyrics?

Its early in the AM (4:00ish) and I'm wide awake. I'm eating a bowl of chili and taking a break from reading. I've been reading through this book called "The Five Points of Calvinism" by David N. Steele, Curtis C. Thomas, and S. Lance Quinn. As I read this book I can't help but notice that the Calvinists are so very zealous about staying true to scripture, giving God all the glory, and representing Him as nothing but sovereign. I believe that zeal for God is one of the most beautiful and appealing aspects about this theological system. God is glorious, He's sovereign, He's a consuming Fire. He truly deserves more praise than we give Him.

Well I got to thinking about this song I really like called "Holy". I stopped myself from reading for a few minutes earlier and just started singing the lyrics to my Father in heaven. The song is by this band called "Exit East". They broke up not too long ago. Now were they trying to portray a certain stance on matters of soteriology? Possibly, I don't know. I doubt the guys will be searching for blogs about their music anyways so I guess we'll never know what their views were. But take a look at how beautiful these lyrics are (and perhaps you'll notice some very Calvinistic sounding themes):

"Holy" by Exit East

I could lift my hands
And sing Your praises
But that’s not justice for who You are
Lamb of God I worship You
Not for what You’ve done but,
For Who You are,

And I’ve found out life’s worth living
Happy are they that are found in You
I see You and I see all I am, cause You are

(Chorus)
Holy,Holy
the God of my will and my salvation
You are, Holy Holy
King of my desires
You are Holy

You gave your Son
So noble of a cause
To save all of Your lost
And by Your purpose in election now stands
Not by works I’ve done but
By Your Sovereign hand

(Chorus)


That song is so well written, don't you think? Even the Arminians can't deny that (insert laughter here, its a joke).