Monocles for sale!!

Oops!

Bidding starting at $50!! :)

Don't hesitate! Offer will not last forever.

Okay, so I was working on school this morning and well... this happened. I am in the habit of pushing against the nose bridge to push up my glasses, and this time I heard a snap!

Maybe if you beg, TCS can take some pictures of me. Since I can only wear one monocle, the other eye has to remain closed in order to see to type this blog post. This can get very irritating for the other eye, so I figured out that if I blindfold one eye with a shirt, then I can work with my monocle. :)

"‘Nothing has more strength than dire necessity."  — Euripedes

The clay in God's hands...

This first couple weeks have been exciting! I have begun a new routine within the past couple weeks that I pray will not die when life gets busier. I have also developed a "study schedule" for lack of a better word to help keep my mind more focused towards growing in Christ likeness.


Again, this is not meant to be a boasting matter or a mode of comparison. If it becomes a snare in this way, I will stop these "public reports" immediately. It is meant to encourage rather than discourage. To help build each other up in the Lord and not tear one another down. I think you get the picture. :)


*New daily routine*


5:00 A.M. - Somehow stumble out of bed and take a shower


5:15 - Pray that God would bless my time in the Word


5:30-6:45 - Read and meditate on the Word. (Right now I am in Romans)


6:45-7:20 - Intercessory prayer


7:20 - Breakfast


8:00 - School or homework


The rest of the day varies soo much!


Along with the scriptures, the following is a compilation of other books/publications I read during the week.


"The ScrewTape Letters" By C.S. Lewis
"Discipleship Explored" By Greg Ogden
"Understanding the Times" By David A. Noebel
"What he must be... if he wants to Marry my Daughter" By Voddie Baucham
"The Journal" By Summit Ministeries
"The Schwarz Report" By the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade
"WORLD magazine"


Most of the reading happens on Sundays and on evenings.


The Lord has taught me much during the past few weeks, but this post will give you a small glimpse.


Some memory verses:

          Habakkuk 3:17-19 

"Though the fig tree should not blossum, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God the Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster with stringed instruments."

           Zechariah 11:17 

"Woe to my worthless shepherd who deserts the flock! May the sword strike his arm and his right eye! Let his arm be wholly withered, his right eye utterly blinded!"

You may be wondering why I chose to memorize this verse. There were two reasons. One, it is representative of most of the prophetical books. Meaning, that the leaders/shepherds of the flock are held to a higher standard and will receive a greater measure of condemnation for every idle word that is not truth. Secondly, it was soon after the HeathCare bill was passed and I found comfort in this warning against such men.

           Romans 1:28-32 

"And since they did see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They were full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, worthless. Though they knew God's degree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them, but gave approval to those who practice them."

I found this list of lawlessness so revealing. I think it helps to answer the questions about why Satan entered Judas and prompted him to betray Jesus. Allow me to explain.


Satan has been completely opposite of anything "admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy" (Philippians 4:8) ever since God threw him out of heaven. Very soon after God created man and woman, Satan was resolved to destroy God's perfect creation forever. Sin did enter the world, but that was not the end of the story. Since the Lamb was slain before the creation of the world, (Revelation 13:8) God knew His people would fall. He had His plan of redemption for His people prepared in advance. When the time came, you would think that Satan's goal would be to prevent Jesus from being killed. But, yet we read that Satan aided God's plan. Why?
I only see two possible solutions to this predicament.

1. Satan did not know God's plan and didn't know the scriptures concerning His son.
2. Satan is the great deceiver and deceived himself into thinking He could somehow foil God's plan.

The first choice I find very doubtful in light of when Satan tempted Jesus. Satan himself quoted Psalms back to Jesus. I think that Satan knows very well the words that are written in the scriptures. I think that this passage in Roman's answers this predicament.


That long description certainly describes the devil. It begins with the right foundation. "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God..." That is where Satan began right? He knows God, He even knows that he is powerless against Him, but He will not "acknowledge" God's sovereignty. The last verse I thought was also perfect. "Though they knew God's degree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them, but give approval to those who practice them." Doesn't that describe Satan and his followers?
           Romans 8:1-4 

"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh. In order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

 A couple lessons:


While reading through the gospels, I compiled a list of qualities Christ exhibited. We are called to continually die to ourselves and take up our cross and follow Christ. The following is a non-exhaustive list.

• Jesus was a Man who thrived on his time with His Father
• Jesus knew the scriptures like the back of His hand
• Jesus constantly analyzed the culture with the eyes of His Word
• Exhibited immense patience (especially with his disciples)
• Jesus denied Himself and submitted willingly to His Father's will
• Jesus was a servant leader

Wow!! If only we could reach this perfect example here on Earth! :) The challenge for me has been that I see His example but it's impossibility drives me to inaction. That is the wrong approach! *hits head*


The correct response should be a humble reliance upon Christ to aid me every step of the way!


Another lesson that I am still learning is that I shouldn't wonder why I am not hungering and thirsting after God's word if I don't devote significant time fervently studying it! 


The rule is that, if you don't engage, you won't know what you are missing. The bible is not a magic book. If I only crave it's teaching in the hour of necessity, it is little wonder I don't understand God's will during those moments.


Lastly, I have posted the results of my recent biblical sewing project. hehe... :) I took the four gospels and harmonized the account of Jesus from the Garden of Gethsemane until His last breath. If you want to check that out.


I thought it was powerful looking at the entire story without flipping from one book to another. I hope you enjoy it too! I apologize for the strange formatting towards the bottom. :(


Quotes for thought:


I would like to conclude with some excellent quotes from various literature and sermons I have come across.

"If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done by money, and will promote the General Welfare, the Government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers, but an indefinite one, subject to particular exceptions." --James Madison, letter to Edmund Pendleton, 1792

“God does not need you!! As a matter of fact, the only reason He called you was to have a greater handicap so he looks better in the end when everything comes out alright. God does not need you! But he does require obedience. – Paul Washer

"The legislative department is everywhere extending the sphere of its activity and drawing all power into its impetuous vortex." --James Madison, Federalist No. 48

"President Obama met with ten House Democrats opposed to the health care bill. He did all he could to get their votes. He promised to campaign for them in their districts and when that didn't work, he threatened to campaign for them in their districts." --comedian Argus Hamilton

“You’re not supposed to have a quiet time so that you can go out and be nice and moral. You see that? Christianity has morals and ethics, but Christianity is not about morality! You meet with God so that the fragrance of God and thoughts of God might stay with you all day!” – Paul Washer 

 "On every question of construction, carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed." --Thomas Jefferson 

 And one final one. :)

Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it. - George Bernard Shaw 

Until next time... So long folks! If you would like to share what God has been teaching you or what you have been reading, than feel free!