Week #76 Give Thanks...

I started thinking this week about how often I actually thank God for all that He does for me and all that He has given me. Soo...................this week, I would like for everyone to comment on something they are thankful for. You don't have to go into great detail if you don't want to.

I think it is important for us sit back and think about the many things God does for us. I know I overlook His greatness far to often and I imagine there are a lot of people out there that do the same. Use this week as a chance to thank God for being so AWESOME!!! Thank Him for your life, your family, your friends, and your health.

Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving thanks.

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Week #75 How Do You View Satan?

Let's switch things up a little bit. This week...I want everyone to comment about how they view Satan. Is he nice, cocky, scary, a wise guy...etc. You paint the picture. I came across this video that might help you understand a little better what exactly I'm talking about...I hope you enjoy



Basically...I've been very interested to see how the Holy Blogger community views Satan. As "christians" we have to deal with the devil. I want everyone to have a picture in their head when they think of their enemy. This video makes light of everything, but it hits on some key points about our culture and the way we live our lives. I look forward to hearing your descriptions.

Week #74 A Christian Citizen's Responsibilities

Cheating this week...letting Charles Stanley do all the work :) I figured this passage from his devotional magazine (InTouch Magazine: Conquering Your Fears July 2009) would work great for the recently passed July 4th holiday! Check it out...leave some comments...communicate with Jesus more this week than you ever have before!

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"Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword of nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.

This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor."

Romans 13:1-7

If you catalogued every country of the world, you’d find many different styles and structures of government. But all, from dictatorships to democracies, have this in common: their leaders have been given their positions of power by the Lord (Dan. 2:21).

From a scriptural point of view, everyone with political authority is a servant of God for the good of that society. And while the Lord will hold them accountable for how they govern, His Word also details the Christian’s responsibilities as a citizen.

First, believers should be law-abiding. God’s children are expected to obey whether the issue is paying taxes or driving according to the speed limit (Rom. 13:7; Matt. 22:21).

Second, the body of Christ is to pray for government officials. First Timothy 2 urges us to make “entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings . . . for kings and all who are in authority.” While one purpose is “that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity,” God also “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (vv. 1-4).

Third, we have a responsibility to use actions and words to bear a righteous influence upon our government. Notice that I did not say “dictate” or “dominate”; rather, we are to cooperate by working within the system to effect healthy change.

Jesus called His followers “the salt of the earth” (Matt. 5:13), because salt changes the flavor of whatever it touches. The substance is also a healing agent as well as a preservative. God can bring health to a nation through citizens whose first priority is allegiance to the King of Kings.

Week #73 Post by Catie

Ok bloggerinians(much like the Corinthians or Thessalonians),
I hope you like the way this blog post proceeds. I have been reading C. S. Lewis's "The Weight of Glory" and ran into some amazing thoughts that I really wanted to share. Enter Holybloggers: the perfect opportunity to share. I will get right to it and ask you to read the quote found below.

"There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts, civilizations- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub and exploit-immortal horrors or everlasting splendors. We must play. But out merriment must be that kind which exists between people who have, from the outset, taken each other seriously- no flippancy, no superiority, no presumption... Next to the Blessed Sacrement itself, your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses."

I know this gets a little wordy but what a statement(one that we probably already knew, but is very easy to forget). If I approached each acquaintance, each classmate, each friend and family member with this idea in my heart and mind I cannot imagine what kind of love would show through. They would not only see Jesus, but feel Him through me. I allow my bad mood, bad weather, selfishness and any extraneous circumstance that could possibly arise to take my focus off of others and literally, like a magnet with an opposite attraction, all my concentration is back on me, myself and I. I wish I had some helpful hints or tricks to help us, as Christians, follow through with Jesus's second greatest commandment.."love your neighbor as yourself" but all I have to encourage us with is Jesus's testimony and his belief that we can do it through His power and grace. I don't believe its a tendency any of us as Christ followers will be able to master my any means, but crawling, slithering, scooting, shimmying towards the character and likeness of Jesus is something that takes a lot of energy, time, devotion and focus but is something we are called to do. I hope this week (that is over half way complete) has been good for everyone, especially those who had birthdays (Jon-Boy) and successful recoveries (Canden!).

thanks for listening...