I once was lost but now I'm found

These two words seem to be able to hide so much about a person. It can hide their emotions, their loneliness, their sadness. These two words...media seems to always stress that these two words are a lie. Yet, nobody bothers to investigate further into what's underneath the words when they are being used. At most, one would ask, "are you sure?", but then it's just be left at that after a slight nod. "I'm okay." Don't lie. You're not. Deep down inside it hurts. It's painful. But you hide this reality from the world. You don't want to worry people, so you take the pain alone. You want to voice out your pain, the excruciating pain. But you can't bring yourself to do it. You don't want people to have to step into your messed up world. You'd rather keep it under two words. "I'm okay." Truth is, I'm not okay. It hurts so much. The loneliness, the neglection. It's like no-one cares, when really I'm just n...

It's not that I'm against Bev having an older boyfriend...but rather I don't trust him. Sure he's more "mature", but...in what world would someone in mid-twenties be attracted to a 16 year old. I'm not saying Bev isn't attractive. In fact, I reckon she's beautiful, and anyone would find her attractive. Yes, Bev is mature and looks older than 16. I get that. But think about it...25...16. It doesn't work in my mind. Maybe I'm just paranoid. Maybe he really does like her. But what if? I'm really scared for her. :/

Why did the Bible record a strange story of a highly confused, twisted and dysfunctional family? †Gives comfort: proves that the Bible is truly the revealed word of the living God, not a man made religion. The story of a not so happy family. The importance of names How do people pick names for their children? Leah and Rachel's children names tell us the story of their lives; their fight of love . BG- Jacob lay with Rachel also, and he loved Rachel more than Leah, and he worked for Laban another 7 years. (Ch29:v30) †Each name has its own story, their fight for Jacob's love. †Love, if not from God, it will only bring misery. The Honeymoon was over in a week! 1 week, 2 weddings, 7 years of heartache The first 7 years was complete misery. Going outside God's intentions (Gen 2:24) 1 man+ 1 woman = 1 family. Leah has children from Jacob but not love. Rachel has love, but no children. A Dysfunctional Family Jacob isn't involved; insensitive. †Putting...

How do we assess our own self value/worth? Often tines of crushed self image and shattered sense of security have to do with faulty views of ourselves and God. Isa 43 iffers a perspective to help us overcome this. STOP MAKING EXCUSES (v20-24) God is urging his people to come to the reality that they have a lot to do with their own problems. It's of their own deceitful heart. The people of God fail to realise that God is the loving God, our strong hope. STOP MAKING EXCUSES. If you're mature in Christ, you would look inwardly. Inwardly-> Outwardly->upwardly ->downwardly Making ceaseless praise to the Lord = our whole life TAKE AND INVENTORY OF YOUR LIFE (v26) God makes the invitation to make our case. Evaluate yourself, to start over again. Ask God to search your heart. ACT IN FAITH (v1-5) You can't just stop, but you need to act in faith. Sometimes we have to take risks, on the basis of fervent prayer, and faith. "Fear not" God speaks to hi...

We reap what we sow If you are a deceiver, one day you will be deceived by someone. Do not be deceived-Galatians The bread of deceit is sweet, but afterwards, your mouth is filled with gravel. -Proverbs God HATES deceivers. Put away all deceit and malice, we are exhorted. Deceit has consequences for others; -> Disharmony Is deceit every right? There are exceptions, despite the Bible saying straight out that it's wrong. E.g. Rahab & the soldiers; hiding soldiers in the roof Deceit for your personal gain is wrong, but if you're protecting people from a greater evil, then it's permissable. Leah's wrongs Every time she has children, she says now Jacob will love me, but you see growth for the 4th child. "This time I will praise God for the blessings He's given" What can we learn about God? GOD is sovereign; God has a grand design for the world. God uses the human frailties, and circumstances in His purpose. God can use us just as we are. ...

Philippians 4:8-14 "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances"-v11 We're all looking for contentment, yet we don't find it. We struggle with being content, primarily because we fail to trust God. We struggle to hope in Christ, and trust God in every part of our life. What's underneath our discontentment, and how do we nurture a content heart? Contentment(definition): Contentment is enormative in the old church. 2 Corinthians 12; Even in the hard circumstances, Paul is content. (Because when I am weak, He is strong) 1 Timothy 6 Hebrews 13:5-6 Contentment is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to be at the Lord's disposal and be the Lord's. Genesis 2 (example of mankind having complete contentment in God) Discontentment -> sin, rebellion against God First sin in the Bible; mankind's discontentment in God Jesus comes to save us from the state of being discontent in God. A discontented heart is HORRIBLE, and ...

This talk continues to talk about the different battles we as Christians will face in our walk with God. In talk two, ken allen addressed anxiety, in which we fight by trusting in God, covetousness in which we are to have contentment in God and lust, where we are to strive for the purity of heart before God. We also know that God doesn't leave us to fight alone, but equipes us with the Holy Spirit, body of Christ and armour of God (in which our secret weapon is the power of prayer). In talk 3, Ken allen talks about pride, bitterness and despondency. (disclaimer: my notes may not make sense, or link together, but I tried to get everything) Battling Pride: In our society today, humans are so prideful that they say, "I don't need God" and when this happens,when God has been neglected and/or thought to be "not needed", we end up becoming our own God. “ Let not the wise boast of their wisdom      or the strong boast of their strength      or th...

It seems that I have done the stupidest thing ever. Once again, stupidity and self-centredness got the better of me. What are you teaching me? To trust you more? To have more faith in what you have and will continue to provide? To know that I am already loved, despite my worthlessness? To stop being so self-centred? :/

Intro:  Of course, if there's a battle, we need to know what we're battling against. Ultimately, we're fighting against Satan's temptations and sin, but what are some of these tempatations? In this talk, Ken Allen talked about 3 different enemies that we are fighting against, anxiety, covetousness and lust. How do we fight against these enemies? Battling Anxiety: What am I anxious about?  When we are feeling anxious, we're not trusting in God, and Satan likes anxious christians. So, don't be anxious about your life, because God has plans . It's not like being anxious will increase your life span. In fact, it maye be shorten it! Remember, God has us covered! So, DON'T WORRY! In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us that we don't need to worry about things, because God really does have it covered. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and t...

Now that I'm back from camp, I've realised how horrible my note taking was. So I've decided to re-write everything in paragraph form. Our theme this year was trivial pursuit, and we talked a lot about following Christ being a battle. Let's begin! talkone: Prepared F or Battle This talk was an introductory talk, which stated that Following Christ is not a trivial pursuit. It's a battle against sin, the world and the devil. 1. Saved to serve How i s a person saved and why? Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us that by the grace of God, we have been saved through faith- not of our own doing or result of work, but a gift of God. JESUS GIVES ME LIFE. -> because of what Jesus did, we have hope in eternal life, creating a new perspective and purpose in life. But, for what purpose has He saved us? a) He has plans for us. b) He has prepared good works for us to walk in. c) To fight the battle against evil. But, if there's a battle, how has God equipped me for it?...