Some Bible!

So, for those of us who are not walking Biblical texts ,I thought you might like to look at some verses. I got a request for verses on emotional purity. If anyone has good verses PLEASE post them in the comments below!

You wouldn't believe how hard it is to find verses on "EP". I'm sure there are a bunch, but I just don't know the right words to find them... I asked several girls and here is what we came up with:

1 Corinthians 7:32-34
"But I want you to be free from concern. One who is unmarried is concerned about the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife, and {his interests} are divided. The woman who is unmarried, and the virgin, is concerned about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit; but one who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how she may please her husband."

I'd say this applies to your first needs. While you are unmarried, if God suddenly calls you to the heart of Africa for 3 months you can get up and go. You have no ties that need to be taken care of (i.e. how you are going to feed your family).

Proverbs 4:23
"Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it {flow} the springs of life."

This one's easy. "From your thoughts spring your emotions, your emotions trigger your desires, from your desires come your actions." -King Victorious Watch over your heart because it bears great (though, not complete) influence over you.

Jeremiah 17:9
"The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?"

This is one of my favorites (how many times have you heard "follow your heart"?) Once again, beware of your heart and your feelings. They are fickle and subject to dramatic change. Never trust them.

Sunshine after Rain

Bring me the sunshine!
Bring me the light!
The rays warm my heart; they warm my soul.
The darkest night is followed by the brightest day.
No matter how bleak the storm,
And no matter how loud the thunder,
The sun will always break through...

Isn't it interesting how whenever we are at our deepest lows we see God the clearest? It is when we become comfortable that we loose sight of God. "Thanks, God, but I can take it from here," say our minds, but that is our greatest problem. How many have heard the phrase, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times"? Charles Dickens wrote that at the beginning of his story A Tale of Two Cities. How can you have both the best and worst of times? Look at our world today: the average family has a house, two cars, a flat screen TV, more than one computer... Look at our world today: abortion is legal, teen pregnancy is at an all time high, murders run rampant, drugs are sold on nearly every street corner... From "EARTH'S" perspective we've got it all together, but from God's perspective, we couldn't be more lost.

We are headed for the tribulation. The destruction of humanity. Things can't get any darker. They cannot get anymore hopeless. But, "The night is always darkest just before the dawn," and the closer we get to the tribulation, the closer we get to Jesus' second coming -- the Triumphant Entry! Do not loose hope, brother's and sisters. Even in the dark there is hope!

I close my eyes and fear to open them.
What will I see?
Destruction? Famine? Earth is in ruins...
A light shocks my eyes open and I see,
I see a gleaming king on a gleaming horse
A shining army rides behind Him.
I lift my arms and am taken up to Him.
He says, "You called on Me and I answered."

What thoughts are in my head...

I'm always here.
I'm always waiting.
I'm always wondering what you're doing.

I wonder what you look like.
I wonder where you are.
I wonder what we will do together.

I think about what I'd like to share with you.
I think about what you'll want to share with me.
I think about what God will plan for us.

I used to pine and long for what wasn't there.
I used to wish and dream, and miss what was in front of my face.
I used to walk by those that needed me most.

I now know my task at hand.
I now know what I must be doing.
I now know Who sent me here.

I can be patient.
I can wait on God.
I can learn, and study His Word.

He sees me when I cry.
He sees me when I'm alone.
He sees me and is with me always, so, I'm never really alone.

A New Dress

I am for bringing dresses back -- and I'm NOT talking about those mini dresses that don't even cover my chihuahua! Dresses are an element of femininity that seems to be slightly lost today. Come on girls, when you head out of the house, do you really grab that skirt? Or do head for your trusty pair of jeans? Please understand that I'm not bashing jeans -- I have a closet full of well worn, well loved jeans -- but when all we wear are split legs what happens to that special sense of femininity that belongs to us? And when we do wear dresses, is it really because the dress is more modest? I can't tell you how many times I've come across some girl who is actually wearing a dress, but the dress was anything BUT modest.

There is a dress for every body type, and ladies, they really are comfortable if you take the time to look. What's wrong with wanting to feel like the princesses we are? I personally favor floor length dresses, but if you prefer knee length that's fine too. I say getting you into a dress is the first step. I literally have 20 skirts and at least 10 dresses. Dresses are free moving, and add an element of mystery. Jazz it up with different scarves, cinch it with a belt, add flavor with crazy tights -- one dress can go a looooooooooong way!

I'm known for wearing skirts ALL THE TIME, and everywhere. One Wednesday I went to youth group and I actually decided to wear a pair of jeans. Nobody recognized me, and unfortunately I got more than a few "looks" from the guys. Again, I'm not saying that pants, jeans or even shorts are always immodest, but the simple fact that changing into skirts once in a while creates a whole new level of modesty.

I am a proponent of the dress because it shows the world that we're not afraid of being what we are -- women. We used to be call the "gentler sex" and that was a compliment! We were what brought mercy and compassion into our dealings with people. Now, I'm not saying ALL women are bathtubs overflowing with mercy and compassion (one of my less flattering nicknames at home is "Merciless") but we have lost this attribute so drastically that it's frightening.

BRING BACK THE DRESS!

Wake Up

"Lord let Your sleeping giant rise
Catch the demons by surprise
Holy nations sanctify
Let this be our battle cry

Ready yourself, Ready yourself
Let us shine the light of Jesus in the darkest night
Ready yourself, Ready yourself
May the powers of darkness tremble as our praises rise"
-- Until the Whole World Hears -- Casting Crowns



This is my cry, O Church. You are a sleeping Giant! Wake-up! Arise! With our faith in God, none can stand against us! We only defeat ourselves when we bite our tongues and cease to speak out! Should death find us -- Halleluya -- Praise God that we'd be granted His highest glory, martyrdom! Stand-up! Be silent no longer. Be examples for this lost world.



"Who's gonna fight for what's right?
Who's gonna help us survive?
We're in the fight of our lives
And we're not ready to die

Who's gonna fight for the weak?
Who's gonna make 'em believe?
I've got a hero, I've got a hero
Living in me

I'm gonna fight for what's right
Today I'm speaking my mind
And if it kills me tonight
I will be ready to die"
-- Hero -- Skillet


Be silent no longer, O sleeping Church. Stand up so that I may know who you are amongst the hiding shams and cons. Let me know what you stand for and why. Who are you? Are you willing to die for what you believe in?