Tuesday, 29 November 2016
Which Style of Sharing Christ?
Hey guys! Welcome back as yesterday in class we looked at the four different styles of sharing Christ. The first one being very confrontational and straight-forward like Peter in Acts 2, the second one being very logical and well- reasoned like Paul, the third is a story- telling style and a sharing of your testimony, and the final style is inviting people and bringing people to Christ.
I asked my family which style was most like me and they said the inviting and bringing. I agree with this, I have always made friends with people quite easily and I find when I'm close to someone, the more comfortable I am to ask them to come to youth group (teen church) with me. I have done this several times throughout my life knowing that because we are good friends, they would be more likely to say yes. And so far, none of my friends have declined or have said no to coming to church with me. I will never forget my one friend Mikayla, a very sweet girl she struggles with a lot of family issues at home but we were and still are very close. I invited her to youth group one night and she really enjoyed it, she asked if she could keep coming because she felt very comfortable in the church environment. And so I kept inviting her, but after I moved to Rwanda she stopped going. I'm not quite sure why, maybe because I wasn't there to encourage her, I'm not sure? But this summer, when I returned to the US we started talking and she asked me if we could go to youth group, and of course I said yes. We went every Wednesday. But when I had to return to Rwanda, I was scared she would stop going again, but I was wrong. My youth pastor reached out to her and now every Wednesday when my church posts pictures on Facebook, I always see her there in the pictures. She has settled in and has made some really great friends. Anyways, all this to say that I do like inviting people and when I see how it actually can make a difference in someone's life, even if its just inviting someone to church, I feel really encouraged to do it again.
I asked my family which style was most like me and they said the inviting and bringing. I agree with this, I have always made friends with people quite easily and I find when I'm close to someone, the more comfortable I am to ask them to come to youth group (teen church) with me. I have done this several times throughout my life knowing that because we are good friends, they would be more likely to say yes. And so far, none of my friends have declined or have said no to coming to church with me. I will never forget my one friend Mikayla, a very sweet girl she struggles with a lot of family issues at home but we were and still are very close. I invited her to youth group one night and she really enjoyed it, she asked if she could keep coming because she felt very comfortable in the church environment. And so I kept inviting her, but after I moved to Rwanda she stopped going. I'm not quite sure why, maybe because I wasn't there to encourage her, I'm not sure? But this summer, when I returned to the US we started talking and she asked me if we could go to youth group, and of course I said yes. We went every Wednesday. But when I had to return to Rwanda, I was scared she would stop going again, but I was wrong. My youth pastor reached out to her and now every Wednesday when my church posts pictures on Facebook, I always see her there in the pictures. She has settled in and has made some really great friends. Anyways, all this to say that I do like inviting people and when I see how it actually can make a difference in someone's life, even if its just inviting someone to church, I feel really encouraged to do it again.
Tuesday, 22 November 2016
When Sin is more Enjoyable than God
Hey guys,
Welcome back as in todays sermon Francs Chan spoke about trials and temptations.
In this sermon he explained how people always want something better. He made the analogy of the woman at church who had traded her wallet for Francis's wallet. She was trusting that he had something better in his wallet than she did in hers. In the end, she lost everything and in the same way, I do the same thing. I trust that something out there is better than what God has to offer, but I quickly learned that God is my best option.
We looked at a passage about how temptation leads to sin and sin leads to death. This was very straight forward and honestly a little shocking. I understood the problems that sin can cause-how it can cause some of my friends to walk away from God and never return, how the sin gives birth to death and the disappointment there is of loosing everything. I just pray that I can stray away from those temptations so that I can stay true to following Christ because temptation is everywhere I look. But I can have hope knowing that when God was tempted he resisted and I know many people have also resisted temptation. This encourages me to do the same.
Thanks for visiting, see you next time!
Welcome back as in todays sermon Francs Chan spoke about trials and temptations.
In this sermon he explained how people always want something better. He made the analogy of the woman at church who had traded her wallet for Francis's wallet. She was trusting that he had something better in his wallet than she did in hers. In the end, she lost everything and in the same way, I do the same thing. I trust that something out there is better than what God has to offer, but I quickly learned that God is my best option.
We looked at a passage about how temptation leads to sin and sin leads to death. This was very straight forward and honestly a little shocking. I understood the problems that sin can cause-how it can cause some of my friends to walk away from God and never return, how the sin gives birth to death and the disappointment there is of loosing everything. I just pray that I can stray away from those temptations so that I can stay true to following Christ because temptation is everywhere I look. But I can have hope knowing that when God was tempted he resisted and I know many people have also resisted temptation. This encourages me to do the same.
Thanks for visiting, see you next time!
Monday, 21 November 2016
Trails and Temptations (Joni E Tada)
Hey guys in todays video I was really encouraged by the strength of Mrs. Joni. She has faced many trials of being paralytic and having faced cancer. However her story is amazing.
Joni always prayed to God for healing. That she could walk, that she could be cancer free. But at times it seemed as if God wasn't listening to her. "God had passed me by" she would say. She would ask, "what kind of healer would ignore the prayers of a paralytic?" Her God seemed so far away. It all seemed too much, people began to question how God could let her situation worsen. Wasn't it bad enough? But she came to a point where she could do nothing, she felt helpless. She tried shutting out the world only to find her biggest need for God. She needed help, "Lord I can't do this on my own-please be my strength." she would pray. And it was at that moment in time she understood the true meaning of healing.
I learned that loving and denying yourself to God is about fully trusting God with all your problems. Its the point where you hand your problems to God and like Joni did, ask God for the help and the strength to make it through. But what does it truly look like to trust God with your struggles? I noticed that in Joni's prayer for help, she began to focus on her prayers for a deeper healing, one that goes beyond our bodies to a healing in the soul. She asked God to search her heart and reveal to her her bitterness. Her situation she compared to a lemon, with every worsened circumstance she felt God was squeezing the lemon. She was experiencing another day of Hell. This turned her very bitter and she realized that only God can bring true healing in her suffering and that's through "finding Jesus in your Hell."
Joni always prayed to God for healing. That she could walk, that she could be cancer free. But at times it seemed as if God wasn't listening to her. "God had passed me by" she would say. She would ask, "what kind of healer would ignore the prayers of a paralytic?" Her God seemed so far away. It all seemed too much, people began to question how God could let her situation worsen. Wasn't it bad enough? But she came to a point where she could do nothing, she felt helpless. She tried shutting out the world only to find her biggest need for God. She needed help, "Lord I can't do this on my own-please be my strength." she would pray. And it was at that moment in time she understood the true meaning of healing.
I learned that loving and denying yourself to God is about fully trusting God with all your problems. Its the point where you hand your problems to God and like Joni did, ask God for the help and the strength to make it through. But what does it truly look like to trust God with your struggles? I noticed that in Joni's prayer for help, she began to focus on her prayers for a deeper healing, one that goes beyond our bodies to a healing in the soul. She asked God to search her heart and reveal to her her bitterness. Her situation she compared to a lemon, with every worsened circumstance she felt God was squeezing the lemon. She was experiencing another day of Hell. This turned her very bitter and she realized that only God can bring true healing in her suffering and that's through "finding Jesus in your Hell."
Wednesday, 16 November 2016
Finding Joy in the Testing of our Faith
Welcome back,
In the sermon, Francis Chan spoke about joy. He said that on a daily basis he sees someone stressed or mad about something, but he said that joy is not found in circumstances. Joy is a commandment, just like do not murder is a commandment. We have so much to rejoice in! Even when things are not going well and life is falling apart we can have hope that God will return where then, we will see His glory. I can rejoice in knowing that my name, Esther Renee Kanya Mosher is written in the Book of Life-I can rejoice knowing that one day my struggles on Earth will come to an end. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." I know that I am not a citizen of Earth but a citizen of Heaven. I also know that if I have the Holy Spirit, through the Spirit I will see a change in heart about joy. So I pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me what it looks like to rejoice no matter the circumstances.
Thanks for visiting, see you next time!
In the sermon, Francis Chan spoke about joy. He said that on a daily basis he sees someone stressed or mad about something, but he said that joy is not found in circumstances. Joy is a commandment, just like do not murder is a commandment. We have so much to rejoice in! Even when things are not going well and life is falling apart we can have hope that God will return where then, we will see His glory. I can rejoice in knowing that my name, Esther Renee Kanya Mosher is written in the Book of Life-I can rejoice knowing that one day my struggles on Earth will come to an end. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." I know that I am not a citizen of Earth but a citizen of Heaven. I also know that if I have the Holy Spirit, through the Spirit I will see a change in heart about joy. So I pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal to me what it looks like to rejoice no matter the circumstances.
Thanks for visiting, see you next time!
Wednesday, 9 November 2016
Psalms 30:6-12 I Will Never be Shaken Prayer
'I Will Never Be Shaken'
Psalm 30:6-12
When we feel safe, we say, “I will never be shaken.” Lord, when you favor us, you make us stand firm; but when you hide your face, we are dismayed. To you, Lord, we call; to the Lord we cry for mercy: “What is gained if we are silenced, if we only go down hill? Will the dust praise you? Will it proclaim your faithfulness? Hear, Lord, and be merciful to us; Lord, be Siems, Sams, Hans, Yanns, Chaerys, Trevors, Eyoviels, Meganes, Annabelles, Nellys, Kang Hees and Dophys help. ”
You have turned our wailing into dancing; you have removed our rags and have clothed with joy, that our hearts may sing your praises and not be silent
Amen
Tuesday, 8 November 2016
Acts 19 and the Arrow Chart
Hey there!
In class we are looking at Acts 9:1-21 for context before reading Ephesians. In this reading I began to understand what the passage said in general, what the passage said about God, about people, and what the passage demands of humans to do.
First the passage was like I mentioned earlier, a context for Ephesians. This book was written by Luke (a friend of Paul), in A.D 63-70. The recipient of the book, Theophilus. This book is an account of Jesus' life and a guide for the church.
This passage tells us that God does "extraordinary miracles" through Paul and the name of the "Lord is seized with fear and honor" (a possible focus on Gods glory and truth?). The passage also tells us that the Word of the Lord is powerful and grows in power.
The text also tells us that people to believe in the Jesus that is coming, and that we should be baptized in the name of Lord Jesus. However, the passage also tells us that people may become obstinate and refuse to believe in the way of the Lord. The text tells us that God can use people to do extraordinary things like God used Paul to heal people in miraculous ways.
Finally, the passage demands that humans receive the Holy Spirit. Humans should not gain the spirit from John or anybody else, but that we may be baptized in the name of our Lord. The passage also implies that we remain strong and bold in our faith so that we don't become obstinate and refuse to believe in the ways of the Lord-we must be careful that we don't die away like the roots scorched by the sun from the Parable of the sewer.
Thank you for visiting and see you next time!
In class we are looking at Acts 9:1-21 for context before reading Ephesians. In this reading I began to understand what the passage said in general, what the passage said about God, about people, and what the passage demands of humans to do.
First the passage was like I mentioned earlier, a context for Ephesians. This book was written by Luke (a friend of Paul), in A.D 63-70. The recipient of the book, Theophilus. This book is an account of Jesus' life and a guide for the church.
This passage tells us that God does "extraordinary miracles" through Paul and the name of the "Lord is seized with fear and honor" (a possible focus on Gods glory and truth?). The passage also tells us that the Word of the Lord is powerful and grows in power.
The text also tells us that people to believe in the Jesus that is coming, and that we should be baptized in the name of Lord Jesus. However, the passage also tells us that people may become obstinate and refuse to believe in the way of the Lord. The text tells us that God can use people to do extraordinary things like God used Paul to heal people in miraculous ways.
Finally, the passage demands that humans receive the Holy Spirit. Humans should not gain the spirit from John or anybody else, but that we may be baptized in the name of our Lord. The passage also implies that we remain strong and bold in our faith so that we don't become obstinate and refuse to believe in the ways of the Lord-we must be careful that we don't die away like the roots scorched by the sun from the Parable of the sewer.
Thank you for visiting and see you next time!
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