Can you see Christian lessons taught in Harry Potter?
Here is a research paper I wrote about how harry potter can really promote christian beliefs and that wiccan witchcraft is not present in the books. It is a real interesting though process I went through and my teacher really enjoyed reading it... as I enjoyed writing it. By the way, I wrote this before the 7th book was released.
Does Harry Potter Promote Witchcraft?
What question arises into the youth's head when the subject of literature is brought into perspective? Every year it's the same one. When is the next Harry Potter book being released? The story of the eleven year old wizard who was accepted into Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has captivated the hearts of millions of adolescent minds across the world. However, is that a good or a bad thing? Parents are worried that the books will lead their children into the hands of witchcraft and occult practices. Practices that are clearly against that of Christianity beliefs. But does it really? The question being raised is: Does Harry Potter really promote witchcraft? Well, in an overall perception, the story line of Harry Potter does not promote witchcraft but it is mainly a make-believe version to what some recollect to be "dark arts".
First, witchcraft or Wicca is a religion based on the worshiping of a deity. From this deity, witches receive power for their magic. The Goddess, the Wiccan Deity, gives them either good or white magic or evil or black magic. The black magic was thought to seek revenge on people who treated them informally. In a nutshell, this religion practices the art of invocational magic. This is the magic that invokes the spirit of the deity, magic not used in any of the Harry Potter books. Harry Potter never portrayed the art of deity pronounced magic. The witches in the Potter world portrayed wand waving incantational magic, also used in stories such as Cinderella. Also, the use of muggles in the books show how some people can not use magic unlike in Wicca where anyone can be a witch. This is a main key that is often overlooked.
JK Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series, wanted to write a fantasy series that would get minds wandering, wandering into the realm of imagination. Her intentions of the magical books were not to have people believing that she practiced or promoted Wicca but to have a spark or interesting storyline. Rowling, being a strong Presbyterian follower, only used about 1/3 of real alchemy information in her books. Alchemy, the chemical study in which things could be turned into gold, was used to help promote imagination and morality. Not in any way was it used to promote children to take up witchcraft.
What most Christian followers are worried about is what the bible tells them. In Deuteronomy 18:10-12, the bible says that "There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his sons and his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who calls up the dead. For all who do these things are an abomination to the Lord, and because these things are an abomination, the Lord your God drives them out from before you." Well, yes, it is wrong for Christian believers to promote or engage in anything that would be found as witchcraft or Wiccan, but how can reading a story like Harry Potter be wrong if the witchcraft analogy being using is fiction and can not be practiced. Rowling's type of witchcraft is wand waving and broom stick flying. Has anyone ever seen either tasks actually performed? No. So, how could Harry Potter be put under a category with Wicca if the magic being used is not real? It can't, that's the synopsis.
What a lot of people overlook is what is written right on the cover. Harry Potter is a fiction book series. This important factor tells everyone that the books are not real and should not be taken as anything other than. Just like a lot of other fantasy works such as The Wizard of Oz and Hansel and Gretel , Harry Potter is mainly just used for fun reading and promotes courage and friendship. You can't ride brooms or wave wands to produce shiny beams. "If this subject offends people, that isn't what I want to do, but I don't believe in censorship of for any age group , and this is what I wanted to write about. The book is really about the power of imagination. What Harry is learning to do is develop his full potential. Wizardry is just the analogy that I use. If anyone expects it to be a book that seriously advocates magic will be disappointed. Not least because I do not believe in magic in that way," writes Rowling in response to the accusations pushed at her books.
It is all fiction and should be taken as such.
In a lot of libraries and stores across the world, people are fighting to have Rowling's books taken off the shelf. What would banning the books do for the literature readers all over? Nothing. Banning the book would just make people want to read them even more. It's like when parents tell their children that they can't have cookies until after dinner but the kids try to sneak past that one little chocolate chip before it's even ready. The desire to read the books would grow rapidly higher and it would be wrong to take them away. People should see that they are only fiction and that it is nothing different than what past fantasies have already written.
When the story of the pre-teen wizard hit the shelves, people began to worry about the idea that the books equaled all things evil and people believed that the books were Satanist and should be banned. To some people, reading Harry Potter is detestable to the Lord. Actually, the books could be used to distribute a strong, symbolic story of Christian beliefs just like that of C.S. Lewis.
In the summer of 2006, a church in Charles Town, West Virginia, taught Christian lessons using the pronounced Harry Potter series. The sermons taught kids to art of good morals and character. Also, what one found is that the books got more children involved and interested in the church. It was a book that kids have read and the talks yanked at their interests. Since then the church's youth group has doubled in size.
Lessons that can be taught through the Harry Potter books are very symbolic. In the story, Gryffindor represents the good things in life alongside courage and bravery. It represents heaven. In ancient mythology, a griffin is a creature that consists of half lion and half eagle; The lion was known to be king of the land and the eagle known to be king of the skies. This represented how God is king of heaven and earth. In the books, the Gryffindor house wants to triumph over evil and do the good things that count. Slytherin, on the other hand, is another house at Hogwarts. To get into this notorious house, it would call for extreme wit and cleverness. What makes Slytherin seem bad is the way that the wizards from it use their wit and cleverness to trick people. That represents God's gift of free will to the world. The sorting hat(God) just told the students(world) which house to go to based on their choices and emotions. What resided in their mind. When Harry chose not to want to go to Slytherin, that made him different from the rest and it was based on his free will. Just as Jeremy Bowlby said in his sermon, "What House are you in?", "We are not chosen by the hat, we make the choice ourselves".
Another lesson that the books portray are their abilities to be compared to biblical references. From the beginning of the series, the storyline follows the event where Harry's mother saved his infant life from the wrath of Lord Voldemort with her loving nature. The Shield of Faith protects one from the enemy. By having faith in God over the enemy, the enemy can not get to believers because their faith is strong. God protects them with his love. This can be compared to Lily's love for Harry and how it protected him.
The Sword of the Spirit on the other hand is the word of God. The Sword is the power of knowledge. Just like in Matthew 4:11 where Jesus is tempted by the devil in the desert. Jesus knew the scriptures and followed them. The devil also studied the scripture but did not obey it. This made the difference. Just like in Harry Potter where Hermonie could get the trio out of trouble because she had studied the spells and followed them when needed. Just like Hermonie, people can use the word of God to defeat the enemy.
In some instances, Harry Potter would allow it's readers to see symbolism of God's love through objects that Harry himself would use. The invisibility cloak, a piece of clothing that Harry had inherited from his father to be able to appear invisible, was a main key point used throughout the entire series. We learn that God wants us to triumph over evil just as Jesus did at the beginning of his ministry. From that, the choice between good and evil becomes a little easier. Furthermore, we learn that Jesus is righteous and following in his steps protects us from evil just as Harry invisibility cloak kept him safe and invisible.
Another question people rise up on their stampede to wondering whether Harry Potter is a good reading choice for their children or not is : Why does death occur in each of the books if they are not dark and wicked? Well, the answer is, yes, death is a main key point but what is important is what we learn from it. In the books, love triumphs over death and makes the stories more moral. Just like how Dumbledore, Lily, and James all died out of love. The morality teaches kids that yes, death is apart of life but love is just as strong. In the end, the story teaches that love can fight over the bad things in life, even death.
One of the most important lessons that Harry Potter, a book that many people think to promote witchcraft, teaches is the Helmet of Salvation and how it reminds us that Jesus died for us. In the books, Dumbledore uses a mind pensive to keep and recollect his thoughts. This can be compared to remembering Jesus' death to Dumbledore's mind pensive.
There are many more lessons that can be taught using the fun filled Harry Potter books. Kids and even adults find them interesting and moralizing. The few, however, that overlook the fact that the books are fiction and filled with moralizing values should see for themselves that Harry Potter is not a bad reading choice. How can a book that is filled with so many life lessons and trials be so bad? Just because the use of magic is being portrayed does not makes the books horrible. The magic used in Rowling's books are not any different than that of the prestige Disney movies. People just seem to want something to point fingers at and accuse of doing wrong. Overall, Harry Potter and JK Rowling do not promote witchcraft at all, but only the fault of people overlooking the word fiction on the cover.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Friday, September 11, 2009
Overcoming Life With A Creator
What do all these verses have in common?
1. "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and now grow weary , they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
2. "Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will praise him, my savior my god." Psalm 42:11
3. "My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." Acts 2:26-27
Lets think, all these quotes come from the word. The word of God. And he wants us all to have...hope in everything that we try to do in life. Especially when we have him behind us. I was thinking about this word of "hope" in the car today. It's not only an idea, a name, or a thought process, but it is a lifestyle, which we should all live by day in and day out. I was thinking about it because I realize that about a few months to about two weeks ago, I was starting to act unlike myself. I was worried about school, money, and everything else really imaginable. I sat there in the car, rain pouring over the windshield, christmas music playing in the background, and two windshield wipers, about to met their grave, thinking and running the past through my head, trying to make sense of it all. I came to the conclusion that I have been suffering, and from my last note, you remember that I use to have nothing to believe in. Now the suffering was occurring because of things attacking my life now, especially since I have been trying to grow in my faith and pray much more often. The devil was attacking me, causing me to worrying about everything and causing me to see past good things that Jesus was offering me. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8. He was, he was walking around trying to devour all happiness and hope that I had of trying to stay worry free. I was sad and I needed refuge.
So, there I was, sitting in car, driving, remembering all the mistakes that I have made. Remembering being at the mall, only 45 minutes earlier, and seeing a group of teenagers spit horrible words and phrasing out loud, while mothers with tiny children run away in hopes that innocent ears would be spared. I prayed, in the mall, walking to Waldens, praying that God would help those people and that they would notice their mistakes as well, and ask for the best gift of the season of Christ. I prayed for hope that they would know the love that I have. Now, I may be confusing you right about now...you are thinking.. wait, she just said that she was sad and didn't understand now she switches back.. what a hypocrite, right? Well, let me take you back. About two weeks ago, as school started coming to an end and I had some of the worst arguments, I started praying again, thinking, "hey, maybe God will listen to me," and I just gave everything to God. Everything and all my worries. Things started to look up for me. The devil kept trying to attack using Richard, my family, and everything else that he could. Finally I had enough. God said that I have control over the devil, not the other way around. I have recently read a description of something these lines by Dale A. Robbins. It helped me understand that I HAVE CONTROL OVER THE DEVIL because Christ is with me.
"The good news is that, although the Devil is described “like” a “roaring lion,” in reality he has no actual authority over believers. He is not really a lion, but roars “like” a lion would to bluff his victims into fear and intimidation. Satan is a liar and deceiver and uses deception as his weapon to gain advantage over those who are ignorant of the limitations of his power.
When Jesus gave his life on the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world, He also redeemed us from Satan’s power and dominion over us. “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:15). “...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Praise God! Satan is already a defeated enemy! His legal authority was neutralized by the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Every Believer has Authority over Satan
So if Satan is already defeated, why then is he still able to cause trouble? Because, even though Christ broke Satan’s legal power, the Lord has left it up to us to “enforce” the Devil’s defeated condition. It's our responsibility to use the authority that Christ has given us to put Satan in his place.
As a believer, you need not fear Satan, but realize and exercise the authority which God has given you over the Devil. Every person whose name has been recorded in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (all those who are saved) have been given authority over the power of the Devil. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
You have the right to use the authority of the name of Jesus to repel and drive Satan out of your territory and to break his grip over spiritual strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). When you recognize Satan’s activity and covert operations, take authority over him in the name of Jesus! Just as Jesus and the early apostles did, command Satan to leave (Mark 16:17).
The Devil hates the name of Jesus and detests an atmosphere of praise and worship which exalts the name of Jesus. Christ said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). Be assured, the presence of Christ will expel the presence of Satan. Lifting up Jesus in praise will send the Devil running!
Slam the Door on the Devil
The name of Jesus will drive Satan away. But it would be futile to order Satan’s departure if we leave the door wide open for him to flourish. The Bible tells us to not “give place” for the Devil (Eph. 4:27). That is, provide no area of your life where Satan can be comfortable or establish strongholds.
The enemy can always be found working in those who entertain sin, disobedience, rebellion or a self-willed nature. Unforgiveness toward others is another area which Satan flourishes (2 Cor. 2:11). Furthermore, any area of your life which is not submitted to God is considered open territory to the Devil, and he has the right to bring his expanding influence to those areas.
This is why the scripture says, “...submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). The only way to actually resist Satan is to submit yourself fully to God. This was what Jesus was referring to when He said, “...the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30). Jesus had submitted himself to God, and although the Devil would try Him, there was nothing for the Devil to use to gain an advantage.
Rejoice Christian! God is in you, and YOU have been given power over the Devil! By submitting to God, and exercising your authority in the name of Jesus, you are more powerful than the enemy. “...He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)."
Isn't that empowering?! There is no need for worry. Only hope! Hope that tomorrow will bring wonder and joy. And that, through Christ, if he comes tomorrow, I will be sent into heaven and made to live to forever. Lately, I realized that sadness wastes your life so be happy, do good things in life, and know that suffering is not always a bad thing. "Without suffering, there would be no compassion." That is one of my favorite quotes. It reminds that everyone suffers, because only through pain and dirt can flowers bloom and love and joy shine through. Kind of like, storms. I walked out the mall today, expecting more rain.. but miraculously, the sun shone bright through the rainclouds and warmed my face. I couldn't help but smile and say "thank you jesus for the rain to be gone." And the salvation army people bells, look at me and smiled. Maybe I touched a heart. Just maybe. I do that a lot now. "Thank you Jesus for tea. Thank you Jesus that the bottoms of my pants didn't get wet. Jesus, I am not going to worry about where those stamps went, you will provide. Jesus, I am running so short on money and I have applied to about 15 jobs with no reply, you will provide and I will be uplifted. etc." I just give to him, and thank him for the people in my life and the things that I can do for him. And in the idea of suffering, people wonder why god makes us suffer, but you have to think of the outcome. God wants the absolute best for us, and we make decisions, therefore, if our decisions take us away from where God's wonderful plan has us, suffering brings us back because after all it was our decision, and at the end we get what we get what we don't deserve of love, joy, and God's plan. And when people say that they don't have love, joy, and "God's plan", that is because they are still living in their mistakes and not having hope. HAVE HOPE that God will provide, and life will become such a better place for us.
"We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
1. "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and now grow weary , they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
2. "Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will praise him, my savior my god." Psalm 42:11
3. "My heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will live in hope, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay." Acts 2:26-27
Lets think, all these quotes come from the word. The word of God. And he wants us all to have...hope in everything that we try to do in life. Especially when we have him behind us. I was thinking about this word of "hope" in the car today. It's not only an idea, a name, or a thought process, but it is a lifestyle, which we should all live by day in and day out. I was thinking about it because I realize that about a few months to about two weeks ago, I was starting to act unlike myself. I was worried about school, money, and everything else really imaginable. I sat there in the car, rain pouring over the windshield, christmas music playing in the background, and two windshield wipers, about to met their grave, thinking and running the past through my head, trying to make sense of it all. I came to the conclusion that I have been suffering, and from my last note, you remember that I use to have nothing to believe in. Now the suffering was occurring because of things attacking my life now, especially since I have been trying to grow in my faith and pray much more often. The devil was attacking me, causing me to worrying about everything and causing me to see past good things that Jesus was offering me. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” I Peter 5:8. He was, he was walking around trying to devour all happiness and hope that I had of trying to stay worry free. I was sad and I needed refuge.
So, there I was, sitting in car, driving, remembering all the mistakes that I have made. Remembering being at the mall, only 45 minutes earlier, and seeing a group of teenagers spit horrible words and phrasing out loud, while mothers with tiny children run away in hopes that innocent ears would be spared. I prayed, in the mall, walking to Waldens, praying that God would help those people and that they would notice their mistakes as well, and ask for the best gift of the season of Christ. I prayed for hope that they would know the love that I have. Now, I may be confusing you right about now...you are thinking.. wait, she just said that she was sad and didn't understand now she switches back.. what a hypocrite, right? Well, let me take you back. About two weeks ago, as school started coming to an end and I had some of the worst arguments, I started praying again, thinking, "hey, maybe God will listen to me," and I just gave everything to God. Everything and all my worries. Things started to look up for me. The devil kept trying to attack using Richard, my family, and everything else that he could. Finally I had enough. God said that I have control over the devil, not the other way around. I have recently read a description of something these lines by Dale A. Robbins. It helped me understand that I HAVE CONTROL OVER THE DEVIL because Christ is with me.
"The good news is that, although the Devil is described “like” a “roaring lion,” in reality he has no actual authority over believers. He is not really a lion, but roars “like” a lion would to bluff his victims into fear and intimidation. Satan is a liar and deceiver and uses deception as his weapon to gain advantage over those who are ignorant of the limitations of his power.
When Jesus gave his life on the cross as the sacrifice for the sins of the world, He also redeemed us from Satan’s power and dominion over us. “Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it” (Col. 2:15). “...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). Praise God! Satan is already a defeated enemy! His legal authority was neutralized by the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Every Believer has Authority over Satan
So if Satan is already defeated, why then is he still able to cause trouble? Because, even though Christ broke Satan’s legal power, the Lord has left it up to us to “enforce” the Devil’s defeated condition. It's our responsibility to use the authority that Christ has given us to put Satan in his place.
As a believer, you need not fear Satan, but realize and exercise the authority which God has given you over the Devil. Every person whose name has been recorded in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” (all those who are saved) have been given authority over the power of the Devil. “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10:19).
You have the right to use the authority of the name of Jesus to repel and drive Satan out of your territory and to break his grip over spiritual strongholds (2 Cor. 10:4). When you recognize Satan’s activity and covert operations, take authority over him in the name of Jesus! Just as Jesus and the early apostles did, command Satan to leave (Mark 16:17).
The Devil hates the name of Jesus and detests an atmosphere of praise and worship which exalts the name of Jesus. Christ said, “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them” (Matt. 18:20). Be assured, the presence of Christ will expel the presence of Satan. Lifting up Jesus in praise will send the Devil running!
Slam the Door on the Devil
The name of Jesus will drive Satan away. But it would be futile to order Satan’s departure if we leave the door wide open for him to flourish. The Bible tells us to not “give place” for the Devil (Eph. 4:27). That is, provide no area of your life where Satan can be comfortable or establish strongholds.
The enemy can always be found working in those who entertain sin, disobedience, rebellion or a self-willed nature. Unforgiveness toward others is another area which Satan flourishes (2 Cor. 2:11). Furthermore, any area of your life which is not submitted to God is considered open territory to the Devil, and he has the right to bring his expanding influence to those areas.
This is why the scripture says, “...submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). The only way to actually resist Satan is to submit yourself fully to God. This was what Jesus was referring to when He said, “...the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me” (John 14:30). Jesus had submitted himself to God, and although the Devil would try Him, there was nothing for the Devil to use to gain an advantage.
Rejoice Christian! God is in you, and YOU have been given power over the Devil! By submitting to God, and exercising your authority in the name of Jesus, you are more powerful than the enemy. “...He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4)."
Isn't that empowering?! There is no need for worry. Only hope! Hope that tomorrow will bring wonder and joy. And that, through Christ, if he comes tomorrow, I will be sent into heaven and made to live to forever. Lately, I realized that sadness wastes your life so be happy, do good things in life, and know that suffering is not always a bad thing. "Without suffering, there would be no compassion." That is one of my favorite quotes. It reminds that everyone suffers, because only through pain and dirt can flowers bloom and love and joy shine through. Kind of like, storms. I walked out the mall today, expecting more rain.. but miraculously, the sun shone bright through the rainclouds and warmed my face. I couldn't help but smile and say "thank you jesus for the rain to be gone." And the salvation army people bells, look at me and smiled. Maybe I touched a heart. Just maybe. I do that a lot now. "Thank you Jesus for tea. Thank you Jesus that the bottoms of my pants didn't get wet. Jesus, I am not going to worry about where those stamps went, you will provide. Jesus, I am running so short on money and I have applied to about 15 jobs with no reply, you will provide and I will be uplifted. etc." I just give to him, and thank him for the people in my life and the things that I can do for him. And in the idea of suffering, people wonder why god makes us suffer, but you have to think of the outcome. God wants the absolute best for us, and we make decisions, therefore, if our decisions take us away from where God's wonderful plan has us, suffering brings us back because after all it was our decision, and at the end we get what we get what we don't deserve of love, joy, and God's plan. And when people say that they don't have love, joy, and "God's plan", that is because they are still living in their mistakes and not having hope. HAVE HOPE that God will provide, and life will become such a better place for us.
"We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe." 1 Timothy 4:10
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
It Was Then I Carried You...
"For I know the plans I have for you, exclaims the Lord, plans for good and not disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. And if you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you, says the Lord. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land."
-Jeremiah 29: 11-14
"For I know the plans I have for you.....", great, comforting words? At least, comforting for the people who believe that this God will do something for them. The more I think about it, the more humans trick themselves into thinking that he isn't there for them. I know that I've thought those very words before. "God, yea, you're there, but what are you doing to me!?" "What do you have for life?" "What have I done to deserve this?" Notice the quotations? I have stated every one of those sentences, including numerous more. I use to think that God was great and comforting when he wanted to be, but he was also that same god, trying to burn off any feelers we had left with his mighty magnifying glass. Comforting? Nope. Life for me was normal. I told people that I believed in God and I lived every day trying to stay "holy." However, all that was for men, showing PEOPLE I was "righteous." Everyday was an ongoing struggle to fit what society told me to do and look like, making myself skinny as a pole on a 900 calorie diet running about 3 miles a day, with 500 sit-ups and 300 windmills.I wanted comfort and still through all the dieting and pretending, I was not who I wanted. Inside, I didn't want to follow the plans he had for me. Me praying for something, something to maybe bring him back into my life, for real. All that was two years ago, before I met my two best friends.
Richard was god's gift to me and the relief I prayed for. I was beautiful, caring, funny, and God's child to him. I was Leah and nothing else. I started to slowly become comfortable with myself and now I don't care what people think of me. I have a God who loves me and who I can call my amazing best friend. How did I find him? Belief. You know, I thought that there was a god...but when I thought about heaven and hell, I couldn't fathom what it was or if I would go there. It and God himself was hard to grasp. Through faith and the word, I was uplifted, understanding that God is who he is, for us. He made us to fulfill his almighty glory, his wonder, and his grace. It takes me back to two stories, one being the story of the enslaved Hebrews of Egypt. God wanted his people free and years went on... and God had not let be it be so. Some of the Hebrews became discouraged, until Moses came. Sounds like this generation. We get so frustrated when God does not give us our wants NOW. But who says what we want is what we actually want? Catch that? Who says what we want, is really what we want? God has greater plans than we have for ourselves...we just have to be open to them. I know that it gets hard, and that we sometimes don't believe that he has greater plans for us. Patience and Obedience, and we can have the best of the best, because God made it so. We just have to understand that.. I know I have. Now I am here, still struggling and still trying to listen to him. It's hard, but the wait....the wait is so worth it. We just have to be open for love. And we will receive love like we have never experienced. The Hebrews made it to their promised land through faith but...still......they fought and disregarded God's law.... Sounds like us. We got the promise of opportunities through Jesus, but we fight and disregard, falling into sin. It's hard to resist temptation and hard not to listen to the plans of God.. but it is worth the wait and the regard. Remember life is prized, so look to God and the JOY(different from happiness and for another lesson) will last. I am reading a book by Elisabeth Elliot called "Passion and Purity" and it helps me understand the plans that God has for me. (When I get more into it, I will discuss later.) The more I read it, the more it helps me. God has plans for you, no matter, you just have to be willing to "stay open to the father. " Now what about me? I am living for God and not for men. I am living for a great God who is blessing me everyday. Let him work in you. It just takes time.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the ability to be able to pray to you for help and for you! You have our lives planned for us. We just have to be willing to listen and live through you. Help us to be patient because you will not always answer straight away. We want to get the wonder of you! Amen.
-Jeremiah 29: 11-14
"For I know the plans I have for you.....", great, comforting words? At least, comforting for the people who believe that this God will do something for them. The more I think about it, the more humans trick themselves into thinking that he isn't there for them. I know that I've thought those very words before. "God, yea, you're there, but what are you doing to me!?" "What do you have for life?" "What have I done to deserve this?" Notice the quotations? I have stated every one of those sentences, including numerous more. I use to think that God was great and comforting when he wanted to be, but he was also that same god, trying to burn off any feelers we had left with his mighty magnifying glass. Comforting? Nope. Life for me was normal. I told people that I believed in God and I lived every day trying to stay "holy." However, all that was for men, showing PEOPLE I was "righteous." Everyday was an ongoing struggle to fit what society told me to do and look like, making myself skinny as a pole on a 900 calorie diet running about 3 miles a day, with 500 sit-ups and 300 windmills.I wanted comfort and still through all the dieting and pretending, I was not who I wanted. Inside, I didn't want to follow the plans he had for me. Me praying for something, something to maybe bring him back into my life, for real. All that was two years ago, before I met my two best friends.
Richard was god's gift to me and the relief I prayed for. I was beautiful, caring, funny, and God's child to him. I was Leah and nothing else. I started to slowly become comfortable with myself and now I don't care what people think of me. I have a God who loves me and who I can call my amazing best friend. How did I find him? Belief. You know, I thought that there was a god...but when I thought about heaven and hell, I couldn't fathom what it was or if I would go there. It and God himself was hard to grasp. Through faith and the word, I was uplifted, understanding that God is who he is, for us. He made us to fulfill his almighty glory, his wonder, and his grace. It takes me back to two stories, one being the story of the enslaved Hebrews of Egypt. God wanted his people free and years went on... and God had not let be it be so. Some of the Hebrews became discouraged, until Moses came. Sounds like this generation. We get so frustrated when God does not give us our wants NOW. But who says what we want is what we actually want? Catch that? Who says what we want, is really what we want? God has greater plans than we have for ourselves...we just have to be open to them. I know that it gets hard, and that we sometimes don't believe that he has greater plans for us. Patience and Obedience, and we can have the best of the best, because God made it so. We just have to understand that.. I know I have. Now I am here, still struggling and still trying to listen to him. It's hard, but the wait....the wait is so worth it. We just have to be open for love. And we will receive love like we have never experienced. The Hebrews made it to their promised land through faith but...still......they fought and disregarded God's law.... Sounds like us. We got the promise of opportunities through Jesus, but we fight and disregard, falling into sin. It's hard to resist temptation and hard not to listen to the plans of God.. but it is worth the wait and the regard. Remember life is prized, so look to God and the JOY(different from happiness and for another lesson) will last. I am reading a book by Elisabeth Elliot called "Passion and Purity" and it helps me understand the plans that God has for me. (When I get more into it, I will discuss later.) The more I read it, the more it helps me. God has plans for you, no matter, you just have to be willing to "stay open to the father. " Now what about me? I am living for God and not for men. I am living for a great God who is blessing me everyday. Let him work in you. It just takes time.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, Thank you for the ability to be able to pray to you for help and for you! You have our lives planned for us. We just have to be willing to listen and live through you. Help us to be patient because you will not always answer straight away. We want to get the wonder of you! Amen.
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