What love do you know? By Keturah L.

An interesting conversation I had a couple weekends ago resulted in this conclusion about objects and what they mean to us:

"It is impossible for something to love you, but you CAN love something."

Now, isn't that a thought worth pondering over?

But I think this calls for another question: what is love?

There are many definitions of love.

There is a love that is pure, selfless, one that loves sacrificially and purely. Of course this love can not be applied toward objects, though, as it's a love we are not strong enough to truly act upon with out the strength of God. This sort of love is one that we show to others - to other people.

The word love can be selfish and centered around sentiment and the desires of ourselves. When we love an object, or even a human being with this sort of love, we are liking them because of what they mean to us, what it (or they) do for us. This sort of love is very much a "me" love.

This last love is not the ideal love. It is not the love that is talked about in 1 Corinthians 13. It is not the love Jesus (Yeshua) showed to us when He died and covered our sins with His own blood (1 John 4:9-10).

It is sad that most of us can only love and understand love according the the standard of loving an object. Most of us love another as if they were an object for our own pleasure, not one for us to serve and give unto.

We that follow God should be above such selfish love. We should love as God loved us, giving every ounce of ourselves toward the better or another.

John 13: 34-35  "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

The Definition of Sin by Keturah L.

In my post, Am I Safe in My Sin?, I talked about whether or not we as individual Christians ought to sin or not.

But that then brings up the question "What is sin?"

According to the online dictionary sin is "An immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law.

'A sin in the eyes of God'

Synonyms: immoral act, wrong, wrongdoing, act of evil/wickedness, transgression, crime, offense, misdeed, misdemeanor."

It's funny, that even if though the Bible has set rules and examples of sin it's hard to understand what sin and evil really are.

That's because sin and evil aren't things or made-up rules. They are ideas - theological and philosophical concepts.

Once you understand that sin is not a thing but an abstract reality, it's easier to answer the following questions;

1. "What is sin?"

2. "Who made sin?"

3. "Who decided what sin is?"

4. "Who punishes sin?"

1. Since sin is not a thing, but a concept, what is the concept of sin?

Sin is not only the opposite of good, but the result of good missing.

Logically, we can come to the conclusion that sin only exists because of lack of perfection or good-doing.

2. Who made sin? Or more like, how can one make sin if it is an idea?

If sin is the result of taking away good - then sin is made by the offender and no one else is to blame.

Also, the idea of sin forces for their to be one to sin against. This is partly why those that do not believe in God do not believe in sin either.

This is why we punish the one committing the crime - never anyone else. And it's also the reason we are each responsible for our own actions and consequences - because WE are the ones that create our sin.

It's a choice matter.

3. Sin is of itself a "religious" thing.

It's rare that an unbeliever will actually admit to having "sinned" even if they happen to have that sense of guilt that means they have sinned

Sin is that which violates good, and in essence of His nature, God is good. Thus sin is that which violates God.

And what ever violates Him and the nature of good is sin.

So, it's not so much that God or the Bible has made up what sin, but He has defined it for us.

God has revealed to us all that would disrupt or cause good to be gone.

And that process is called sin.

4. Only good can punish sin. Why?

Because evil punishing evil would only create more evil. But good can bring both justice and mercy to the offender.

When one is totally uncorrupted it has the authority to continue pushing goodness onto sin, and vanquishing it.

The idea and concepts around sin are very important. They prove God's existence, and also demand our continual steadfastness to His goodness.

Even though sin is something we'd like to forget about, I believe that we should at least understand what it is so that when asked hard questions or facing temptations we will be prepared to say and do the right things.

1 Peter 1:16 "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy."

Matt 5:48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

Using Etiquette When Arguing

Using Etiquette When Arguing

By Keturah L.

One of my great weaknesses is arguing. Sometimes I can hold my tongue. But a lot of the time...

It's just that when people say such "stupid, false" things or when people or ideas are "unfairly mistreated" I MUST stand up for them.

And sometimes I just look for something to argue/discuss about. :D It's just so fun. :)

So, yeah.

It has gotten me in trouble, but I've learned for the most part that I feel better if I speak my mind and what I believe is the truth and I can even have fun if I do it right :D

I have done a lot of arguing with friends ;) Everyone knows that. And normally it's more of a sport than a fight. Like anything, stuff CAN get nasty.

Thinking about it recently, I realized that when I do argue, my friends and I follow certain unspoken rules.

I'm calling these the "Etiquette Rules of Arguing."

1. It's ok to argue :D Get excited, get into it!

2. Speak your mind.

3. Never use insults in the place of logic. Never call names.

4. Listen to what the other has to say.

5. Be prepared to stand up for what you believe in and be ready to defend it.

6. Be ready to give in if you are wrong.

7. Dignity is ok, but don't be stuck-up or prideful.

8. Compliment the other person if they say something clever.

9. Laugh, but don't do it in a condescending way. Sarcasm is ok as long as you aren't making fun of the person.

10. Remember, you are arguing ideas, not each other. Don't take offense and don't offend.

11. Follow the Golden rule :) What comes around DOES go around when arguing.

One thing that does not help when arguing is pride.

Everyone has it to a degree, but sometimes I think no-one has as much of it as my family does. I mean with a last name like Lamb, who wouldn't?

It's like we think we are the chosen people, Yahweh's lambs, so we are right in everything.

But something my brother said the other day was really good. "As Lambs we aren't supposed to all be the 

Shepherd, but followers of Yahweh."

Matthew 23:8 "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren."

Arguing can become a very tricky art. If you aren't careful you will make enemies. It is always important that you give in sometimes and make the other person feel good.

Let go of your pride if its standing in the way - of course we should have just enough pride to hold on to what is TRULY right, but never allow ourselves to become self-righteous by it.

Arguing IS NOT about putting yourself above others.

It's about getting to know others in a fun way.

Totally Untalented: or do you Have any Gifts?

Totally Untalented: or do you Have any Gifts?  

 By Keturah L.

A while back some friends and I were laughing and talking. I can't remember exactly how we got on the subject ( it seems we were throwing out crazy plot twists ), but however it happened I said something like "What if you wrote this story and the main character had no talents whatsoever and..."  One of the guys said, "That isn't right. When God created us he gave us all gifts and talents and places in life. No-one is created with out a purpose."  

Normally I defend what I say, but this time what he said hit me as true. What I had said was VERY unbiblical.  

  

When I write I try to make all my stories at least follow certain biblical principles even if my stories aren't necessarily "Christian" genre.  Needless to say, that story idea was trashed :).  Yet what I had said many would consider true. Just look about you. There are many, many people that appear to have nothing, do nothing, know nothing.  They are "ugly", "untalented" and no fun to be around. Normally their dress style doesn't help, nor half of the weird things they say or do or the way they act.  These people we class as "untalented" ( a word that shouldn't even exist ). 

 Maybe you are one of those "untalented" people. You can't find anything special about yourself, you are good at nothing.  Well, let me tell you now that your idea about yourself is false.   Yes, there are many seemingly untalented people, because like it or not, no one is born perfect. Even those of us who were lucky enough to have someone help us develop our talents would be nothing if it weren't for trying.   And practice.   Lots of it. In order to have talents I have learned you must CHOOSE to DEVELOP them.  But how do you discover YOUR true talents and destiny in life? How can you be YOU and have others like you at the same time?  Sad Fact: First off you need to accept that everyone won't like you. You need to be happy anyways and just be you. Living to please others will only bring many disappointments in your life, because you will ALWAYS displease someone.  (Not saying you should live carelessly or purposely displease others. Just don't make it your priority to be someone else's puppet.)  I believe the very first step to finding true happiness with ourselves is found in this verse, 

Proverbs 3:5-6 
"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths" 

   In order to believe and really accept that we ARE created for a purpose and DO have talents and gifts we first must accept the One that made us and gave us those gifts in the first place.  Believe in Yeshua ( Jesus ), accept him as your savior and let your old ways be no more than the past - over. Including the thoughts that you have no talents.  For now you are a new creation in Him. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."  

After that here are some suggestions for discovering your own talents: 

  1.  Believe that you were created for a reason - that you aren't some freak accident.   This is one of the Devil's biggest lies. If he can make you not feel special then you will automatically believe that no one cares for you which then leads you to believing that Yeshua ( Jesus ) did NOT die for YOU.  To believe this is thinking that you are worse than EVERYONE. Which is not true.  

 Romans 3:23 
"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"  

 
2. Accept that God made you special and that you have a purpose in life.  Self-worth and self-dignity are important as long as we don't let them turn into self-righteousness or self-pride. 

3. What do you most enjoy doing? These are the natural desires given to us by God.  Make a list of what you like doing. Remember these may only be desires. You may have already wasted much time by thinking you were untalented that you never spent much time cultivating your gifts.  Just because you have a gift for something doesn't mean you'll be just awesome at it. God only gave you the desire and the gift. You must make it grow by using it and working with it. Perfect it with practice.   

And talents can be anything from big stuff to little stuff. Singing, acting and other things that make you famous aren't the only talents out there. :) In fact these things can distract us from our real talents by making us think that those are the only talents out there.  True talent isn't becoming popular, but being passionate about what you do because you love it and letting that gift make you a better person.  

 4.  You don't know what you like doing? Or what your natural gifts are? Most likely somebody ( that is a good influence in your life ) will have noticed your talents peeking through. Take advice from others to see what you are good at.   

5. Apply your talents to practical every day things.   And be unique, be you.   Just because your talent may be working with kids doesn't mean you have to become a teacher or social worker or children's missionary. Look at ALL the options and pick the one that best suits your unique personality.  Don't go for the norm or what everyone else does. Don't do things to please others. Do all for the glory of Yahweh.    

1 Corinthians 10:31 
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 



Colossians 3:17    
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

6.  Let your talents and personality intertwine. Be unique. Be respectful. Use dignity.  Just as there isn't a truly untalented person there is not an ugly nor undesirable person.  It's all in how you act and dress and talk and be you.  Embrace what God wants for you, and your attitude ( and yes, even style ) will change to make you a greater person for Yahweh. 

 

  So, what are your talents? Share in the comments. :)