In Ezekiel 13, God is saying he will destroy the idolatrous nation of Israel, and also mentions His disdain for the teachings of the false prophets. While The Lord was declaring that because the people have been sinful, they will be destroyed by a neighboring cities.
It says in v. 10, the prophets are recorded as saying, "Peace" when there won't be peace, because their visions are a lie. So, keeping it in mind that this was in the Old Testament, if we look at Luke 24, (from the New Testament) one of the phrases Jesus first speaks to all the disciples (after the walk to Emmaus) was "Peace be to you."
Now, let me clarify I am not in any way, shape, or form, trying to call Jesus a false prophet, because I believe He really was the Son of God. I am trying to say that before Jesus' death there was no peace because the only way to be completely forgiven of wrong-doing was through the shedding of blood.
In order for people to continue pleasing God, we have to stay focused on Him and not chase things of this world (and that goes for modern times too.)
But what I'm trying to emphasize is that before Jesus' death there was no peace because of the inherited sinfulness of humans, thus God, being The Ultimate Ruler who was and is and forever will be wholly perfect and without fault, had to give some form of punishment so that the people might see that He is Lord and turn from their sinful ways.
However, after Jesus' death, he greets them with what may be a common greeting: "Peace be with you." Before Jesus' death there was no peace because there was no perfect atonement for our sins, but after His Resurrection, He greets us with peace because He has provided a way for us to be forgiven without the shedding of more blood. Christ was the perfect solution to man's problem. It is because He lives that we can face the trials, troubles and pains, of this world because we know that we can be forgiven and are encouraged by His Spirit.
We are called to live a righteous life, as Christians, to also love others and to know that we are royalty, crowned with the crown of eternal life. Because, if our God is for us, and he has the victory, are we not to live in Joy?!?? He has the victory, He offers forgiveness, and He is the way to eternal life. "Trust in The Lord with all your heart..." (Prov. 3:5) and He will do mighty things!
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Sunday, November 8, 2015
Falling for Love
It hurts.
I know it does.
I've been there too.
That moment when
You've woken up at the bottom.
Not knowing why you fell in the first place,
Again.
You fell,
And you don't know why
You ever took the first leap.
But I can promise you this,
It's okay, because sometimes,
We feel pain.
It hurts. And this pain lets us know
We were once brave enough,
to take the leap in the first place.
It is a wound,
But it will heal,
Just like all the others.
One day you will
look at this scar,
And say, "I lived."
In the future,
you will fall,
and be caught.
But not this time.
No, this time it hurt.
Heal, then forgive, then
Dare to love again.
I know it does.
I've been there too.
That moment when
You've woken up at the bottom.
Not knowing why you fell in the first place,
Again.
You fell,
And you don't know why
You ever took the first leap.
But I can promise you this,
It's okay, because sometimes,
We feel pain.
It hurts. And this pain lets us know
We were once brave enough,
to take the leap in the first place.
It is a wound,
But it will heal,
Just like all the others.
One day you will
look at this scar,
And say, "I lived."
In the future,
you will fall,
and be caught.
But not this time.
No, this time it hurt.
Heal, then forgive, then
Dare to love again.
Saturday, November 7, 2015
Once Upon A Moral
I have officially changed my favorite princess, and I'll tell you why.
I used to love Disney's Cinderella because:
1) She served her Step-family
2) She didn't necessarily go to the ball to fall in love with the prince
3) The prince searched the entire kingdom to find her
4) Well, props to the Fairy godmother, because her transformation was dream material for a girl like me...
But I have come to realize that
1) Cinderella had to go to the ball in a gown/dress, because her rags were unacceptable.
2) The highly-materialistic seeming prince probably loved her only by her outward appearance
3) The entire story communicates that a girl has to dress up in order to find her "true love"
I don't know about you, but Cinderella is too materialistic for me.
Belle seems nice, but I have never related much with her (I do applaud her for not settling for Gaston, though). Ariel is too young and rebellious to her father. Snow White's moral of the story is neat, but I find her relationship with the prince too strange... (Is it just me, or is it weird to kiss a dead girl you don't know that well?) Continuing, Pocahontas didn't really end up marrying John Smith, but rather John Rolfe irl. I have not seen Aladdin enough to understand Jasmine (plus the movie isn't about her anyway, tbh). Mulan seems like a powerful girl, and an argument could be made that she did the most for her country of all the princesses, but this blog isn't about her. Merida and Rapunzel aren't terrible, but are slightly rebellious. Anna and Elsa aren't even about getting married (unless you count the "relationship" Anna and Hans had, but I'm not.)
No, none of those princesses are my favorite.
My favorite is now Aurora (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty).
Why?? *smiles* I'm glad you asked...
1) She grew up in a cottage and learned how to live simply.
2) She has a kind and relaxed attitude about her
3) Her family loves her (as do most of the parents, but it is still a good thing...)
4) Although, she did prick her finger, it wasn't her fault the kingdom fell into years of sleep
5) The whole symbolism with Prince Phillip and the fight scene with Maleficent (including the gifts the fairies give him)
6) Aurora and Phillip's love for each other is not just because of how pretty they were the first time they met, nor status, nor anything other than simply themselves and the dream they shared.
7) Though "true-love's-kiss" may have played a part, I think the biggest message is that when two people share the same dream, close to nothing can keep them apart.
8) "Love wins" is the moral of the story I see from Sleeping Beauty, even though it may take time
Why is this moral important? Because, when two people have the same mission in life and love each other they can work through anything. In my mind, I visualize Prince Phillip fighting his way through the briers. On a daily basis, we fight the briers of life: sin, discouragement, hopelessness, financial trouble, and other personal issues. But when we have our mind focused on God, nothing can keep us down and defeated. Love is the key to a good life, and God is Love!
"And now, the gates of a dungeon part, and our prince is free to go his way. Off he rides, on his noble steed, a valiant figure, straight and tall! To wake his love, with love's first kiss. And prove that "true love" conquers all!" -Maleficent
Do you agree??
I used to love Disney's Cinderella because:
1) She served her Step-family
2) She didn't necessarily go to the ball to fall in love with the prince
3) The prince searched the entire kingdom to find her
4) Well, props to the Fairy godmother, because her transformation was dream material for a girl like me...
But I have come to realize that
1) Cinderella had to go to the ball in a gown/dress, because her rags were unacceptable.
2) The highly-materialistic seeming prince probably loved her only by her outward appearance
3) The entire story communicates that a girl has to dress up in order to find her "true love"
I don't know about you, but Cinderella is too materialistic for me.
Belle seems nice, but I have never related much with her (I do applaud her for not settling for Gaston, though). Ariel is too young and rebellious to her father. Snow White's moral of the story is neat, but I find her relationship with the prince too strange... (Is it just me, or is it weird to kiss a dead girl you don't know that well?) Continuing, Pocahontas didn't really end up marrying John Smith, but rather John Rolfe irl. I have not seen Aladdin enough to understand Jasmine (plus the movie isn't about her anyway, tbh). Mulan seems like a powerful girl, and an argument could be made that she did the most for her country of all the princesses, but this blog isn't about her. Merida and Rapunzel aren't terrible, but are slightly rebellious. Anna and Elsa aren't even about getting married (unless you count the "relationship" Anna and Hans had, but I'm not.)
No, none of those princesses are my favorite.
My favorite is now Aurora (a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty).
Why?? *smiles* I'm glad you asked...
1) She grew up in a cottage and learned how to live simply.
2) She has a kind and relaxed attitude about her
3) Her family loves her (as do most of the parents, but it is still a good thing...)
4) Although, she did prick her finger, it wasn't her fault the kingdom fell into years of sleep
5) The whole symbolism with Prince Phillip and the fight scene with Maleficent (including the gifts the fairies give him)
6) Aurora and Phillip's love for each other is not just because of how pretty they were the first time they met, nor status, nor anything other than simply themselves and the dream they shared.
7) Though "true-love's-kiss" may have played a part, I think the biggest message is that when two people share the same dream, close to nothing can keep them apart.
8) "Love wins" is the moral of the story I see from Sleeping Beauty, even though it may take time
Why is this moral important? Because, when two people have the same mission in life and love each other they can work through anything. In my mind, I visualize Prince Phillip fighting his way through the briers. On a daily basis, we fight the briers of life: sin, discouragement, hopelessness, financial trouble, and other personal issues. But when we have our mind focused on God, nothing can keep us down and defeated. Love is the key to a good life, and God is Love!
"And now, the gates of a dungeon part, and our prince is free to go his way. Off he rides, on his noble steed, a valiant figure, straight and tall! To wake his love, with love's first kiss. And prove that "true love" conquers all!" -Maleficent
Do you agree??
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