A punk's a whole different thing when a Christian is put before it (original) (raw)
Sat, May. 23rd, 2009, 06:40 pm
Gluttony is the extreme desire to consume more than you require.
This goes for food, money, fame, glory, victory, etc. There are many examples we can use. Most of them lead to problems.
Such as eating disorders, depression, alcoholism, drug addiction, STDs even! Why do we do this?
It feels good.
We use these things to try to fill voids that these things aren't filling. We feel empty inside. Maybe we're sad, spiritually void, emotionally hurt and yearning for happiness. Our satisfaction level is much to high to reach because we can't seem to put our finger on what it is that we really want.
If we knew, we could have just enough of something and be satisfied. This could lead us to realize we don't need any of one thing at all, because it does not fulfill our desires the way we want it too.
Gluttony is also fed through selfishness. We want to have things all for ourselves. We don't want to share the glory, fame, etc... Maybe it's our nature. Maybe we also are trying to give ourselves something no one else seems to. Maybe our lives are causing us to spend too much time serving ourselves and others. And then, we forget altogether who we're supposed to be serving.
The consequences of gluttony, no matter what the motive, include harm to ourselves and often to others.
That is why they are wrong.
Someone might ask how consuming things like money can hurt us. In this, I'd ask you to look at all the celebrities who have problems. The tabloids make sure they crucify celebrities who let their inability to handle the price of fame and fortune and being human in general. What you may be often seeing is the consequences of gluttony.
It is the people who can have what they need and serve others that are the happiest. Yeah, I know, right? Hard to believe! How can pleasing somebody else make ME happy?
Well, for starters, you have to put God first. It's not about pleasing other peoples, it's about doing what's best for the sake of others in the sight of God.
Second, you learn about what God wants from you. You learn that you're special because you are His child. That becomes all you need to know.
And then, you learn how he wants you to live your life in caring for others. This brings people to God through your example.
And then things fall into place. The materialism fades. Sure, we all want things sometimes we don't need. But, we have to be careful not to make it an addiction. We can spend a hundred bucks on a pair of shoes we'll wear once on something more useful. It can also attribute to actually paying your tithe on Sunday. Or buying a present for someone. Or charity. Or...(the list goes on).
Don't let Satan rule you in gluttony. Let yourself be happy with what you have.
"Happiness isn't about having what you want. It's about wanting what you have."
-Unknown
Tue, Mar. 3rd, 2009, 04:36 pm
hardchoices: The Seven Deadly Sins Devotional
WhenI was almost entirely done writing this, my computer decided to turn off. Technically, it was my foot hitting a wrong chord. However, this means that the devil was interfering with me doing God's work. Satan doesn't want me doing this, probably because it's going to help someone.
And now I have all the more reason to do it.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Currently, as many of you know, I am doing a devotional for people with eating disorders. It has helped me more than I can say in words.
This week, it has had me do a personal examination, as I've included in 
godhealmyed. It starts off with the seven deadly sins.
The reaon these sins are so bad is not only because they hurt God the most, but because they hurt us the most.
They have a harsh reality that is hard to face hidden within all of them.
Therefore, I want to do a weekly deovtional examining each one of them.
Anyone can feel free to participate. I strongly encourage it in whatever way you feel is necessary because these are extremely important.
( The First is PrideCollapse )
Mon, Feb. 9th, 2009, 10:35 pm
Today was a little difficult. My boyfriend had to deal with our friends making fun of Christianity (and one of our teachers whom we love). Before anyone freaks out, this teacher and everyone who hangs out in the school newspaper office are close friends. That's why we can talk about things...
But many of these guys aren't Christians. My boyfriend and I are. I wasn't in the room at the time, and when I came in we went out into the hallway and he told me that used to, this sort of thing wouldn't get to him so much. But, he's been praying more. I told him it was more personal to him now.
Just as it's more personal to me.
I haven't posted much here in awhile, but I have been going through a lot spiritually.
As most of you know. I was diangosed bulimic about seven-eight months ago. I'm currently doing a daily devotional entitled "I'm Beautiful Why Can't I See It?" and it's been extremely helpful. Beyond helpful, really. It's changing my life and bringing me closer to God than I've been in years.
With this inspiration, I'm working on two things in creating a ministry under this topic.
One, is this: http://godhealmyed.livejournal.com
Second, is an idea for a youth group kind of ministry at my church for young girls.
Along with that, if I still have readers, I want to post some more on here and reveal what this community was meant to be.
If I don't have readers, well, I can at least try to get some more.
Thank you and God bless,
Jade
Sun, Nov. 9th, 2008, 09:20 pm
hardchoices: i will not be a victim
Thursday morning a woman,Candy, who I've known for years passed away suddenly from an asmha attack.
( graphicCollapse )
I went to Candy's visitation Saturday morning. Although I didn't stay for the funeral, I saw each of her pre-teen daughters and hugged them, telling them if they need anything to let me know.
I've seen several people die, but I never saw it until the last five years of my life.
I suddenly looked in the mirror when I got home from the visitation, and thought to myself, "I want to live. I can't lose to this. I have to get better."
"Beauty isn't worth it."
I believe in God and in the Bible. I also believe in people, in this world, and that no one is really a lost cause. I believe in miracles, healing, and love.
I also believe that sometimes bad things happen so that good things can.
And I believe that nothing is impossible.
Sun, Nov. 2nd, 2008, 06:45 pm
hardchoices: All Hallow's Eve, All Saints and All Souls
Today is the last day of All Hallow's, or, in other words, it's All Souls Day.
All Hallow's Eve/Halloween has Christian roots that I chose to celebrate for the first time.
Yes, it is originally a pagan holiday. But it has been Christianized to honor Saints and others in Heaven, as well as accepting and acknowledging our own mortality, along with our need for God.
Testimony
I am mortal. I will die.
I am helpless. I need God.
I desire his power, so I honor it.
Many Christians think of Halloween, and gothic things in general as being "evil." This is a misconception. It is Christian to celebrate Halloween.
We acknowledge death with celebrations, in respect and acknowledgment of mortality.
We acknowledge our desire for magic, knowing that, in reality, the only good magic is to go to God. It is natural to desire supernatural things such as these.
Why?
As humans we crave the power of God, and desire to be just like Him. So, we may acknowledge that, and we also accept that, without God, our souls are lost.
My All Saints Prayer 11-1-08
Dear God,
Today, I acknowledge my mortality and how fragile my own body is. I also acknoledge that it is your temple, and it should be cared for in the most holy of ways.
I acknowledge that I am a sinner, and I want to be a saint.
I acknowledge that I need you, God.
I need to be close to you and to listen to you. I need to make my life about you.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
All Souls Prayer11-2-08
Dear God,
I acknowledge my moratality. I wish for my style and gothic traits to not be to look cool, but to honor you, especially on All Souls Day, and honoring those in Heaven.
My heart goesw out to those who did not make it to Heaven, and those who are not on their way. But I also do not want to be one of them.
I miss those I've seen pass on, but I realize that you are looking after them, now.
I acknowledge that I will join them one day.
I realize that death is a part of life. I respect it. I accept it. I understand I will meet it one day, but, until then, I need you to keep me from going astraying.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Sun, Oct. 5th, 2008, 06:20 pm
hardchoices: doing what you're called, being who you are
"Everything in existence brings me glory by being what it is made to be."
1 Corinthians 7:20 "Each one should remain in the sitation which he was in when God called him."
From 97 Random Thoughts About Life, Love & Relationships by Justin Lookadoo
In other words, God made us who we are. Those unique qualities, interesting hobbies, big dreams you want so bad you can't stand it...talents that seem so hard to use....those are all things God wants us to act on to bring Him glory. The things he wants us to do right now could be different from what he wanted us to do a year ago...or five years ago. Years from now they could change again. The point is that God calls us to do what He needs us for at the time, and we should do it.
Why?
It'll bring God glory, for one, and it will also make us happy and send us on the right path. We should never pretend to be anything we're not, but be who we are, as a believer of God.
Tue, Aug. 5th, 2008, 12:52 am
hardchoices: keeping me from having a panic attack right now...
In my anguish, I cried to the Lord
and he answered by setting me free.
The Lord is with me, I will not be afraid
What can man do to me?
The Lord is witjh me; he is my helper
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
Psalm 118: 5-7
Advice: Keep reading. It's amazing.
Fri, Jun. 13th, 2008, 03:38 pm
God guards you from every evil,
he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,
he guards you now, he guards you always. -- Psalm 121:7-8
taken from judgedchristian
Mon, Jun. 2nd, 2008, 11:02 pm
If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it;
if a man rolls a stone, it will roll back on him.
Proverbs 26: 27
The choices you make lead you to where you go. This can be bad, but also...
"If you want to go somewhere you've never been, you have to do something you've never done."
Remember that.
Dream big.
Sun, Jun. 1st, 2008, 10:53 pm
"When I lie down I think, 'How long before I get up?'
The night drags on, and I toss till dawn.
Therefore I will not keep silent I will speak out in the anguish of my spirit I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?
If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men?
Why do you not pardon my offenses and forgive my sins? For I will soon lie down in the dust; you will search for me, but I will be no more.
Job 7: 4, 11, 19-20, 21
Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."
Proverbs 9:16