Without Excuse

I think pretty much everyone hates excuses. We can make excuse now, but when God judges us after our death, there are no excuses

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:32

A few posts ago, I wrote on what the bible says about homosexuality. When I read over that post a few days ago, this last verse stuck out to me. Particularly the first part, "Although they know God’s righteous decree..." 
Early in this chapter, Paul writes this famous verse:

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Roman 1:20

So pretty much, Romans one is telling us that God is not one for excuses. When we die, no one is going to get to heaven by excuse (Luke 14:16-20) because we all know. No one needs to read the bible to know who God is. And no one has to read the bible to know what sin, or that it's wrong.
Then there are excuses we might try to make after we've come to Christ, but there are tons of excuses that are mentioned all throughout the bible, including these:

1. I'm not good enough (Exodus 4:10-17)
2. I'm to good to do that (2 King 5:1-14)
3. They won't listen (Ezekiel 2:1-7)
4. It wasn't me, it was _____ (Genesis 3:9-13) (1 Samuel 15:17-21)
5. Maybe tomorrow... (Proverbs 27:1)

People all over the bible make excuses time and time again and God is always shown to despise them. I think it's safe to say we all struggle with making excuse. I know I do.
But excuses go against the bible. They allow us to think that we can get away with things when really, we can't. On day, all of us will stand before God and all the excuses we've made will be worthless. Only Jesus can excuse our sin.
So stop with the excuses. You are capable of anything God calls you to do! 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13

Photo Credit:
http://simplechristianthoughts.com/without-excuse/

Is Homosexuality wrong?

I'm writing this post about my views about homosexuality, which is has become a big issue around the world. A lot of people say it's ok to be gay, but I personally believe that it is wrong because of what I have found in studying the bible. The bible is a good place to start! What does it say about same sex marriages?

1. God tells Noah to bring two of each kind of animal, Male and Female. God wanted opposite sex partners. (Genesis 6:19)
2. Sodom was a wicked city that God destroyed. The men inside of it were homosexuals (Genesis 19:4-13)
3. Leviticus clearly states that Homosexuality is wrong (Leviticus 18:22-24; 20:13)
4. Wearing the clothing that's normally worn by other other gender is detestable. This would be acting gay. (Deuteronomy 22:5)
5. Like with the city of Sodom, the wicked men of the city in this story are also gay. (Judges 19:22-24)
6. Jesus talks about marriage being between a man and woman (Mathew 19:1-8)
7. Paul talks about how men gave over to their sinful desires for each other as well as woman (Romans 1:18-32)
8. Homosexuals are listed with other sinner that will not inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Now that you know what the bible says, you'd have to totally ignore the bible to be ok with gay couple and gay marriage.

Another thing I found really interesting was that it has been proven that someone cannot be born gay. This really popular argument has been shown invalid by studying identical twins. Since they have the same DNA, if one twin is gay, the other has to be if there really is as gene that makes one homosexual. But this is far from true. There are many documented cases were one twin is gay and the other is not. Thus, this argument is invalid.

Read more:
http://americanvision.org/8136/new-twin-study-people-not-born-gay/#sthash.aPX1Ybkt.dpbs

We all have a choice. If you're gay, you chose to be because God does not force us to sin. He wants us to repent. This applies for any sin. If you stuck in a sin, God can help!

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done...Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 1:18-28;32

Homosexuality is wrong, but God allows people to continue in their sin. It breaks his heart, but he allows it. But judgement is coming. No matter what your sin is, you will be judged and your a fool if you think get away with sin. Judgement is coming.

Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

Sources:
http://americanvision.org/8136/new-twin-study-people-not-born-gay/#sthash.aPX1Ybkt.dpbs
http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/why-you-cant-be-born-gay/
http://www.citizenlink.com/2010/06/14/are-people-really-born-gay/
http://www.cracked.com/blog/6-pro-gay-marriage-arguments-fighting-with-crazy-people/
http://www.witnessfortheworld.org/homont.html

Prayer

I've been doing a study on prayer (and how God wants us to pray) for a few days, and I am going to share what I found out about prayer.

Preparation:

• Pray alone. (Mathew 6:6; Mathew 14:23)

I am not saying group prayer are wrong, the bible actually does encourage it (Mathew 18:20). What I mean by this point is that the group prayer should not be the only praying you do. While group prayers are good, you also need some time to talk with just God.

• Awareness (Romans 8:26-27)

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27
Be aware that you prayers are never going to be the way God wants them to be (We don't even know what should pray about). Just be aware of the fact that you can't pray in the right way.

What does God look for in Prayer?

• Heartfelt reverence (Hebrews 5:7)

During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.
Hebrews 5:7-9

• Emotion (Hebrews 5:7)
• Praise (Mathew 6:9; Luke 11:2; 2 Thessalonians 1:12)
• A humble spirit (Proverbs 28:9; Mathew 6:7-8)
• Boldness and Persistence (Luke 11:8; Hebrews 5:7)
• Thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 5:13)
• Admitting your needs and the needs of others (Luke 11:3-4; Mathew 6:11-12; James 5:13; Philippians 4:6; Ephesians 6:18) 
• Asking for strength when your tempted. (Luke 11:4; Mathew 6:13)
• Prayer for your enemies (Mathew 5:44)

Conclusion:

God wants us to pray all the time! (Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Trees: The Olive

When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth.
Genesis 8:11

The olive tree represents new life. Both after the flood and after we become a christian. In Romans, Paul says that went we are wild olive branches and God grafts us in to his tree when we become a christian.

If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
Romans 11:17-21

They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense.
Exodus 35:28

The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. The people went around gathering it, and then ground it in a handmill or crushed it in a mortar. They cooked it in a pot or made it into cakes. And it tasted like something made with olive oil.

Numbers 11:7-8

He will be like a vine stripped of its unripe grapes, like an olive tree shedding its blossoms.

Job 15:33

his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.
Hosea 14:6

"Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards...Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me," declares the LORD.
Amos 4:9

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18

Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?" 
Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
Zechariah 4:11


And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth. "These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth.
Revelation 11:4

The Acacia
The Cedar
The Palm
The Fig
The Olive