Jesus Paid it All

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Hey! So I'm Olivia, and I'm pretty new to the whole blogging thing so don't judge too harshly:)


I'm a good friend of Moriah, and we became friends this summer on an extensive ministry trip called Operation Barnabas. I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to be stretched in their faith and be challenged to grow closer to God :)


Umm random fact just in case you were wondering... I'm a percussionist and was the only girl on my high school drumline all four years. And I love getting to play in my church worship band. :)


Speaking of which, this past Sunday I had to the privilege to play a certain drum called a cajo'n as part of the worship, and we played a very well known hymn which is also one of my favorites, called Jesus Paid It All. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38EVco7eba0


The chorus says,
Jesus paid it all,
all to him I owe,
sin had left a crimson stain,
he washed it white as snow.

And I love the imagery used here because it's such a true and vivid description of my own life and some of the things I used to give in to. And I think sometimes I'm tempted to believe that I'm still covered by that sin. I'm tainted by it or "stained". But I love the next line, he washed it white as snow, because it's a physical action of washing, cleansing, the act of complete forgiveness and removing of the effect of all past sin. God says "There is now therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1

Even if I can't forget what I've done, God has completely removed it from me. It no longer defines me. It's not even a part of me! "as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." Psalms 103:12

And finally I think the bridge of this hymn sums it up perfectly.

Ohh praise the one who
paid my debt and
raised this life up from the dead!

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2Corinthians 5:17


-Olivia

Matthew 6:25-34

Friday, February 7, 2014

Journal thoughts on Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV 1984)
2/6/14


Vs 25 'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life,'
Stop the worry before it starts. I (Jesus) don't want you to worry about anything. 

'What you will eat or drink; or about the body, what you will wear.' 
These are some things you worry about: food, health, weight, looks, clothes. Stop worrying!

'Is not life more important than food and your body more than clothes?'
If you have a heartbeat and are still walking this earth, you have no reason to be worrying. 

Vs 26 'Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them.'
The birds don't do any planned or prepared work for food, but God takes care of them and feeds them. 

'Are you not much more valuable than they?'
We were made in God's image. We have brains, souls and free wills. God loves us and he will take care of us!

Vs 27 'Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?'
Are you God? I don't think so. You can't make things better by worrying!!

Vs 28 'And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin (vs 29) yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.'
What clothes you have aren't important! God clothes the flowers, he'll clothe you!

Vs 30 'If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?'
 God will take care of you! Your worry displays your lack of faith in God. 

Vs 31 'so do not worry, saying, 'what shall we wear?' or 'what shall we drink?' or 'what shall we wear?'  (Vs 32) For the pagans run after all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows you need them.' 
God knows all of the things we need in order to live. He doesn't want them to be our focus tho. He'll provide for us!

Vs 33 'But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.'
When we put God first in our lives, everything else that we need will be cared for by God. 

Vs 34 'Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.'
God is in control. Trust him with everything. The end. 

~Moriah
Isaiah 41:13

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