Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Tuesday's Top Ten Plus Ten [Ain't That the Truth!]

Before I go into this week's top ten, I have two things to share with you. One is from October 21st where Melany and I compiled a top ten Creative Costumes list. There I shared with you that I couldn't decide between a couple ideas and since I forgot to do this last week I thought I'd share what was decided today.
Our little Monkey got to hang out with Mayhem and Flo at our youth group's Halloween party! I had so so so so so much fun with Mayhem's suit. I ran over it, played tug of war with Quigley, took a razor to it, stomped around on it in the the dirt, set it on fire... I'm glad we decided to go that route just so I could have fun destroying something. 
Bean picked a monkey suit. She called this outfit her "monkey dress" and spent her time in it showing off her monkey tail. What is left of the tutu has now been retired to her dress up suit case and she has worn her ears every day since. 
Last week we shared a few truths about ourselves and one lie. My lie you ask? #4. I really don't like baking or cooking and I've never been very good at it or interested in it. My poor husband. He says I'm getting better the more I actually do it. In this case I often wonder if practice will ever bring perfection. Sigh.

Now for today's top ten topic: Ain't that the truth!
Truth? You may ask... what's the truth? Well there's only one thing in history that I believe is absolute truth and that's the Bible.
Here's a few ways I'll back up my claim: My dad made this amazing statement, "Either Jesus was the biggest liar on the face of the planet or what He says about Himself is absolute truth." I've chosen to believe the later and here's a few reasons why: not one historian can disprove the FACT that Jesus lived, that he died on a cross, or was buried in a tomb. What Christians take on faith (because of what is written by witnesses in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) is that He rose again. Also, events in the Bible have been proven through archaeological finds and scientific evidence. In fact, 
"The Bible has proven to be more historically and archaeologically accurate than any other ancient book. It has been subjected to the minutest scientific textual analysis possible to humanity and has been proven to be authentic in every way." (source, and here's another incredible story) 
And lastly, the Bible does not contradict itself. What is said in Genesis is the same throughout. I'm on my second read through and am finding it to be more amazing this time through than it was the first. (I'm hoping that happens each time.) If I live 50 more years I hope to read it 50 more times and each time I'm sure the Holy Spirit will bring something else to light, or that I'll be old and senile and simply forget and it'll be God's way of introducing a new book to me! I'm really joking because I know that it'll be the one thing in my life that will remain true, unchanging, and reliable.

2. You want the truth ladies? Well, here it is...
And I don't mean read a verse here or a verse there, read ALL OF IT from Genesis to Revelation with the mindset that it's GOD'S WORD revealed to us to reveal Himself, and it was written for HIS GLORY. This whole, "but how does it apply to me?" crap is annoying and fills us with a "man centered" theology instead of a God glorifying one. Read it to know HIM and I promise, you'll change as a result.  

3. The biggest lie on the face of the planet is to love yourself most. By doing that you need to understand that you've made yourself #1. If you call yourself a Christian, the truth is, GOD SHOULD BE #1. Love Him first and foremost, others second, and yourself last. That's how Christ lived and taught us to live. I'll give you one example of hundreds and it's the greatest commandment given by Jesus, 
"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:12-13) 
Do you think if Christ loved Himself most that he'd have died on the cross for dirty, rotten, selfish sinners like us? Nope. And He's telling us to love others like He loved us and quite frankly, there is no love like that. The truth is, when you fulfill the greatest commandment, you glorify God, and if you do that, there is no room for self exaltation. 

4. I've heard it said a hundred times that, "I don't read the Bible because it makes me feel bad." Well, ain't that the truth! Congratulations you've figured out that you're a sinner! Guess that means you need Jesus Christ as much as everyone else. The truth is that the Bible shows you your sin so that you fall on your knees in repentance to a holy, perfect, and blameless Savior and worship Him for the work HE accomplished on the cross. Now because of your faith in Jesus Christ, you can worship Him in a complete and utter state of thankfulness for this amazing selfless gift.

5. We don't read the Bible in it's entirety for many selfish reasons, but I believe that #4 is one of many reasons. I also believe that as a society we've put ourselves in a dangerous position.
And that's the truth.
6. As Christians, once we accept the facts outlined in 1-5 we'll have to let go of a few things and I don't know about you, but this is the absolute truth in my life...
... because it requires sacrifice, difficulty, temptation, and temporary moments of glee.
 7. I saw this quote once, "If a million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing." And the truth is that the world says A LOT of foolish things. Don't follow the world's teaching because the voice of the masses does not dictate the truth, there is only ONE source of truth (see #1). "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2) How do you transform your mind? How do you discern the will of God? How do you determine what is good and acceptable and perfect? Through Scripture. God's will of command is revealed with final, decisive authority only in the Bible. Meditate on it. Apply it correctly and the truth is, you will get results. And the result is wisdom.

8. I've found this to be true on more than one occasion. 

9. The truth is evident in all aspects of life.

10. And just for "fun" there's many of us who can relate to this truth, right?

While you're at it, stop by Melany's blog for more truths. 

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