Matthew 6:9-13

I'm SO sorry everybody! I know I've been rather slack in this blog. I know I should be on here much more. I'm so sorry about not getting on in such a long time.
Of course everyone knows this prayer:

"This then, is how you should pray:

" ' Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one
[not included in these verses:]
For Thine is the kingdom
and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen' "

I love this prayer! I think sometimes we think this is too simple of a prayer, but Jesus says this is HOW we are to pray. It is a simple prayer, but I think God likes simple prayers.
One of the big things in this, I remember being told once, is 'give us today our daily bread.' How often do we forget that there are people around the world who don't know if they will even get their 'daily bread.' So, for one thing, we should be thankful. But for another, we shouldn't think about tomorrow, but rather today, and what we will do today, and how we can honor God today, and so on.
This prayer is SO powerful. I think the more simple prayers are ten thousand times more powerful than these elaborate prayers that people often offer up to God. Let us remember: Ecclesiastes 5:2 - "Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
So, the next time you say the Lord's Prayer, really think about what you're saying. Don't just mutter the words. Pray them. Ask God to help you completely understand the prayer. And also, make sure that 'your words are few.'

In Christ,
Madison

ALL the Way Throught the Bible

Today I'll be posting on reading the whole way through the Bible.
I actually started today on reading my whole way through the Bible. But I will give you the first seven days of my plan (I came up with this myself, by the way):
Day 1 - Genesis 1, Psalms 1, Isaiah 1:1-10, Amos 1
Day 2 - Genesis 2, Psalms 2, Isaiah 1:11-20, Amos 2
Day 3 - Genesis 3, Psalms 3, Isaiah 1:21-31, Amos 3
Day 4 - Genesis 4, Psalms 4, Isaiah 2:1-5, Amos 4:1-10
Day 5 - Genesis 5, Psalms 5, Isaiah 2:6-22, Amos 4:11-5:17
Day 6 - Genesis 6, Psalms 6, Isaiah 3, Amos 5:18-27
Day 7 - Genesis 7, Psalms 7, Isaiah 4, Amos 6

I hope that you will find this plan at least somewhat beneficial, even if you aren't reading your whole way through the Bible.

Gotta run!

In Christ,
Madison

The Westminster Shorter Catechism - Part 1

This is such a wonderful Catechism. Not terribly short ( :P ), but it is very good.
I will copy out a little bit sometimes, until it is all copied out. This is a wonderful Catechism, and if you don't have a copy of it, I strongly encourage you to get one.

Q. 1. What is man's primary purpose?
A. Man's primary purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

*I did this in a study at one time, so I will include some of my notes on this Catechism. I also might make some new notes*
Notes: We can enjoy God by praying to Him, reading the Bible, and remembering the security we have in Him.

Q. 2. What authority from God directs us how to glorify and enjoy Him?
A. The only authority for glorifying and enjoying Him is the Bible, which is the word of God and is made up of the Old and New Testaments.

Notes: We should look in the Bible to see how to enjoy God. Also how to worship Him.

Q. 3. What does the Bible primarily teach?
A. The Bible primarily teaches what man must believe about God and what God requires of man.

Notes: We will find all of God's requirements in the Bible. Mainly, in this answer, it says the Bible shows us how to become Christians, and how to be a Christian.

I hope that you will enjoy this 'study' of the Westminster Shorter Catechism!

The Apostle's Creed

Perhaps you have heard of the Apostle's Creed. I think this one should be known and WELL known by all Christians. This is amazing:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
the Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:

Who was conceived of the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He arose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty,
whence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting.

Amen.

This is the statement of our faith, is it not?
But there is one thing I want to point out: I didn't know this until a few weeks ago, but when it says '[I believe] the holy catholic church' it does not mean the Roman Catholic church, but the universal church of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
I have heard this creed many times since I was younger, and I still think it is very good, and a wonderful statement of our faith.
Just as a little bit more info, this creed is called the Apostle's Creed because it dates back to half a century before the last writings of the New Testament.
Tell me what you think of it!

In Christ,
Madison

John 21:10-12

We visited a church this morning, and the pastor preached on these verses.

John 21:10-12
Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.

These are some interesting verses. What the pastor said, and this is true, is there is definitely a point in this: that is, Jesus wants us to have communion with Him. To talk with Him and read His word. I think that is so true. Sometimes we fail to spend time with our Lord. As the pastor said, "If you spent as little time with your wife [or husband] as you do with God, your marriage would end up in divorce. If you spent as little time with your children as you do with God, your house would be in rebellion." Now, that gives a little bit of a picture of why we don't feel like strong Christians. God wants us to come to Him, to talk to Him, to read His Word. I think if we did that, we would be much stronger Christians, and we would know Jesus so much better than we do now.

Introduction

This is a blog where I will post what I have learned from the Word of God. Also, I might include hymns, things from catechisms, etc.
The title of my blog comes from Isaiah 40:29-31:
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
I hope, with Christ's help, I can encourage all of you who read this.