Defective Compositions

Sep. 21, 2009 - More Than Conquerors Magazine

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

If you are looking for a neat magazine to read, that will interest and benefit the whole family, I think you should check out More Than Conquerors.

They have lots of neat articles to read and ponder on, an awesome giveaway, and links to helpful resources on the internet. I definitely plan on going back to read more!

Just so you know, the giveaway is a Vision Forum DVD, Christianity and Science Fiction: Reclaiming the Genre for Christ. I have been thinking about writing a Science Fiction story lately, so this would be doubly cool to have!

Copyright 2009 Defective Compositions

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Aug. 11, 2009 - Living as a Child of God

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

This Sunday we visited a new church, and I liked what the speaker had to say on a certain passage, 1 Peter 2:13 - 3:12.

The passage is somewhat long, so I won't post it here, but I would encourage you to go read it on your own, think on it, and come back and share what you thought!

What I gleaned from the message was this. In the passage previous to the one that I have mentioned, Peter tells us to "Live as the people of God". How should we do this? The passage gives us a list of things that we can do that we might live as the people of God.

Submit to Government
Submit to Masters
Submit to Husbands
Husbands honor your wives
Christians have one mind
Have compassion
Love as brothers
Be tenderhearted
Be courteous
Don't return evil for evil, or railing for railing, but rather bless those that curse you.

It's a pretty weighty list, isn't it? How many times have you said hateful things to siblings, or rudely slammed a door on someone, or was nasty to someone who was nasty to you? I have.

This passage is easily applicable to both individuals and churches. I won't get into the churches bit right now, though.

So, all this leads me to wonder, am I living as a child of God?

At this point in my life, my masters are my parents. How often do I disobey or complain about commands they have given me? How often do I roll my eyes in disrespect? To honor them, as God calls us to do, would show that I appreciate what they have done for me, and their wisdom and experience.
How often to I persist in and create arguments between my siblings and myself? Granted, this isn't exactly what being of "One Mind" means, but dissension of any kind is undesirable.
How often do I scoff at the pains of my brothers as being fancied or exaggerated? It wouldn't take much to tell them I am sorry they were hurt or don't feel good, and wouldn't that help ease the ache?
How often do I desire to distance myself even from those of my own family? God loved me, even though I don't think I have many hobbies in common with him (Can you imagine God knitting? Or being rude? I am rude often enough it could probably count as a hobby!). Even if I think I don't want to be with certain people, I should love them, and try to be with them anyway. That's what God did for us.
Although being tenderhearted is similar to being compassionate, it is not quite the same. How often have I had a hard heart to those things which should easily move me?
How often have I been rude to those around me? My life would be so much easier if I slowed myself down and spoke and behaved cheerfully rather than aggrieved.
Finally, how often have I replied spitefully when someone was rude to me? The Bible calls us to bless those who curse us. How can we influence those who do evil things if we are mean right back?

These are just some thoughts I had, and wanted to share with you, my readers. I feel as if I have not been living as a child of God. I need to ask Him to help me improve so that I can be a light and example for Him.

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Aug. 10, 2009 - 35 Reasons Not To Sin

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

While reading some blogs today, I came across a very convicting post. I really want everyone to go read it, because it definitely makes one think. Also, I would love it if you came back and told me what you thought!

35 Reasons Not To Sin
via
Stay At Home Daughters

Copyright 2009 Defective Compositions

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May. 29, 2009 - Only Jesus

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Jesus has the most amazing story out of anyone in the history of this planet. Do you want to know why?

Only Jesus...
...could fulfill over 300 prophecies that were written hundreds of years before His birth.

Matthew 26:56a
"But all this was done that the Scriptures
of the prophets might be fulfilled."

Only Jesus...
...could turn water into wine, heal the sick, blind, and infirm, and raise the dead.

Matthew 11:5
"'The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk;
the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear;
the dead are raised up and the poor
have the gospel preached to them.'"

Only Jesus...
...could calm the seas and walk on water.

Matthew 14:25
"Now in the fourth watch of the night
Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea."

Luke 8:24
"And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying,
'Master, Master, we are perishing!' Then He arose
and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water.
And they ceased, and there was a calm."

Only Jesus...
...could suffer a painful death on the cross and offer redemption to the human race.

Mark 15:24-25
"And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments,
casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him."

Romans 5:6-11
"For when we were still without strength, in due time
Christ died for the ungodly.
For scarcely for a righteous man will on die;
yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
But God demonstrates His own love toward us,
in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, having now been justified by his blood,
we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God
through the death of His Son, much more,
having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through
our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have
now received the reconciliation."

Only Jesus...
...could defeat death, and rise again!

Mark 16:6
"But he said to them, 'Do not be alarmed. You seek
Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified. He is risen!
He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.'"

Public Domain Images .
Copyright 2009 Defective Compositions

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May. 20, 2009 - MY Thoughts on Contentment

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

I read a wonderful post on contentment, over at Blessed Femina. I would really encourage you to go read it, because it definitely made me wonder if I was content (of course not!) and what to do about it.

There are many things that I wish were different. I wish I had a bigger room, I wish I had a quieter brother, I wish that I could travel the world, I wish that I didn't have to do the dishes...and so on. That's contentment if I ever heard it! For me, I really do wish all of those things, and I don't think there is any harm in liking those things, or wanting those things, but if you get to a point where it ruins your day because you have to do the dishes, or you can't go to Europe, then I think we can say with certainty that you are not content.

Like Miss Jen says in her post on contentment, "...Christian contentment lies in what we have in Christ!" Isn't that a lovely thought?

Right now, our family is in some turmoil, as it looks as if the Lord may be taking us to new places. It is really hard for some of us, but can we be content? Yes, we can! We can be content that He knows what he is doing, that wherever He takes us, if we trust in, and rely on Him, then we can be happy.

Contentment is something that I definitely need to be working on. I need to be content with whatever the Lord has for me. You know, it doesn't sound as bad as my human heart keeps telling me!

Copyright 2009 Defective Compositions

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Jul. 19, 2008 - VOM Prayer Band

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

As most of you probably know, the Olympics are coming up, and this time, they are in China. Voice of the Martyrs Persecution blog is inviting everyone to take part in the occasion by praying for the persecuted Christians in China. You can also get a free bracelet that can help remind you to pray. Even if you don't get a bracelet, remember to pray, because those people desperately need it. There is a button on my sidebar, with a link, just in case this post gets buried. (Yeah, right!) This isn't just any old freebie folks.

Thanks for stopping by!

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Jul. 15, 2008 - Bible Search

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

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May. 2, 2008 - 20 Days Prayer Challenge

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Miss Jocelyn and Miss Kylie have started, or rather started it on May 1st, a prayer challenge. Click here to visit Jocelyn's original post. Click here to find a list of others who have posted about the countries they are praying for.

They wanted to make sure that this was not obligatory, only a jumpstart to getting into the habit of praying for our own and other countries.

I thought it was a really good idea, so here I am! I have decided that I am praying for the United States, and Europe. I know, I know. That is way more than one country, but I have reasons.

The reason for praying for Europe is two-fold. The first part is that, Europe is the place I want to travel to most. I have been there once, but I definitely want to go again! The second reason is, Europe needs Christ just as much as anyother country! Europe is as sinful as the rest of the world, but it seems to me that most people are worried about other third-world countries.

Now, I understand that people say that South American natives have never had a chance to hear the gospel, but that is no excuse for not knowing God. The very trees and animals around those "natives" declare the presence of the Lord!

As for America, well. If you don't think that America is going downhill at least in morals and standards, then you must be blind. Don't get me wrong here, I do appriciate the privilege (anothor post on this topic hopefully coming soon)of freedom of speech, homeschooling, and worship (as far as that goes) however, it is my opinion that those privileges are becoming more and more obscure. It seems to me that these privileges are becoming less and less available, or allowed.

I know that America is no worse than any other country in terms of morality, and I know that we have way more privileges than other countries. However, the United States is the leading country of the world, and generally speaking where the U.S. leads, the rest of the world follows.

I am not sure what else to say, but I know that the United States needs to be prayed for desperately.

Please go and look at what everyone else is praying for, I know that lots of others are also praying for America.

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Jul. 6, 2007 - A Prayer Request And A Million Praises

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Yesterday was quite a day. A lot of things happened that I would like to share with you.

First, we purchased an air conditioner. Just so you understand how important this is to us, we have no way of cooling our house in heat over 100 degrees F*. That's bad! So we got an AC, and Daddy was putting it into a prominent window, when the AC took a wild leap, and landed hard on the gravel below the window. The cord that should be permanently attached to the AC, became unattached, and we all gave a great groan. Fortunately, Daddy was able to fix it, and now we are all Not sweltering in the heat. Praise number one!

It was then that we found out about one of our family members. She needs prayer, but I can't tell you who she is, or why she needs the prayer. Please just pray for her, that she might seek the Lord with all of her heart. The rest He already knows about. That is the Request.

Praise number two is as follows. Last night, Bluejane lost her glasses case, that had her very expensive sunglasses in them. For a while she was devestated, but then she went to check in the car, and there they were. Once again, Praise the Lord!

There are so many things to Praise him for, so much to thank him for, that it is overwhelming. Don't forget to praise the Lord for the things he has done for you. Don't be discouraged because he does answer prayer!

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Jun. 19, 2007 - Analogies and the Great Critical Thinker

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

The other day I was sewing away on my ball dress, when I had a thought. It was an analogy of our walk with God and sewing, but I can't remember it. However, I realized that lately, I have been seeing parallels in very simple things, and likening it to our relationship with God.

As I was thinking of my sewing analogy, I had another thought. This is actually really obvious, but it made me think. Everything in this world, from us flying to the moon, to spiders crawling around in the dark corners of our house, that is an analogy of our relationship with Christ, and our association with Satan.

Then that thougth led me to another. What if God put all of these analogies here on purpose, for us, the poor, small-brained humans that we are, to understand, at least a little bit of what he is trying to teach us.

My next thought was, "Of course God put those parallels here on purpose, of course he knows that they are there." Me, with my limited knowledge couldn't imaging someone purposely creating analogies in everything!

It is truly awe inspiring when you think of a God who would do that for us, in yet another effort to bring us light, and come closer to him.

(Just a short note, I am not finished with my ball dress yet, we were having major problems with putting the zipper in.)

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May. 24, 2007 - A Confrontation

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Today, I had an interesting experience. One of the neighbors came over and we started having a discussion. Well, more of a debate really. Part of it was curiosity, part serious, part fun conversation.

We talked about a lot of things, shared our different views, and stumbled over what we were trying to explain.

It was an interesting experience for me, because I have never really had a discussion where I had to defend my faith, and explain my beliefs before. Almost all of my friends are Christians, and I don't hardly know any non-believers. So this was a new, untraveled road for me.

My Mom and my sister say that I did alright. I think that I did okay, but I felt like I was going in circles. I do not have the clearest way of communicating, and my thoughts don't turn out as well as when I voice them.

However, I am glad that we had our debate, because now I can go and prepare myself for the next time I am confronted. I now have that experience behind me, and can know what to expect for next time.

I felt like sharing this with all of you, and I hope that some of you can glean something from it, even if it just be to prepare yourself for confrontations. It has helped me to learn something, and I hope that I can profit from it.

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Oct. 3, 2006 - "Avoiding Foolish and Ignorant Disputes"

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Please go back and participate in my Mad Libs.

There are many ways of solving conflict. Some may be better than others and resolve the problem quickly.

I have problems with conflict all the time. I think that God has been talking to me lately about resolving my conflicts quickly and effectively. Then working on avoiding conflict completely.

1 Timothy 2:23 says to, "Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife." I need to learn to avoid foolish and ignorant disputes.

The Lord of the Rings gives us some examples on how to solve a problem that has risen between a few of the characters.

Recall, if you can, the argument between Gimli and Eomer; Gimli had once rebuked Eomer for uttering rash words concerning the Lady Galadrial. Later, Eomer, after beholding the beauty of both Galadrial, and her grand-daughter, Arwen, returns to Gimli. He informs the dwarf that he preferred Arwen to Galadrial. Gimli realizes that this dispute can only be resolved by understanding that they both have different opinons on the matter.

A different conflict that concerns Gimli, also includes Legolas. Both have a great love for nature, only they love different aspects. Gimli, being a dwarf, prefers rock and stone, but Legolas the elf loves the trees and the woods more than anything. Their argument is resolved by planning to have an unbiased view on their visits to the Glittering Caves and Fangorn Forest.

A dislike also once sprang up between Treebeard, Galadrial, and Celeborn. Their friendship became estranged at one point. The Elves advised the hobbits to avoid Fangorn Forest. Treebeard, after the hobbits had strayed into the forest despite warnings, in his turn warned the younger hobbits from journying to Lothlorien. After the War of the Rings, after fighting against a common cause, they greet each other as friends.

These problems were solved by different methods. Gimli and Eomer agreed to disagree. Legolas and Gimli comprimised, and Treebeard the Ent, Celeborn, and Galadrial the Elves were drawn to renewed friendship through a common cause.

Recall (here I am talking to myself) the verse above; "Avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife." Dear Lord, please help ME to avoid conflict.

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Apr. 24, 2006 - Simple Tools For Brain Surgery

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Wow! Yesterday was quite a Sunday for my family and I. We went to church in the morning, and had a guest speaker. He started Transport for Christ, International, a ministry for truckers. It was neat to listen to him speak.

Then we were invited to go to lunch with some friends, and had a really good time there.

The interesting part of the day was when my Mom, Sister, and I went to another friend's house to watch a movie called, "Simple Tools For Brain Surgery."

The movie was a great help in teaching questions to ask other people about what they believe, so you will be able to better defend your faith.

These are the questions:

What do you mean by....? (...by what you are saying, i.e. What do you mean by evolution?)
How do you know what you are saying is true?
What difference does it make in your life?
What if you are wrong, and you die?

After expaining these questions to us, Bill Jack(the man in the movie) had two interviews with a secular humanist, and an atheist. It was really interesting!

Then, when the movie was done, all of the people who were there had a discussion, and did some practice conversations. We also discussed how to answer other, more everyday issues, like dating. I was so excited to learn more on how to defend my faith and minister to others at the same time.

I really enjoyed watching the movie, and I think that maybe if you watched it, you would get a lot out of it too.

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Mar. 7, 2006 - Teen Commandments

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Hello my faithful readers! Today I have a list of the Teen Commandments, you will see what I mean when you read them. Just to let you know, I did not make these up.

Teen Commandments

1. Don't let your parents down;

they brought you up.

2. Choose your companions with care;

you become what they are.

3. Be master of your habits

or they will master you.

4. Treasure your time;

don't spend it; invest it.

5. Stand for something

or you'll fall for anything.

6. Select only a date

who would make a good mate.

7. See what you can do for others;

not what they can do for you.

8. Guard your thoughts;

what you think, you are.

9. Don't fill up on this worlds crumbs;

feed your soul on the Living Bread.

10. Give your all to Christ;

He gave His all for you.

I thought this was really cool, and I hope you will too.

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Feb. 17, 2006 - The Parable of the Sower

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

My family and I are starting a small garden. We are working on turning the ground over, with shovels.

We only have a basic idea of what we want to plant. Tomatos, lettuce, onions, cucumbers, normal veggies. I can't wait until that time when we can race out to the garden and see the first little green shoot poking its head out from under its blanket.

The next stage is trying as hard as we can(maybe a little too hard) to keep those growing vegtables alive. Our family has never been very good with plants. We are constantly forgetting to water our plants,or we over water them.

I think our family has only had one harvest in all of the years we have attempted to grow a garden.

This year we are going to get worms to help enrich the mineral lacking soil of central Oregon. The worm castings(manure) will help our plants a lot.

Hopefully we will be able to end this year with a few full grown veggies, who have been able to thrive with the many obstacles that they will have to overcome.

My families gardening experience shows a picture of mankind and God. It is a different version of of Jesus' parable in Mark 4:3-9.

3"Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

4 And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside;and the birds of the air came and devoured it.

5 Some fell on stony ground,where it did not have much earth;and immediatly it sprang up because it had no depth of earth.

6 But when the sun was up it was scorched and because it had no root it withered away.

7 And some seed fell among thorns;and the thorns grew up and choked it,and it yielded no crop.

8 But the other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

9 And He said to them, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

God plants a seed in a mans heart, and this new Christian will either not grow or shine though all the surrounding darkness.

If the Chrtistian does grow he will be battered by many temptations. Here he can slowly die, or grow bigger and stronger, and shine even more than before. He will be tempted many times before he reaches his final goal, Heaven.

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Dec. 14, 2005 - The Chisel of God - The Grand Canyon

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

The Grand Canyon

Both the Flood and a river carved the Grand Canyon. People say that floods and rivers are destructive. That’s true, but how many of the 4 million, 5 hundred people who look at the Grand Canyon each year say, “ Oh look at all this destruction!”

The tourists that stand on the rim of the canyon are in awe of its immense size. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long, 15 miles across at its widest point, and has an average depth of 1 mile.

Most books would tell you that the Grand Canyon was formed over a period of 2-5 million years. I believe that the Flood began the formation of the canyon and because there was so much water, that it started in an instant.

The Colorado River is at the bottom of the canyon. It is 1,450 miles long. This river also helped chisel the canyon, and could have been left over from the Flood.

Jesus is called the river of life. For anyone who feels that their life is nothing but destruction, Jesus will create a new man in any who believe in him.

Everybody enjoys water. In fact, water is necessary to stay alive. Water shapes our world as these examples show.

Water can quench fire, but Song of Solomon 8:7 tells us that, “Many waters can not quench love; rivers can not wash it away.” God’s love for us will never be quenched.

Water is the chisel of God. Those who have seen evidence of the Flood, Niagara Falls, or the Grand Canyon, have seen How Marvelous are God’s Works.

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Dec. 10, 2005 - The Chisel of God - Niagara Falls

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

Niagara Falls

Niagara is a good example of God’s beautiful work in progress. Niagara means “The Strait,” in Indian. Niagara is a strait between the two great lakes, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.

The Niagara River is 35 miles long and holds 2 dams. Niagara Falls is actually made up of three different falls, Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. Horseshoe Falls is the largest of the three. With 600,000 gallons per second, that water has defiantly caused some erosion.

The erosion rate of Horseshoe Falls is 1 foot a year. American Falls does not have enough water going over it right now to erode the rock at the base of the falls.

In January of 1818, a rock measuring 160 ft. x 30 ft., broke off from Horseshoe Falls There are other examples of rocks breaking off from the falls as well as buildings and an island that had to be demolished because erosion made them unsafe.

It amazes me that many of the people that look upon Niagara Falls do not see the work of a most loving God. They see an evolutionary process. Yet many scientists agree that it has only taken 5,000 years for the Falls to recede back to where they are today. Niagara Falls is breathtaking to those who see its massive power, and people talk about the destruction to the earth and landscape that the Falls creates.

Where will the Falls be in another thousand years? Will the Falls erode completely away so that there will be nothing for sightseers to “ooh” and, “aah” over? I suppose Ontario and New York will have to offer rafting trips with tour guides pointing out where the Falls used to be.

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Dec. 9, 2005 - The Chisel of God - The Flood

Posted in Serving and Thinking About Him

While reading the book, Little Town in the Ozarks, by Roger Lea McBride, I read about a debate a woman was retelling to Laura Ingalls Wilder.

The debate was over which natural destructive force was stronger, fire or water? The side defending water finally won with the argument that water can quench fire, but fire cannot quench water.

Water can be destructive, but water can also create! There are three instances in which water has done both. The flood, Niagara Falls, and the Grand Canyon are these three happenings that changed the face of the earth forever. Keep your heads up, because I don’t want to drown you in boredom!

The Flood

God sent the Flood to purge the world of evil. In Genesis 7:11-12, it says, “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, on the seventeenth day of the second month – on that day all the springs of the great deep burst forth, and the floodgates of the heavens were opened. And the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights.

The springs of the great deep sprung forth, that would mean that it didn’t just rain and that springs bursting forth would help change the landscape. Especially since all that water coming from different directions, at top speed would make a horrendous, violent mass of liquid. Verse 20 tells us the waters rose and covered the mountains to a depth of more than twenty feet.

Before and possibly during the Flood there might have been earthquakes. Add earthquakes to rushing torrents of water, faster then you can imagine, and you get a massive Extreme Makeover!

God used water to destroy the earth, but it wasn’t God or the water that brought about this destruction. It was sin.

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