theology – Page 159

Poem of Joy in the Lord

Posted on July 29, 2020July 29, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Lord, open my heart as a flower to receive your sweet drops of mercy.
Place in me desires that align with yours.
Make my conscience tender as a velvet bloom.
Harden in me a firm resolve.

Your majesty is glimpsed in the clouds,
In the towering mountains,
In the fresh dew.
Yet Lord, we want to see you. How long, O Lord?

You are the Rock on which our feet stand!
You are the eagle upon which we fly!
You are the lion that saves!
Give me a persevering spirit until that Day.

Then, and only then, I rest.

cloud

natural history, theology

How ’bout them donkeys?!

Posted on July 28, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

There are a lot of animals, plants, and activities in the Bible that I have little knowledge about. It was fun learning the process for creating purple dye from murex shells. Or how to get from reeds growing along the Nile to linen garments. And what was it about the sweet onions that the Wandering Hebrews complained that they missed them so much?

I’ve been thinking about donkeys.

I don’t know why.

donkeys 2a

Once I started looking in the Bible at the topic of donkeys, there was a lot more there than I’d thought. This turns out to be the case with every topic I delve into inside the Bible. Continue reading “How ’bout them donkeys?!” →

review, theology

The Babysitters Club: Netflix Review

Posted on July 27, 2020July 27, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Netflix rebooted the 1990s book series and movie The Babysitters Club into a 2020 series.

The Baby-Sitters Club (also known as BSC) is a series of novels written by Ann M. Martin and published by Scholastic between 1986 and 2000, that sold 176 million copies. There were 213 books published over the course of the series (not all written by Martin) and the books’ success eventually led to a television series in the 90s. Thirteen episodes were made and aired on HBO, with reruns continually on Disney and Nickelodeon between 1994 and 1997. (Information Source Wikipedia).

It was hugely popular, let’s say. Continue reading “The Babysitters Club: Netflix Review” →

encouragement, theology

Gratitude in the Days of Chaos

Posted on July 25, 2020July 25, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

giver

These times have become chaotic, disruptive, and perplexing. It helps to concentrate on Jesus in daily life. Intentionally concentrate. To do this, I find ways to purposely thank Him, this keeps His name and focus in front of my eyes like phylactery. Where Paul says he has “learned” to be content, for me, gratitude is one way I can learn to be content. I translate the day’s events into a lesson that includes gratitude (among other things), so as to propel my sanctification in cooperation with the Spirit.

I’m not writing this because I’m so super duper, or holier than thou. In fact, the opposite. have to, must, work on ways to not let days slip by without a nod to the Shepherd of my Soul, and I easily can. I can get lazy, apathetic, and selfish in a heartbeat.
Continue reading “Gratitude in the Days of Chaos” →

encouragement, theology

Grace Community Church pushes back against Caesar’s encroachment

Posted on July 24, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Since March 14, 2020 here in America we have been under emergency orders of a National Emergency due to a pandemic. The President, under information from the Center for Disease Control and other medical organizations, shut down the country. We went into lockdown, stopping businesses, schools, commerce, international air travel- everything. The pandemic was from a virus that had come from China and swept across the world.

The predictions were for a situation akin to the 1918 Spanish Influenza pandemic, where millions of Americans died. This turned out not to be the case in 2020. About 97% of people who got this virus, recovered. It proved to be low risk for children, extremely few across the nation died from it. No child under the age of 17 in my state died from it in the last 5 months. Many people who supposedly had it, were asymptomatic. In others, their case was so mild they hardly needed treatment. Continue reading “Grace Community Church pushes back against Caesar’s encroachment” →

encouragement, theology

Wherever you are, Jesus hears you and knows you

Posted on July 23, 2020July 23, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Did the pillar of cloud ever depart from the people? Did the pillar of fire ever forsake them? When the outcry rose from Sodom, did not God hear their cries?

Did the lone fleeing woman crying in the desert escape God’s attention? Did the prayer of an aged devout man to see the Messiah reach through the skies to heaven and God’s ears?

Was the prayer of a man under the sea in a fish’s belly heard? And answered? Was the desperate prophet crying in the desert alone, or was God with him? Continue reading “Wherever you are, Jesus hears you and knows you” →

encouragement, theology

Why are people acting like this?

Posted on July 22, 2020July 23, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

Does anything matter? After I die, will I have a legacy, or will I be forgotten? Why are we here?

These are the eternal questions. These are the issues every man deals with in his heart. These questions represent the ever-present fear of death. 1 Corinthians 15:26 says that death is an enemy. Hebrews 2:15 says that fearing death keeps one in a lifelong slavery. The wages of sin is death, (Romans 6:23) and since every person knows he’s a sinner, they know their wages are ultimately death. They are in the grip of death all their lives, and experiencing its power even before bodily death arrives. This is the bondage of slavery meant in the Hebrews verse. Continue reading “Why are people acting like this?” →

theology

Dedication of the wall: what happened next

Posted on July 21, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata

The Israelites had been carried off to Babylon. The dispersal came at God’s hand as a fulfillment of the promise H’d made to them, that if they didn’t repent He would punish them. They didn’t, so He did what He said He was going to do: defeat them and allow them to be carried off.

After a while, God put it in Nehemiah’s mind to return, and to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem and to restore Jerusalem itself. The first wave of returnees had already gotten back and they were in distress, living in a ruined city with enemies all around, and no protective wall. God put it on the heart of workers Nehemiah led to work fast and well, despite obstacles in opposing armies, mocking, lies, and any and all obstructions the enemies of God could throw in their way. And there were a lot of obstructions. But they got the job done. Continue reading “Dedication of the wall: what happened next” →

discernment, theology

False Doctrine is like John Prine’s song Bruised Orange

Posted on July 20, 2020July 20, 2020 by elizabethprata

By Elizabeth Prata*

A friend of mine recently asked me how my summer went. I said good and asked her about hers. She is a lady with whom I speak about Jesus quite often. She replied that she loves her summers so she can listen to sermons and study what the person said in it. I asked who she listened to and she said she loves Joyce Meyer, and Joseph Prince. “I love them!” she said.

Joseph Prince is a false teacher.
Joyce Meyer is a false teacher.

I went away mournful. I am also perplexed. I often speak of Jesus in my daily life, whether at work, or church, or at the store. I often speak of false doctrine and false teachers, specifically on my blog and in general at church. Sometimes if a specific situation comes up, I make an appointment and lay out specific concerns to my pastors or elders, and step back to prayerfully allow them to do their leading and pastoring regarding what I’ve shared. Continue reading “False Doctrine is like John Prine’s song Bruised Orange” →

theology

Biblical Reflections And Future Aspirations

Posted on July 18, 2020 by elizabethprata

DebbieLynne is a great writer and has a heart for the Lord and sisters in the Lord.

The Outspoken TULIP

I know…you expected another edition of Saturday Sampler today. So I’ve started this sixth year of The Outspoken TULIP by disappointing readers who enjoy the selection of other blog posts and fellow bloggers who appreciate the free publicity. Take heart, everyone: Saturday Sampler will return next week with all sorts of goodies for you to explore.

Meanwhile, do you like my new decor? I’m celebrating a milestone in my blogging career, so I thought I’d dress The Outspoken TULIP up in honor of the occasion. You’ll notice a few minor changes around the blog in coming days, such as a switch from the English Standard Version to the New American Standard Bible (my husband and my pastor will be delighted). I’m also going to start using tags in addition to categories to assist readers in find posts that interest them. All this, to celebrate this blog’s fifth birthday!

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