How Dead Is "Dead To Sin?"

"He is Risen!" Churches everywhere will cry tomorrow morning and evening.

He is risen indeed.   

Are we?

He died to our sins.

Did we?

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:1-4)    

I read an interesting internet debate yesterday between a Catholic and a Protestant, one holding the view that Christians can live sinless lives and the other holding that as we are a fallen race, we can't help but stumble sometimes, and in those times Christ has grace for us.

It was an interesting read for me because I have wondered about that for a while, and though I don't have a definite view on it yet, I could debate either side with zeal because both have biblical and logical ground, which is why I am still confused.

Before I get into it, let me just explain that before I decided I didn't know, I thought I understood that people are incapable of living perfectly. What confuses me are places in scripture which seem to indicate that we can.

Romans 6 says, "How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?" It's asked with an attitude of, "That's silly! Why would we?"

The counter argument would be that we can try not to sin, but we will fail, because we are sinful creatures. After all...    

“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)

Yet then couldn't I say, the text is past tense? "for all HAVE sinned..."

In the very same passage it says,

“being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:24-26)

 "The sins that were PREVIOUSLY committed, to demonstrate at the PRESENT time His righteousness, that He might be just and THE JUSTIFIER OF THE ONE WHO HAS FAITH IN JESUS."

What are your thoughts on the whole thing?

Jesus says, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48)

Is He really giving us a command that's impossible for us to keep? I thought He just freed us from the burden of the law, because it was impossible for us to keep.

Doesn't the bible tell us that we are "more than conquerors through Him who loved us?" (Note: That verse is present tense.)

Does "dying to sin," really speak of something in the distant future, or can we rise above that grave now?

The more I look at it, the more I am starting to be persuaded to think that we can. After all, everyone agrees that Christ is powerful enough to triumph over sin, in fact we'd say He already did. Is He now bound by a waiting period before sin can stop separating us from Him, or does the simple fact that the Holy Spirit lives in us give us the clue that perhaps...we can be without it?  

Another thing that makes me think this way is this. (It's not scripture, it's just logic.)

If we could live sinless during our life on earth, don't you think Satan would try to persuade us that we can't?

If we fully believe that we WILL sin (be it accidental or just in a moment of weakness) because of our fallen nature, don't you think we are more likely to? What if we fully believed that in EVERY situation, "with the temptation will He make the way of escape,"? (1 Corinthians 10:13) Don't you think we would have more will-power to say no to sin?

It would be in Satan's best interest to tell us that we CANNOT rise above sin, that we must always rely on Christ's forgiveness.

I am not suggesting that we don't rely on His forgiveness at all, because obviously we have sinned, and Christ has forgiven those sins, but going back to Romans 6, it seems to say that though we know we need grace and we are thankful for grace, we should not continue to do things that would cause us to need more of it.

“What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?” (Romans 6:15-16)

I brought up this discussion to my friend, and one thing he pointed out which I agree with, is that all things considered, it doesn't really matter which side of the argument is true. If you are truly a follower of Christ, you will be striving for perfection, whether or not you think you can attain it.

As I wanted to say when I read the internet debate about it, I don't think it is worth dividing the church over, because that would be another one of Satan's delights.

But if we are to have this conversation, the first time I encountered this view, I felt suddenly way more challenged to strive for holiness than I ever had before. If a goal is reachable, the race seems so much more worth running.  

God showed me something a few years ago which I will share with you, it's found in this verse.

 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Having life more abundantly is about abiding in Christ. I have never felt more fulfilled in my life than when I knew I was doing exactly what He wanted, and spending time with Him. Living in Christ gives a whole new meaning to the word LIFE.

He showed me that the reason I will love heaven is not because there will be no more tears or death, not because streets of gold, but because I will have abundant life the way I was starting to understand it here, but there with NO restrictions, no veils. Nothing between me and God.

But this isn't something to be only had in heaven, we can have life more abundantly here on earth, and this, I believe, is God's will for us. If we were living completely free from sin, we would definitely be more able to abide in Christ, (or if we were abiding in Christ, we'd be more likely to live sinlessly) so it makes sense to me that God would make a way for us to live sinlessly so that we could concentrate on learning how to more completely abide in Him.

For the past year or so I believe God has been teaching me about the significance of names. My name "Keturah" means "Holy," or "Holy Crown." (I've heard both translations) My middle name is "Love."

Maybe the reason I am so interested in this is because God has been showing me that there is a reason He gave me that name, and He is calling me to a higher level of holiness than what I am now. How sinless is it possible to be on earth? Can I really try to be perfect as He is perfect?

Again, it's all just food for thought. I don't know what I think of it quite yet, (although I think you can tell what direction I'm leaning) and I don't think it's worth dividing the church over, but it's definitely something to consider.

At least to ask yourself the question, if you knew that you could live sinlessly, would anything about your life or your efforts change? If so, whether or not you believe you can, allow Christ to refine you further.

Happy Easter. :)




End Note: I am going to Mississippi! If you would like to find out more about it and consider supporting me, please check out my GoFundMe page HERE. :) I'll be getting it fixed soon, but my donations are actually disabled right now, cause I have to get my withdrawal thing set up. So if you would like to donate something toward my trip, you can email me at dancingfor1king@gmail.com, and we can figure something out. My donations should be set up on the page soon.

Spontaneous Therapy Sessions

I am a girl.

I am also a teenager.

I like to blame all of my problems and emotions on those two facts. So far it's worked pretty well.

The other day I experienced some emotions which at this point are fairly familiar to me, it wasn't a big deal, just sort of an overhanging feeling of discontented longing.

I could pinpoint things that I missed, so I attributed it to that, and tried to ignore it. After a while though, I opened up a little bit.

I sighed and looked at my older sister, "You know the sterotype that all teenagers are super emotional?"

"Yes."

"Does that just magically end when you turn 20?"

I wished, but talking to the sister whose blog is titled, "I Want to Punch My Computer in the Face," I figured the answer would be negative.

It was. But that's okay, because that particular sister knows lots about emotions, so she was more than willing to launch into a full therapy session.

I confess, as much as I appreciated her efforts, I didn't have much confidence in the effectiveness of her speech. Having been through pointless emotions before, I know well that they come for no reason and leave just as quickly.

In between laughs though, (because my sister is quite hilarious) she said, "I believe that this is working! In fact, I think this is revelation from the Holy Spirit."

I laughed at first, but was quickly convicted that she could be right. Although I didn't see how her "revelation" had anything to do with my VERY pointless emotions, I decided to be receptive just in case.

The next thing she said was, "It doesn't matter what other people this think about you. Sometimes you feel like you get a reputation, and you will NEVER be able to get rid of it, but you can. People forget. In fact, they forget really fast."

Suddenly I remember something I had begun to feel really upset about just a few days ago.

I know that I have had a cloud of some sort hanging over me for a while.

I don't know why, what it is, or when it started, but I feel heavier than I used to all the time.

I used to have very few bad days, these days I have very few really good ones. I would still say that I have a positive outlook on life, I LOVE my life! I love Jesus, and my family, and my friends, and my church, and ballet...I just love everything. I even enjoy working at McDonalds, and I feel really blessed. 

I honestly can't tell you what's off.

If my siblings hadn't noticed it, I would never have noticed it, but since they pointed it out I know they're right.

Something about me has changed.

But I don't want to have a reputation that I live with a cloud over my head. I don't want a reputation that I am selfish, that I am sullen, or overly emotional.

I didn't realize that I needed an encouragement from God until my sister said plainly, "In fact, I think this is a revelation from the Holy Spirit!"

Now I am...peaceful.

I know that God is a God of renewal, and as spring begins, everything displays His power to renew all the more.

Tonight, I went to a presentation by our pastor and his wife, and at one point, he talked about Peter.

Peter meets Jesus, he is fishing, and Jesus calls Him.

And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

After Peter denies Jesus and He is crucified, He finds the disciples once again in a fishing boat.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. (John 21:7)

The moment Peter hears Jesus' voice, he jumps in the water to swim to Him, because Jesus has called him back. Peter is back where he started, and Jesus gives him a second chance.

The story was calming for me, to hear again that I can always start over. God is always able to renew my life, and He can change poor reputations. People can forget.



End Notes:

If you would like to read my sister's blog and laugh pretty hard, you can read it HERE.

Also, I am planning on going to Mississippi next summer, (2018) and I am trying to raise a grand total of $3,015 for the trip. If you want to know more and/or support me in this, please check out my GoFundMe page HERE.

Have a great day! :)

How Sickness Brought Me Back to the Basics

The stomach flu hit our house for the first time this week in a LONG time.

First the youngest, second my sister and brother in-law's whole family minus one, (them and two little kids) then the second youngest, then me, then my older sister, then my dad.

As I write this I am reflecting on the nightI got it, when I started to throw up at 2:00 AM.

I prayed a lot. It was all pretty repetitive, "Dear Jesus, please help." 

I don't even know what I was exactly asking for, because I wasn't expecting Him to take away the sickness.

Just strength, I guess.

My head hit the pillow when I got back from the bathroom, the only thought in my mind was gratefulness.

Not gratefulness that He had made it easier, cause He hadn't. Not gratefulness that I had been given strength, cause I felt really weak. Just gratefulness that He was there.

I could tell He was there, suffering with me in my suffering, being a reassuring presence.

I didn't articulate any thoughts in that moment, but the best way to express what I felt is in the quote by John Newton, "I remember two things very clearly. I am a great sinner and Christ is a great savior."

Grace has been a continuous word in my head.

Christ is full of grace.

Maybe I'm simple-minded or silly because I'm sick. But simple, old Christian phrases sound so wonderful to me right now.

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound.

God is love.

Jesus came to save the lost.

I'm all warm and fuzzy. :)

A Letter to You

Dear friend, I would like to tell you a little bit about my life.    

Sometimes I eat muffins that wonderful ladies buy for me, sometimes I have coffee with my brothers in the Lord, and sometimes I get invited to China. (Though so far, I haven't gone)    

I believe that God has a mission for me wherever I am, though the mission may change with time and location. When I started working at McDonalds, I saw it as a blessing, but I also understood that that was to become my mission field.  

 What this is supposed to look like, I still don't really know. I had an idea for ministry which I tried a few times and would love to keep doing, but it hasn't worked out for a while.   

 In the meantime though, I have noticed God involved in my work in interesting, and really encouraging ways.  

 I told one of my sisters a while ago, I feel almost like there is a little church I am part of at McDonalds. If every Christian customer I'm friends with met together at once, we could have a bible study, or if you will, a little church.  

 I love all of my friends, not just the Christians. There is an Indian man who runs a school in India, he is....I don't think Hindu, but something similar, he always calls me by name and chats with me when he can. There is a French lady and her Muslim friend who come in and talk to me, I was friends with the French one first, and I bonded with her friend over her baby. Communicating on the VERY little English she spoke, with mostly smiles and laughs.  

 I saw a man reading a bible once, and asked him about it. He enthusiastically asked, "Are you a believer?"  

 My sisters and I have since referred to him as "Our brother," and he always calls us "Sister" when he sees us. We are brother and sister in Christ.  

 He sat down and had coffee with me a few days ago on my break, and we had a lovely time discussing the church, spiritual gifts, and the Spirit in general. One thing we talked about was how the Spirit unites us, and somehow, we can connect with each other in ways that most people can't. Even a person he had never seen before, he said, "You are a pastor." And he was. The Spirit unifies us.    

 I can't help but think of every other friend I have a McDonalds, and wish they were brothers and sisters too.  

 I can connect with a sweet old lady because she is a wife and mother, and I would like to have children someday. I can connect with a nice gentleman because he appreciates Fred Astaire the way I do, and I can connect with someone because he went to elementary school with my grandfather, but I cannot connect with any of these dear people because they love the same God.  

 And that is a big deal.  

 Though I've known each of them for a year or less, we have wonderful relationships. Jesus has known them their entire lives, yet still they do not know Him. Thinking about this reminded me of a passage we read in church last Sunday, about the demon possessed man by the tombs.  

  “And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.” (Mark 5:16-20)

  The man who had been healed knew that by Jesus' side was the very best place he could be, so he asked to go with him, but Jesus said no.  

 Jesus knew that the people of that city who begged Him to leave as soon as they saw what He could do, would listen to an ordinary man's testimony more willingly than they would listen to Him, so He sent His new disciple back, and it says that "all marvelled."  

 I hope that this is who I can be to these people. I hope they will listen to the testimony of one of their own, since they would not listen to the One with the power to transform their lives.  

 I think God can do really amazing things at McDonalds in West Windsor. I pray that I would be a part of something great that happens there.  

 Yours sincerely,  

 Keturah


NOTE: I am hoping to go to Mississippi next summer for a dance intensive with Ballet Magnificat! If you would be interested in supporting my trip, please check out my GoFundMe page HERE.

Keturah's Summer: Ballet Magnificat

Hello everyone!

This post is going to be a little different than usual, because I really just want to tell you all about my newest exciting adventure. Or at least, what I hope will be my newest exciting adventure.

You may have heard of a ballet company called Ballet Magnificat. If you haven't, they are America's premiere Christian ballet company. I saw their performance of The Hiding Place once when I was little, and have been inspired by them ever since.

Every year Ballet Mag runs a dance intensive in the summer, they have a 2 week and a 4 week program.

I've set a goal to go next summer.

The company is based in Mississippi, so that is where the intensive will be. The tuition is $1,931 and then there are travel expenses on top of that.

(You can watch a video and find out more about the intensive HERE)

I've tried for the last few years to earn enough money for classes, intensives, and equipment, but I've been finding more and more that this is quite a challenge. To really earn enough money, I would need to stop spending and just save money for at least a year, but I can't afford to lose that time of training.

All of the money I'm making from working is going toward classes for September-June of 2018, so I have to come up with some creative ways to raise money for the Summer Intensive.

One of my ideas is a Gofundme page! Super original, I know. ;)

I had to have a picture for my page, so I took the opportunity to have a little photoshoot just for fun. I thought you might like to see some of the pictures!

I feel like I look like a ballet-modern version of a Jane Austen character.

For all you concerned dancers out there, yes, my pointe shoes are fine.

I'm just going to take this opportunity to promote my brother Jon, he has a juice/smoothie business. He also sells apple cider. Go to the City Market on Walker Road, buy it.

My niece wanted to wear one of my ballet shoes. How could I resist? (She was previously playing with that stick on the ground. She gave that up for the shoe. There's a true dancer at heart right there.)

Anyway, if you'd like to support my trip, please consider donating HERE. :)

Here are a few IQWATWPBFA's: (If Questions Were Asked, These Would Probably Be Frequently Asked)

-What if you don't raise all of the money, or your application is denied, what will happen to the donations you did get?

Good question! If for some reason the trip falls through, the money will still go toward my ballet education. As I mentioned earlier, I have been struggling to just pay for regular classes, so if I can't make the trip to Mississippi, the donations will still be really helpful.

-....I had another question I thought of, but I can't remember now. So if you ask, or if I remember, I'll just update this later.

Even if you don't donate, (I know a lot of you have donated to help me with things before, so I am not expecting anyone to twice) please consider sharing this post, or just my Gofundme link on your Facebook!

Just one last note: Gofundme is a great tool, but it does deduct a small percentage from each donation I receive. If you see me in person semi-regularly, it might be better for you to find a way to get it to me in person, with cash or a cheque.

Thank you in advance for any way you are going to help me out!

~Keturah

Now Let's Pray.

"MY FAIR LADY!!"

The sound of two two-year old singing London Bridges at the top of their lungs in a tune which, (if it could be called a tune) was certainly not London Bridges, threatened to drown out the words I was reading in my book.

Abruptly, Emily interrupted the song and announced, "Now let's pray."

There was silence behind my chair for a moment before she began to say, "Thank you for my God. Thank you for my Jesus. Please help Mama to feel better..." (that part was echoed by Louisa, "Please help Mama to feel better.") "Amen."

I immediately wondered if they understood the power of the words they had just said, or rather, the power of the One they said them to. How much did they understand of what they had just done?

Probably not a lot.

When Jesus calls us to "childlike faith..."

But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 

...does He mean the kind of strong, unwavering faith we think of when we think of a child's dependency, or does He perhaps just mean that we come with what we know?

My dad has used this analogy before, that a newborn does not think about trusting his parents. He doesn't consciously depend on them, he just does what he knows, which, at that point in his life, is very little.

Emily and Louisa did what they knew. Does God require more from them?

I can pray for a lot longer than they did. I know a lot of things that God hates that I can pray against, I know a lot of people that God loves who I can pray for, I am aware of a lot of blessings I can thank Him for, but did He want that from my nieces?

Or was He happy with the three things they said? "Thank you for my God. Thank you for my Jesus. Please help Mama to feel better. Amen."

That was what they understood, and that is what they came with.

I confess that sometimes I hesitate to come to Jesus because I feel my lack. My lack of knowledge, lack of love, lack of _____. (you fill in the blank)

It's true that I am lacking, and there is more He wants me to know. He has promised to teach me...

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (John 16:13)

...but before He teaches me, I must come to Him to listen. I must come with what I know, and though it is not perfect faith, He is pleased with it.

Another thing that struck me about Emily's prayer was that she made everything hers.

God wasn't just God, He was "My God."

Jesus wasn't just Jesus, He was "My Jesus."

Is that part of what it means to have childlike faith? Her faith said, "I know this, therefore it's mine."

I can do that too! I know Jesus, therefore He's mine.

I know that God made a way for salvation, therefore it's mine.

But It Was Thou

I've noticed that when I get back from GAP, I stay in "GAP mode," for a long while after.

What this means is that if I see a pinecone, I imagine a pro-choice university student comparing a pre-born child to a pinecone, saying that it isn't a tree just because it came from the tree. My next thought is to agree that a pinecone isn't a tree, and show them why their comparison doesn't work.

This also means that in the McDonalds drive-thru, I stop myself before saying, "Hi there, what do you think about abortion?" to a customer who pulls up to the speaker.

This also means that when I read the bible and look for new angles to see it from, I may read a psalm from the perspective of a pre-born baby.

Before I get into it, I'd like to clarify that I understand that this is completely out of context. However, have you ever read a psalm in a time when you felt distressed, and took those words to heart? That is the way I'm looking at it, only not from my perspective, but hers.

If you would like to experience what almost made me cry, I encourage you to read Psalm 55. I'll cover some of it here, but there's too much to write out the whole chapter.

First, the plea of the baby soon to be killed.

Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise; (Psalms 55:2)

A noise which only God can hear, and tragically, if we could, I think most people would choose not to.

Because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me. (Psalms 55:3)

Coming from many pro-choice advocates, babies in the womb sound like villains. They are portrayed like evil parasites that will destroy the lives of their mothers, and MUST be dealt with.

(I am not, in any way, trying to trivialize what a woman goes through with an unplanned pregnancy. I agree that in many cases, it is VERY difficult for her, but in no case will her child ruin her life. Trying to raise a child in difficult circumstances will make her life very difficult, but it is her circumstances that are the problem, not her baby.)

Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me. And I said, Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest. (Psalms 55:5, 6)

What kind of society are we, that if a child could fly away from her mother's womb, she would be safer than if she stayed?

Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. (Psalms 55:10)

Abortion happens all the time. It excuses mischief, but it also never comes without sorrow.

For every woman that is "relieved" of the burden of her baby, a life is lost, and many women carry guilt and regret for the rest of their lives.

Of any part of this chapter though, this is what broke me the most.

For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. (Psalms 55:12-14)

Read that two more times. First from the perspective of the baby, and second, from the perspective of the mother.

The child says, "If it was an enemy that threatened me, I could have hidden inside my mother. But it was you, who I should have been able to trust, and I had nowhere to hide."

But women so often are not given an option. Their parents or their boyfriend or their friends convince them it's the right thing to do. Sometimes harshly, but I think a lot of the time, they do it because they truly think it's best for them. And because they understand the intention, they go through with the action, and end up carrying enormous guilt that those people who persuaded them will NEVER understand.

The mother says, "If it was my enemy who told me to kill my baby, I could have stood against him. But it was you, my close friend, who told me it was best for me."

Reading that touched me so deeply.

He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me. (Psalms 55:18)

Many. There were many. There are many. 300 children a day, 3,000 in America.

He says battle, and it is like one. It's bloody, it's dangerous, it's killing. But in this battle, one side is bigger, stronger, and has all the weapons.

He hath put forth his hands against such as be at peace with him: he hath broken his covenant. The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords. (Psalms 55:20, 21)

"The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart."

Soft, nice sounding words like "Choice, planning, healthcare," are used to describe the slaughter of innocent children.

But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days; but I will trust in thee. (Psalms 55:23)

In the end, I pray that abortionists will be converted. That they will learn what it is to know Christ, but if they don't, God has promised to bring about justice. And He is a righteous Judge.

I just want to finish with a question. If an innocent child asked you to save her life, would you do it?

How about the child who can't ask?

If you are interested in saving babies, check out this link - https://www.endthekilling.ca/summer-internship

After reading that, if you still want to do something, but can't make it for one reason or another, you can contact me either on Facebook or at keturahthomson12@gmail.com, and I'll talk to you about another way you can get involved.