Becoming Virtuous

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  • Thoughts on holiness

    The other day as I was pondering over the meaning holy, and interesting thought struck me.  So you may understand how I came to my conclusion (which I’ll mention later), let’s review just a bit.

    I said yesterday that holy means to be set apart to something.  We as Christians are called to be set apart to God.  In everything we do, whether thoughts or actions.  Now, I understand that holy is generally seen as only a religious term.  However, going back to the original meaning of the word, holy can be applied to many things.  For example, a lot of older siblings can say that there possessions are holy (or any sibling for that matter).  The possessions are set apart to them and for their use alone. 😉  While I wouldn’t encourage turning holy into an everyday word, this brought an interesting thought to my mind.

    It happens to be along the lines of emotional purity.  Guys may have a semi difficult time understanding everything this post, but hang in with me.  Girls, I know how hard it is not to give away your heart.  This is one of my personal struggles as well.  I know what it is like to see a boy and have your mind jump to wondering if he’s “the one.”  You begin to daydream about him.  Schoolwork becomes even more of a chore because you’re thoughts keep drifting to this certain someone.  I have spent hours employed in daydreaming, and I can wholeheartedly assure you that it is a pathetic waste of time.  Not only does it take time away from serving God and other more useful pursuits.  But to quote Ecclesiastes 8:7, “Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?”  We do not know what the future holds for us.  So every minute we spend thinking (or obsessing) over anyone is a wasted one. (Guys, don’t think your getting out of this one.  It applies to you too.)  2 Corinthians 10:5 commands us to “…take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”   Also, 2 Timothy 2:22 says, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”

    You are probably asking yourself by now, “What does this have to do with holiness?”  Let me explain.  Remember that being holy means to be set apart to something.  Generally it is referring to us being set apart to God, but it can be used for anything.  Now, I know from experience how hard it is to keep my thoughts pure.  But the other day I thought of something interesting.  Each of us, of whom God has ordained for marriage, are holy to our future spouses.  God has meant for our emotions to be for them alone.  Our whole selves are set apart, first to God of course, but also to our future husband or wife.  Because of this, any thought or flirting action towards someone other than your future spouse is a desecration of this set apart-ness.  You are meant for them alone, and it is in essence defiling yourself and that future relationship.

    Now here is where I must stress the Ecclesiastes passage I mentioned earlier.  Some people might say, “But I know who God has for me!”  But “Since no man knows the future, who can tell him what is to come?”  We cannot know for certain what the future holds.  This especially true for young people (those who are not of marrying age).  You do not know what God has for you in the future, so it is worthless to spend time thinking about it now.  Even if this certain person is who God has for you, right now is not the time to spend dwelling on it.  In many places I have read that while we are single is the time to be pursuing hard after God and His truths.  When we are married, we will have more responsibilities.  We will not have as much time as we do now to study the Scriptures and learn more about God.  But if we are obsessing over the future, we are wasting the precious time God has given to us now.  Ecclesiastes 8:5,6 says, “Whoever obeys His command will come to no harm, and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.  For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter.”  Right now is our time to be focusing on God.  Not our future with some boy (or girl).

    Again, I know how hard it is to not think about such things.  But we need to acknowledge our weakness, and seek strength from God.  Like all sins, this is not a matter we should ignore.  Seek to please God in every area of your life.  Even in your thoughts and dreams.  Learn to cry out to God,

    Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25,26)

    Soli Deo Gloria!

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • What is holiness?

    Many Christians have hear of the term holy.  It is mentioned throughout the Bible.  Such as in Revelation 4:8 where the four living creatures said, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”  We know from this and other passages that God is indeed holy.  However, few of us stop to think about what exactly does holy mean.  Also, we are told in Romans 12:1 that, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”  In this passage, we are clearly told that we are supposed to be holy.  Since we need to be holy, it makes sense that we should figure out what it is means to be holy.

    So what is holiness?  There is a common misconception among believers that holiness is synonymous with righteousness.  The think it merely means to be pure in God’s sight.  However, this is not true.  The true meaning of holy is: to be set apart to something.  In the Old Testament, all the articles of the temple were holy to the Lord.  This means then, that they were set apart for God in the use of His temple.  They were set apart from normal everyday use, and were specially set apart to God.  But then, if this is the true definition of holy, how can God be holy?  Because, God is set apart to Himself.  He is unlike anything we know, and is not set apart to any of His creation.  He is set apart to Himself.

    But what I would more so like to focus on in this post is how we as Christians should be holy.  The Romans 12:1 passage told us we need to be “holy and acceptable to God.”  So what does this mean?  As I mentioned earlier, holy means set apart.  So we must be set apart from the world, to God.  How is this lived out?  We must search the Bible to know what God desires us to do in obedience to Him.

    Paul goes on to say in Romans 21:2, “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.”  God tells us through Paul, that we are not to act like the world.  Instead, we should discern what the will of God is in every situation and do what is good, acceptable and perfect in His eyes.

    A good place to start in determining what God wants us to do is to first know what must not not be done.  Galatians 6:19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkeness, orgies, and things like these.  I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such thinks will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  2 Timothy 2:22 also says, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  These are all things that God detests, and they are things that the world does.  Thus, we must not do these things.  Of course, alone we stumble and disobey, but by God’s grace, he will cause us to walk in His ways. (Ezekiel 36:27)

    Instead, what should we do.  This is where the Bible, and in particular the New Testament is very helpful.  It is chock full of instruction of what a Christian must do to be separate from the world and be set apart to God.  I will only mention a few such places.   Galatians 5:22-25 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”  Romans 12 also contains a good passage telling us how we must live.

    In conclusion then, we are called to be separate from the world.  Instead we must be set apart to God and for use in His kingdom.  We are not to live as the world does.  We are called to flee youthful passions and the lusts of the flesh.  Instead we must live pure, upright lives for the glory of our Savior!

    I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (Romans 12:1) 

    Soli Deo Gloria!

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • I’m back!!!

    Hey all!  You have all probably given up on me in desperation.  I can’t believe that it took me so long to finally get caught up.  But I did today, and it is so exciting to be back at last!  Of course, I will have to continue to stay caught up, but that should be less difficult.  Since my school work will come first, my posts may still prove to be sparse.  But I’ll get on when I can.

    A lot has happen since I was last on here.  A friend has moved, another is in the process of moving.  There have been two practice tournaments for speech and debate.  In the debate one, my brother and I beat a top team!  And I almost won in speaker points.  (Yeah, I’m still pretty elated about it.)  At the speech tourney, no one in our club got an award, but we still learned a lot and did a pretty good job.  (Especially since we once again have all novices.)  My brother and I did very well on our duo, averaging about fourth.  In most recent times, I have celebrated a birthday, and this past week had the pleasure of seeing a dear friend again.  Little Woman moved away almost two years ago now, and her parents graciously allowed her to fly out for the weekend.  It was such a joy to experience her sweet fellowship again.  I hope we can do it again soon.  Also, in a couple of months, Savannah is planning to come out to visit.  (She moved away a year ago.)  Besides all of this, school has basically consumed my life for the past three + months.

    It is getting rather late, so I should hit the sack.  I’m hoping to come back and post something on holiness in the near future.

    God Bless!

    ~Tee-Kaye

    P.S.  This is the one year anniversary of my blog!  Hooray!! 😉

  • It’s been a while…

    … and it will be a while longer.  I was just asked why I haven’t been posting or commenting in a while.  I have gotten behind on some of my schoolwork, and I’m not allowed on the Internet until I’m caught up.  So I have no idea when I’ll be able to start posting again. (I’m only allowed on to give this quick explanation.)  I suppose it will be when I overcome my slothfulness. : ( 

    So, don’t worry.  I’m not dead, and I will be back.  … Eventually… ; )

    Soli Deo Gloria!

    Tee-Kaye

  • A Wasted Vote

    As November has been getting steadily nearer and nearer, many Evangelical Christians have been considering and deliberating over what to do when they reach the ballot box. Now, there are those who seriously do not know what to do with their vote. The thought of having Obama or McCain as president is not a lovely thought. There are also those who say the only choice is to vote for McCain, and attest that any vote otherwise will be a vote practically for Obama. They provide the evidence of how Bill Clinton came into the presidency by much needed votes going to a third party instead of the Republican candidate. These people plead, let’s not make that mistake again!

    Before I continue, I’d like to make an important point. We did not, even indirectly, put Clinton into office. (Quite honestly, it seems rather conceited to claim that we were the ones responsible for the tragedy.) In Romans 13:1 Paul tells us “for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.” God is completely sovereign over everything that happens. The outcome of past elections and this one were completely controlled by God.

    Back to the choice before us. I believe most Evangelical Christians would agree that voting for Obama is not even conceivably an option. He is pro-abortion, for universal healthcare, and has actually said that he wants to make government bigger. If he actually did everything he promises, we’d see an increase in our taxes by at least 65%.

    But then the only other “true” choice is McCain. However, John McCain is very liberal in his thoughts and ways. He is pro-abortion, and for open immigration and amnesty for the illegal immigrants within our borders. He realizes that we need something done about gas prices, but do you know what his idea of reform is? A small tax cut on gas sales between Memorial Day and Labor Day! He has changed his tune now that his vice president has come along with opposing views. But, honestly, who’s views do you think is going to determine what he does in office? The president’s or the vice president’s? Now he has added to his lack of qualifications, a woman vice presidential candidate. Christians are perplexed at the thought of voting for someone who goes against Biblical teaching. To just focus on Mrs. Palin for a second, she is obviously violating the Bible’s command for women to stay at home and train their children as it says in Titus 2 and other passages. She is instead leaving her children for “more important things.” (Just what the lie in the garden was. Don’t obey God. You can be as a god and be in charge of your own life.) Mrs. Palin may be a nice lady, with a good conservative view on some issues, but holding a public office and running our country is not her place.

    But what else is there to do? Well, I suppose you could vote for a third party. “::gasp::!!! No, that wouldn’t work!” say many people. Americans have been presented with a false dichotomy. That is, we are being told there are only two options, when there are more.

    Running for the Constitution Party is a man by the name of Chuck Baldwin. He is a strong Christian, is pro-life, pro-marriage, pro-second amendment, is for less government, and for abolishing some of the many taxes that oppress our citizens. (To learn more about him, visit his website, http://www.baldwin08.com/ or The Constitution Party’s website.) He is the only one on the ballot who is Biblically qualified, and he would make a great leader. But, he has received very little publicity. Would voting for Baldwin be a vote for Obama? It would take a vote away from McCain.

    People might say that, yeah McCain isn’t the best, but at least he’s better than Obama! Doesn’t it seem strange that Christians who wouldn’t vote for McCain if circumstances were different, feel that they now have to vote for him to avoid someone who is more evil? I’ve been asked, “Would you rather vote for someone who won’t get elected because you agree with him in most aspects, or are you going to take that vote and make a difference by voting for someone who might get elected and is better than the other choice?” So the real issue is, whether or not a vote for Baldwin is a wasted vote

    However, I would argue that voting on principle or conscience is not a wasted vote. We are told by the world that we need to vote strategically. But what about voting Biblically? God tells us that His word is sufficient for every situation. You see, when you vote for a candidate, you are supporting that person. You are saying that this person is Biblically qualified to represent you in office. Do you truly believe that McCain and Palin, a liberal man and a woman who is going against God’s order, are representatives of your beliefs and convictions?

    So how is not voting for McCain not wasting your vote? It depends on what you view as a wasted vote. If you believe that voting un-strategically is a wasted vote, then a vote for conscience most certainly is wasted in this instance. I agree that there is a way you can waste your vote in this election, but it’s not in the way that most people believe.

    If you were to go to the ballot box, and cast your vote for someone you don’t trust, someone you do not believe in, who doesn’t hold the same Biblical convictions as you, and who is going against the commands of God to get more votes by having a woman VP candidate, then I would consider that a wasted vote. You are in essence lying about your allegiance. You’re supporting a candidate you don’t believe in. All this to just hopefully keep Obama out of office.

    Now this gets into the sovereignty of God and also touches on just how much you trust Him. In Proverbs 3:5-7 it says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.” Perhaps I’m just young and naive, but it seems that God told us, and expected us to obey Him and trust Him with the results!

    But if God is sovereign, and is going to do whatever He wants anyways, why does how I vote matter? It’s true, God can do whatever He wants, with, without and despite you. However, are you going to trust Him, and possibly be a part of a Biblically qualified candidate becoming the leader of our country?

    Without a doubt, this election will go down in history. The outcome will result in either our first black president, our first lady vice president, or the first time a third party won the presidency. But what choice are you going to make at the ballot box? Are you going to vote for someone you think should actually be president? Or are you going to follow “worldly wisdom,” and vote for the “safe” answer? I urge, hope and pray that you do not choose the latter. Remember, voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil.

  • “More on Politics” by Jasmine Baucham

    In this article, Miss Baucham does a wonderful job discussing the issues before us.  I encourage you to follow the link and read the entire article.  But I wanted to copy some of it here as it addresses a subject I’ve debated with some people in recent times.

    ~Tee-Kaye

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Is it odd that we Christians, commanded to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 2:5) feel like our “hands are tied” in this election, that we are forced to vote for the lesser of two evils, that the vote otherwise would be “wasting” our vote? I think it is.

    It boggles my mind to think that, if Christians would not, in good conscience, vote for John McCain in any other instance, would rally together and vote for a man who really espoused the values they hold dear… we may not win an election, but the numbers would certainly get people’s attention.

    …

    Will my candidate win? Most likely, no, he will not. But a vote for a third party in this case is not a vote for Senator Obama -it is to vote according to principal. I cannot fill out that ballot in light of the future of our country and vote any other way. It couldn’t be a republic if my hands were tied. I won’t stand before God and say my hands are tied. My hands -my mind -are free to make whatever choice that my conscience will allow. 

    Best of all, whatever the outcome of this election, we serve a sovereign King! It causes me to utter the most satisfying sigh of relief just thinking about it. 🙂 Praise to the Father, who is working this out according to HIS purposes and for HIS glory; whether it’s President Obama or President McCain (or, wonder of wonders, President Baldwin or President Paul down the line 🙂 to HIM be the glory; He certainly wont’ be surprised.  …

    (To read the rest, follow this link. http://joyfullyathome.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-on-politics.html )

  • More on woman VP

    Mr. Phillips over at The Vision Forum has been posting a lot of really good articles on Sarah Palin running for Vice President.  He also included a video of Mr. Baucham being interviewed on CNN concerning a woman running for VP.  It was really good!  I hope you go and check it out!  Also read the other articles on there too!

     http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/

    http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/2008/09/4331.aspx

    Someone wrote a comment on the interview that I thought was interesting.  Part of it said, “The decision we make this election year will cut to the core of our worldview.  How we vote will show who we fear.”  Another comment spoke about how we vote will reveal whether we fear God or man.  Before ending this I would like to include a verse that Mr. Baucham mentioned on the interview.

    Isaiah 3:12

    “Youths oppress my people, women rule over them.  O my people, your guides lead you astray; they turn you from the path.”

    I pray that all of you will seriously think and pray over who you will vote for next month.

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Cool quotes

    I was looking around monergism.com and saw a Charles Spurgeon quote.  I thought it was really good, so I looked for some more on the Internet.  I’d like to share a few of the ones I found.

    “Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength.”

    “Trials teach us what we are; they dig up the soil, and let us see what we are made of.”

    “You might not always get what you want, but you always get what you expect.”

    Now for two that I believe are quite relevant to the upcoming elections.

    “We have come to a turning point in the road. If we turn to the right mayhap our children and our children’s children will go that way; but if we turn to the left, generations yet unborn will curse our names for having been unfaithful to God and to His Word.”

    “Of two evils, choose neither.”

    Have a blessed day!

    ~Tee-Kaye

  • Another sad day

    I just found out this morning that yet another of my friends is moving away.  They decided two days ago, and are going to move to Florida on Friday.  I’m in complete shock!  I don’t know what to think.  They are moving to Florida because they have some grandparents there.  They are wanting to help take care of them as they are aging, and also witness to them as they are not Christians.  This is highly commendable of them.  But I weep for myself as I lose another good friend.  I feel like all my good friends are deserting me.  Last June one moved, then another in January, now in September another one, and next summer another is moving overseas.  I don’t have many good friends left in town!  I’m nigh onto crying out

    “You have taken my companions and loved ones from me; the darkness is my closest friend.” (Psalm 88:18 )

  • A Woman VP?

    Last week there was an announcement that, I believe, shocked the U.S.  It was the proclamation that Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska and mother of 5 young children, was going to be John McCain’s running mate for the upcoming Presidential elections.  The reason it was so shocking was because, first of all, no one really thought that McCain was considering her, and second that she is much more conservative then the liberal McCain.

    Mr. Phillips brought up an excellent point on his blog.  He said that now “Christians must consider whether to encourage a mother of infant children to de-prioritize her duties and obligations as wife and mother in order to possibly become the chief executive of America.”  (To read the whole article, follow this link. http://www.visionforum.com/hottopics/blogs/dwp/ )  The Bible clearly teaches against female magistrates.  Mr. Phillips included in his post five points from a speech by Pastor Bill Einwechter.

    (1). The biblical doctrine of male headship applies to each governing institution.

    (2). The biblical qualifications for civil rulers forbids female magistrates.

    (3). The biblical role of the woman is against female magistrates.

    (4). The biblical lament of women ruling over men is against female magistrates.

    (5). The biblical example of Deborah is not an endorsement of female magistrates.

    Now Christians will have to choose if they are going to support a candidate who not only does not hold to Christian ethics and political platforms, but now has chosen a mother of very young children (the youngest being only around four months old) as his running mate.

    I’m curious to see what they will decide.  To go with the “safe” answer and vote for someone who is clearly out of line with the Bible, and is willing to give up her responsibilities to her family to wrestle with Washington.  Or, are they going to go with a less popular, but Biblical approach when going to the polls this November?  I sincerely pray for the latter!

    For further reading on the subject, here is an excellent article by Jasmine Baucham. http://joyfullyathome.blogspot.com/2008/09/ten-reasons-why-i-dont-want-to-be-vp.html  It is entitled “Ten Reasons Why I Don’t Want to be VP When I “Grow Up.”  I strongly urge you to check it out.

    ~Tee-Kaye