“Even after we believe in Christ, the remaining presence of sin means that we have to fight a tendency to disobey the Lord and to water down His law so that we find it more palatable. We must therefore seek daily to put our sin to death, repent when we are convicted, ask for the Spirit’s help to think on only that which is praiseworthy, participate in corporate worship and fellowship, and stay on the offense against our wickedness.”
—Coram Deo from the 31st of January 2012 - Tabletalk Magazine (via jamescabbagechen)
January 2012
93 posts
Film & Theology: Beauty and the Beast
Even though she’s an outcast, Belle doesn’t really care about what other people think. She is described as “odd” and “peculiar” but acknowledged as “the prettiest girl in town.” Belle is bright, caring, modest and kind. That’s incredibly refreshing and real especially since she seems oblivious to her beauty. The townspeople think that she wastes her beauty since it contrasts with the other “normal girls” who throw themselves at Gaston. Ironically, they seem to respect her at the same time. Somehow the audience is captivated by Belle’s innocence and pureness of heart. Although Gaston is handsome, she sees right through his heart.
This reminds me of our walk with Christ. It’s hard being an outcast and having this social stigma about being a Christian. To be told by others to live up your youth and dress more provocatively because you need to have fun while you’re young. Yet at the same time, people do notice you because you’re a light. You’re not like everyone else. Even though they may talk and see you as different, they’re attracted to the Christ in you.
Even though Belle and the Beast are like night and day, they complement each other so well. It reminds me of the body of Christ. Although all of us are different, we all complement each other because we’re all sinners, need grace, and love Jesus.
Being locked up in the castle was the worst thing that ever happened to Belle at that time. She lost her father and her freedom. She threw her hopes, dreams, and future out of the window. She left her home to be a prisoner in a stranger’s castle. This brings me back to Romans 8:28 where “all things work together for our good.” We can’t see it now and it might seem like the worst thing that has ever happened. In the end, it is the best thing that’s ever happened. Later on, the audience finds out that this was for the best since she married a prince, found true love, lives in a castle, and has her “happy ending.” She changed the Beast and touched all the lives in the castle. All of them became better people because of her loving example. They saw how she could have the patience & steadfastness to put up with the Beast, sacrifice her life for her father, and genuinely care about the well being of household objects in the castle. Being a recipient of kindness, he becomes a giver of kindness. “Treat people as if they were what they should be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming.”
The breaking point was when the Beast realizes that he loves her so much that he’s willing to let her go take care of her father even though he knows that he will remain in his hideous form. That’s sacrifice. It was something that he was never able to do if he was a human prince. For once in his life, he cared about someone other than himself. He traded it in for something better. Because forcing Belle to stay with him was not the same as Belle coming back on her own for him. When he met Belle, he had a change of heart. It’s kind of like how when we meet Jesus, we change and become more like him with our new regenerated hearts. (Ezekiel 36:26)
I wish more movies were like this. [ I’m a sucker for Disney movies anyways haha]There are applaudable virtues of hope, love, patience, kindness, and sacrifice. The heroine is a bright classy woman who stays with her values and is willing to sacrifice her own well being for her father and is willing to look past a person’s appearance. Nowadays, the secular media is applauding the complete opposite girl. It’s sad but no surprise to see how the media is degrading people. Along with it, they’re losing timeless virtues.
- Nothing with too much theological depth haha but I had fun writing this and connecting biblical themes/parallels with my favorite Disney movie :)
God's Will →
thegospelcoalition.org
- 4 part sermon series on the Will of God by Kevin Deyoung
“If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind…for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour.”
—Fanny Crosby (via nameaboveallnames)
“It may be possible for each to think too much of his own potential glory hereafter; it is hardly possible for him to think too often or too deeply about that of his neighbour. The load, or weight, or burden of my neighbour’s glory should be laid on my back, a load so heavy that only humility can carry it, and the backs of the proud will be broken. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you can talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people.”
—C.S. Lewis
Everyday my conversations feel more and more petty as everyday I realize more and more that God is the only One worth talking about.
God alone is good.
Luke 18:19 - Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” ESV
People often say,”I don’t understand how God can send ‘good’ people to hell or I don’t understand why bad things happen to good people.” Humanity is not good as we are totally depraved and slaves to sin. (Romans 6:17; 5:12) We’re not on the same level as God. As obvious as that may sound, people still compare God on a human level by saying, “If I was God… God wouldn’t do this because …. I could never let someone go through that…” As Luther said, “Our thoughts of God are too human.” Only God is good and He alone is the infinite and perfect standard for goodness. (Mark 10:18; Matthew 19:17)
“Most of us adhere to the theological truth that we are depraved, but certainly not enough to admit it to other people. And what’s startling is that we have to confess to others to really believe the gospel….because then we have to. As long as people think we’re better than we are, then there’s really no need to cling to Jesus. Who needs a Saviour when we can cling to our reputation, our friendly demeanor, or our disposition, etc, etc, etc. It’s funny, because as long as we don’t have to confess, we can usually fool people into thinking that we’re much better than we actually are. In fact, I think we fool ourselves a lot of the time. And it’s mostly because we think things and do things that never get brought out into the light, so we just sort of push them out of our mind, forget about them, and try to do better next time. And what’s sad is as the church forgets how messed up she really is, then slowly but surely she also begins to forget the good news altogether. We forget we are sinners saved by grace, and pretty soon, we forget about grace altogether. And it’s not long before we replace the good news of God’s mercy with the burden laying news of trying harder and being better.
We begin to look down on people who aren’t as good at being a Christian, and we actually begin to think that we don’t really need a Saviour. Or maybe I should say, we become our own Saviour. And what’s funny is that we think we have the world fooled. We think we’re actually convincing people that we’re changing and aspiring, and accomplishing all sorts of fantastic spiritual feats. Problem is, we can’t change our hearts, and everyone can see it. We may pay lip service to Jesus, and His saving work, but the way we fly off the handle when criticized, the way we can’t say we’re sorry, and the way we keep things locked away and hidden from others gives us away.
” —Mike Donehey (lead singer of Tenth Avenue North)Jasmine, I absolutely love your blog so very much! You are such a Godly young woman and I can't tell you how refreshing that is to see these days! You have a beautiful heart and soul!
awh thank you for your kind and encouraging words :’)
I’m very blessed to have you as an amazing sister in Christ!
Religion
I’m currently reading through Boice’s devotionals on Romans. I like how he titles one of the parts “The Heart of Biblical Religion.” God used the word “religion” in the Bible 5 times. (ESV version)
Instead of hating on it, redeem the word “religion.” Christianity is the true, pure and undefiled religion. (James 1:27)
Don't place your identity in the number of followers you have, but in the One who you follow.
10 Virtues of the Proverbs 31 Woman →
beautyandweapons.tumblr.com
1. Faith - A Virtuous Woman serves God with all of her heart, mind, and soul. She seeks His will for her life and follows His ways. (Proverbs 31: 26, Proverbs 31: 29 – 31, Matthew 22: 37, John 14: 15, Psalm 119: 15
2. Marriage – A Virtuous Woman respects her husband. She does him good all the days of her life. She is trustworthy and a helpmeet. (Proverbs 31: 11- 12, Proverbs 31: 23, Proverbs 31: 28, 1 Peter 3, Ephesians 5, Genesis2: 18)
3. Mothering - A Virtuous Woman teaches her children the ways of her Father in heaven. She nurtures her children with the love of Christ, disciplines them with care and wisdom, and trains them in the way they should go. (Proverbs 31: 28, Proverbs 31: 26, Proverbs 22: 6, Deuteronomy 6, Luke 18: 16)
4. Health – A Virtuous Woman cares for her body. She prepares healthy food for her family. (Proverbs 31: 14 – 15, Proverbs 31: 17, 1 Corinthians 6: 19, Genesis 1: 29, Daniel 1, Leviticus 11)
5. Service - A Virtuous Woman serves her husband, her family, her friends, and her neighbors with a gentle and loving spirit. She is charitable. (Proverbs 31: 12, Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20, 1 Corinthians 13: 13)
6. Finances - A Virtuous Woman seeks her husband’s approval before making purchases and spends money wisely. She is careful to purchase quality items which her family needs. (Proverbs 31: 14, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 18, 1 Timothy 6: 10, Ephesians 5: 23, Deuteronomy 14: 22, Numbers 18: 26)
7. Industry – A Virtuous Woman works willingly with her hands. She sings praises to God and does not grumble while completing her tasks. (Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 16, Proverbs 31: 24, Proverbs 31: 31, Philippians 2: 14)
8. Homemaking – A Virtuous Woman is a homemaker. She creates an inviting atmosphere of warmth and love for her family and guests. She uses hospitality to minister to those around her. (Proverbs 31: 15, Proverbs 31: 20 – 22, Proverbs 31: 27, Titus 2: 5, 1 Peter 4: 9, Hebrews 13: 2)
9. Time - A Virtuous Woman uses her time wisely. She works diligently to complete her daily tasks. She does not spend time dwelling on those things that do not please the Lord. (Proverbs 31: 13, Proverbs 31: 19, Proverbs 31: 27, Ecclesiastes 3, Proverbs 16: 9, Philippians 4:8 )
10. Beauty – A Virtuous Woman is a woman of worth and beauty. She has the inner beauty that only comes from Christ. She uses her creativity and sense of style to create beauty in her life and the lives of her loved ones. (Proverbs 31: 10Proverbs 31: 21 – 22, Proverbs 31: 24 -25, Isaiah 61: 10, 1 Timothy 2: 9, 1 Peter 3: 1 – 6)
“To deny absolute sovereignty to God is to deny that He is God… If man is the determiner of his own destiny, then man has gained thereby an independence from God and the power to prevent God from the exercise of His will and the fulfillment of His plan. God is then reduced at best to the status of a constitutional monarch: He reigns but does not rule.”
—R.J. Rushdoony - Sovereignty pg. 71 (via monergism)
My reactions after reading The Hunger Games trilogy.
At the end of The Hunger Games:
At the end of Catching Fire:
At the end of Mockingjay:
