Romans 12:14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Why?
Why do we envy others when good things happen to them? Aren't we supposed to have pleasure when they have pleasure or happiness?
Romans 12:14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
Romans 12:14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down. Get along with each other; don't be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don't be the great somebody.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Romans 13
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Romans 11
This is my reading for today. I've been reading Romans for quite a few days now, there is so much meat in it that it takes a lot of chewing!
Israel Is Not Cast Away
I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written,
“GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR,
EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT,
DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.”
And David says,
“LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP,
AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.
“LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT,
AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”
I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Israel Is Not Cast Away
I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, THEY HAVE KILLED YOUR PROPHETS, THEY HAVE TORN DOWN YOUR ALTARS, AND I ALONE AM LEFT, AND THEY ARE SEEKING MY LIFE.” But what is the divine response to him? “I HAVE KEPT for Myself SEVEN THOUSAND MEN WHO HAVE NOT BOWED THE KNEE TO BAAL.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written,
“GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR,
EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT,
DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.”
And David says,
“LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP,
AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.
“LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT,
AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”
I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.
But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree?
For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,
“THE DELIVERER WILL COME FROM ZION,
HE WILL REMOVE UNGODLINESS FROM JACOB.”
“THIS IS MY COVENANT WITH THEM,
WHEN I TAKE AWAY THEIR SINS.”
From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers; for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy. For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.
Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Do You Think? Posted by Lorna
Do you think becoming parents is a part of life that helps us to fully understand our relationship with God? It has helped me to understand the ache He has watching His children's lives, actions and choices, wanting all of the best for us, watching us make choices in our lives, good and bad, watching us wander far from Him, watching us finally realize the value of our relationship with Him and drawing back close to Him.
I know there are some children that always make the right choices, they never wander far and always value the role their parents play in their lives, but that is not the case with all children. Some children do not have parents and some have parents that are the ones making bad decisions, but I'm considering the people that have walked paths like myself or are in the process of walking it out.
I have been one of the children that my Heavenly Father watched go through life, living what I thought was "my life", making my choices and never considering all of the people affected by it or that I could have wisdom and guidance from my parents and my Heavenly Father just by the asking. I mostly made not horrible choices, but some bad ones! I went my own way marrying who I chose, as my parents and God watched from the sideline. I didn't seek their wisdom or advice as I could have or should have. Now I watch my children go through life with no counsel requested and my heart yearns to share wisdom with them, but unasked for wisdom becomes the sound of criticism.
As young adults we exult in the freedom we have to run free through the pleasures that life has to offer. Our friends and our own lives become more important than the older "out of touch" generation. We don't want to have anything hinder us in our pursuit of making our own choices and decisions, so off we go, to marry, to find jobs, buy houses, cars, have children, as the old saying goes "to make our own beds". If we took time to ask for advice and truly consider it, would our bed be more comfortable when we have to "lie in it"? If we did seek God's will, is it not more likely there would be less divorce, fewer abused children and women, less depression, less financial crises, less homelessness? This list could go on and on, because God's will for our lives would be a life of good choices, it would be a blessing to us, to our families and society. But instead of asking for His guidance we run through life doing what we will, and He watches from the sidelines just as parents are often in a position of watching their children.
As in my case, with a little age and maturity I have realized the great store of wisdom and knowledge that my parents have and are happy to share. I have been able to draw close to my parents and have a more full life. I long for the day my own children will draw close and seek my counsel, just as the Lord waits for His children to turn to Him. Each generation seems to wander and eventually finds it's own way back to its roots, parents and Heavenly Father.
Life would be easier and the "bed made" would be more comfortable with the wisdom of the previous generation, and with the guidance of seeking and following His perfect will. Unfortunately the pattern for the majority of people seems to be going their own way and struggling through life and wondering where God is in "all of this"? He is on the sideline, waiting as any good parent, for the time when we finally recognize our need for Him, for His guidance, for His will. He is waiting for us to gain enough experience of going our own way to recognize that we need to ask Him for His wisdom.
I know there are some children that always make the right choices, they never wander far and always value the role their parents play in their lives, but that is not the case with all children. Some children do not have parents and some have parents that are the ones making bad decisions, but I'm considering the people that have walked paths like myself or are in the process of walking it out.
I have been one of the children that my Heavenly Father watched go through life, living what I thought was "my life", making my choices and never considering all of the people affected by it or that I could have wisdom and guidance from my parents and my Heavenly Father just by the asking. I mostly made not horrible choices, but some bad ones! I went my own way marrying who I chose, as my parents and God watched from the sideline. I didn't seek their wisdom or advice as I could have or should have. Now I watch my children go through life with no counsel requested and my heart yearns to share wisdom with them, but unasked for wisdom becomes the sound of criticism.
As young adults we exult in the freedom we have to run free through the pleasures that life has to offer. Our friends and our own lives become more important than the older "out of touch" generation. We don't want to have anything hinder us in our pursuit of making our own choices and decisions, so off we go, to marry, to find jobs, buy houses, cars, have children, as the old saying goes "to make our own beds". If we took time to ask for advice and truly consider it, would our bed be more comfortable when we have to "lie in it"? If we did seek God's will, is it not more likely there would be less divorce, fewer abused children and women, less depression, less financial crises, less homelessness? This list could go on and on, because God's will for our lives would be a life of good choices, it would be a blessing to us, to our families and society. But instead of asking for His guidance we run through life doing what we will, and He watches from the sidelines just as parents are often in a position of watching their children.
As in my case, with a little age and maturity I have realized the great store of wisdom and knowledge that my parents have and are happy to share. I have been able to draw close to my parents and have a more full life. I long for the day my own children will draw close and seek my counsel, just as the Lord waits for His children to turn to Him. Each generation seems to wander and eventually finds it's own way back to its roots, parents and Heavenly Father.
Life would be easier and the "bed made" would be more comfortable with the wisdom of the previous generation, and with the guidance of seeking and following His perfect will. Unfortunately the pattern for the majority of people seems to be going their own way and struggling through life and wondering where God is in "all of this"? He is on the sideline, waiting as any good parent, for the time when we finally recognize our need for Him, for His guidance, for His will. He is waiting for us to gain enough experience of going our own way to recognize that we need to ask Him for His wisdom.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Creation Groans posted by Lorna
I've been reading in Romans for quite a while now, there is so much teaching and training packed into these verses! It seems as I read a verse there are about 3 things I need to absorb or assimilate .
This week I've been working on absorbing the part that creation has in scripture. I have always tended to just think that it is there for us to walk on or to use for our purpose, but in Romans 8 it seems there is more to creation than I've understood before!
Creation waits:
Creation is eager:
Creation is expectant:
Romans 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
Creation has a will:
Romans 8:20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse.~~
Creation has hope:
Creation looks forward:
Creation will be glorified:
Creation will be free from death and decay:
Creation will join the children of God:
Romans 8:21 But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Creation is groaning:
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
My mind is a little resistant to absorb all of this. It is amazing to look at the birds at my feeder and understand that they also are groaning and eagerly looking forward to Jesus' return. The trees, the sky, the clouds, the animals~ all of this is His creation and it is all eagerly looking forward to His return.
PS It makes me want to walk lightly through God's creation, not causing damage but a building up of the things that are in travail with us.
This week I've been working on absorbing the part that creation has in scripture. I have always tended to just think that it is there for us to walk on or to use for our purpose, but in Romans 8 it seems there is more to creation than I've understood before!
Creation waits:
Creation is eager:
Creation is expectant:
Romans 8:19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.
Creation has a will:
Romans 8:20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God's curse.~~
Creation has hope:
Creation looks forward:
Creation will be glorified:
Creation will be free from death and decay:
Creation will join the children of God:
Romans 8:21 But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God's children in glorious freedom from death and decay.
Creation is groaning:
Romans 8:22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
My mind is a little resistant to absorb all of this. It is amazing to look at the birds at my feeder and understand that they also are groaning and eagerly looking forward to Jesus' return. The trees, the sky, the clouds, the animals~ all of this is His creation and it is all eagerly looking forward to His return.
PS It makes me want to walk lightly through God's creation, not causing damage but a building up of the things that are in travail with us.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Life
Lane is off to work now and the chickadees are crowding the bird feeder. It's cool and rainy and I'm glad to be home by the fire of the candle~ =} The Christmas tree is getting decorated slowly, one thing at a time. First Lane set it up and put the lights on, now I've put some garland on and I'm getting ready to put some ornaments, but with it just being him and me we can go at the pace that works for us!
Lane has started his second round of classes, they go for 10 weeks, then 2 to 3 weeks break and then back to classes again. I think he's really enjoying this second bunch more than the first. He has 4 classes, that repeat a second time during the week. Like he has he has the theology of Luke on Wednesday and then again on Friday. So he has 2 classes on Tuesday that repeat on Thursday, then 2 on Wednesday that repeat on Friday. I'm probably giving more detail here than is really interesting! but maybe it let's you see his schedule a little. He's a pretty busy guy.
During his break from school he took me down to Oklahoma to visit family, I really miss family! It was nice to get to see everyone and grab some hugs while I could. We still have just the one granddaughter and I imagine it will stay that way for awhile, so she is the apple of our eyes! It's always wonderful to get to hug and kiss her sweet little face.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Feathers posted by Lorna
I don't know if this happens to many other people, but I know that I find feathers in ways that lets me know that they are not a coincidence!
I used to enjoy finding feathers when I was a child on a walk through the woods, those times seem pretty normal to find feathers. But now feathers appear when and where I least expect them.
I have opened my bible which is enclosed in a zippered leather case, and a feather floats out. I've had some dark clothing hanging over the shower curtain and I know there was no feather on them! Yet when I went back to collect them to put in the closet, there is a bright white feather stuck into the fabric. One night I pulled back the bedspread to go to bed and there was a feather laying on the sheet in my place. One day sitting in my recliner reading a book, I looked down and there was the tiniest feather I've ever seen in my life laying on my blouse, it was less than half the size of a pinkie fingernail(I still have that feather and some of the others, I've started collecting them now) it was multicolored and so amazing in its tininess(I thought it must be a hummingbird feather, but this was when I was living out at the farm in Oklahoma and not feeding any hummingbirds, no hummers around me)! Yesterday I came home to find a soft fluffy feather on the computer mouse pad laying by the mouse and just now as I walked through the room there was another soft white feather laying in the middle of the living room floor. some of the feathers are white, some are multi colored, some are tiny, some large. There is no "average" to them.
Even though my mind still tries to find explanations, my spirit tells me that the feathers are little love notes from God, letting me know that He's close to me, .The feathers give me joy and make my heart happy, maybe it gives God joy and makes Him happy to do this? I guess that makes it a win-win. I'm accepting that I don't have to have explanations for everything the Lord does, God is God, He can do anything! Even leave little love notes for me~ Thank You Lord!
I used to enjoy finding feathers when I was a child on a walk through the woods, those times seem pretty normal to find feathers. But now feathers appear when and where I least expect them.
I have opened my bible which is enclosed in a zippered leather case, and a feather floats out. I've had some dark clothing hanging over the shower curtain and I know there was no feather on them! Yet when I went back to collect them to put in the closet, there is a bright white feather stuck into the fabric. One night I pulled back the bedspread to go to bed and there was a feather laying on the sheet in my place. One day sitting in my recliner reading a book, I looked down and there was the tiniest feather I've ever seen in my life laying on my blouse, it was less than half the size of a pinkie fingernail(I still have that feather and some of the others, I've started collecting them now) it was multicolored and so amazing in its tininess(I thought it must be a hummingbird feather, but this was when I was living out at the farm in Oklahoma and not feeding any hummingbirds, no hummers around me)! Yesterday I came home to find a soft fluffy feather on the computer mouse pad laying by the mouse and just now as I walked through the room there was another soft white feather laying in the middle of the living room floor. some of the feathers are white, some are multi colored, some are tiny, some large. There is no "average" to them.
Even though my mind still tries to find explanations, my spirit tells me that the feathers are little love notes from God, letting me know that He's close to me, .The feathers give me joy and make my heart happy, maybe it gives God joy and makes Him happy to do this? I guess that makes it a win-win. I'm accepting that I don't have to have explanations for everything the Lord does, God is God, He can do anything! Even leave little love notes for me~ Thank You Lord!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)