Thoughts on God knowing best, and no such thing as chance :-) Nipto, week 7

Dear God,

You know what's best! I guess we'll find out what's best today... (!!!!!!!!!!)

Thank you for being in control. That's so comforting!

Love,



Acts 12:19-13:12

One thing I didn't notice is at the beginning of verse 19, Herod puts the guards to death for letting Peter escape. That's sad. But I know God didn't forget about them... I wonder if any of them were of the faith after seeing Peter in there... hmmm...

Ok, so Herod dies. In a really crazy way. I mean, getting struck down by an angel and eaten by worms? pretty ridiculous. What I wonder is, did the worm-eating come after a long time, like worms normally do things, or was it like, the angel struck him down and the worms just attacked out of nowhere? Eww that's disgusting! I just indulged my inner boy... sorry.

So Saul and Barnabas hang out at Antioch with a bunch of other awesome Christian men, then God says to send Saul and Barnabas out.

Then hey! Saul is also called Paul! Finally...

So P and B (and J for John!!!) are on Cyprus (I know where that is!) and do some crazy things. I mean, when you're up against a sorcerer and a false prophet, who are bent on stopping you from changing people's lives, you have to do some pretty crazy things. Like striking the sorcerer blind? yeah

I like that they point out that the proconsul is an intelligent man :-) I mean, they're semi telling a story and semi making a case for Christ. :-P

Ok, can I just point out again how awesome it is that Paul, Barnabas and John went together? I wonder if they ever ate any peanut butter and jelly sandwiches?

Proverbs 16

First four verses relate to this scholarship thing I'm trying to work out. I started out with the attitude that God wanted me to prove how much I wanted it by praying about it a ton. But then he showed that I was praying with a selfish and prideful heart, thinking I knew better than God what was right for my life. God might have different plans that are better and more far-reaching than mine. So I've had to let go and let God take the lead. Now I pray that I want it, but more than that, I want what's best. I want what God wants. So if the scholarship doesn't line up with that, throw it out the window. God is worth way more than that scholarship (which is saying something...)

ok I take that back, the first NINE verses relate to that. RIDICULOUS.

verse 20=awesome

verse 33: I was thinking about that quite a bit at work. There's no such thing as chance and probability with God. It's either one of one, or zero of one. That's it, no in between.

So no matter how good or bad my chances are with this thing (and with all other things too), what really happens is up to God. That's my motto today :-)

Thoughts on springing a man from jail, and the spring of life. Nipto, week 7

Dear God,

Sleeping in is a habit. It's a very hard habit to break. I guess the only way I'll break it (on my own, that is) is if there's like a solid three weeks of things to do early in the morning that I have to wake up for. I can get up then. Otherwise, it's super hard to actually get up in the morning. Yesterday was nice. Somehow I/we managed it. Gah, what to do...

Well, God. It's a new day that's almost devoid of mistakes. I pray you would help me see where you're working and join you. I feel so incompetent for this, but I know you can help!

Love,


Acts 12:1-19

So Herod is persecuting the Christians and actually put John to death... When that got a favorable review, he went after Peter next. So Peter's in jail, trial's the next day, but the church has been praying a lot for Peter.

And an angel comes and leads him out of jail. (heavenly man did this too! :-)Peter didn't know it was actually happening (he thought it was a vision) until the angel left and he was still standing a street or two away. Crazy! So he goes to a house where everybody's praying for him and Rhonda hears his voice outside the door and tells everyone. She leaves him outside :-P Everyone doesn't believe her, but he knocks and they let him in, then they believe hehe. He didn't stay long, because he had to get out of there, but I find it awesome. And rather funny too. The Rhonda part.

But really, besides the fact that I could totally see myself doing the same thing, this is an amazing example of God's power and mercy and love and provision! Hallelujah! If he can spring a man from a high-security jail, he can do all the little things in my life that sometimes seem impossible... like springing me from my bed... hehe. Yes, there's got to be cooperation on my part... Peter didn't sit there like, NO. holding onto his chains like I hold onto my pillow
(ok it's not that bad, it just has a funny picture to it...). I'm in a weird mood. bwahaha.

Proverbs 15

Verse 4 the tongue can be good or evil. It all depends on YOU.

Verse 9 he loves those that pursue righteousness, even if they're not there yet. Thank you for that, eh?

Verse 19 How about a thorny highway? Can one have that? if so, I do...

Verse 31 Rebukes can be/ARE life-giving!

Verse 32 SO true!

Hebrews 11
Do you earnestly seek him?

I love mid-verse (35) he switches from the awesome things that happened as a result of faith to the horrible things that happened when they lived by faith. Crazy. Everybody's story is different, but there's one thing to know for sure... Faith is the only way to live. :-)

Revelation 21:1-8

God will make everything new!

Do you want your friends, classmates, teachers, co-workers/bosses, enemies, strangers on the street... do you want them to have this ultimate story? Do you want them to drink from the free well of life? Well do you?! (try to think of Ellie asking it--cross your heart! cross it!!). Are you proving that answer with your actions? Are you doing what you can to bring them to that happy ending? Well, you shouldn't. You should do what God can to bring them to that happy ending. :-)

Thoughts on Gentiles, faith, and the ENDING! Nipto week 7

Dear God,

It has been forever. I'm sorry I haven't done what I was supposed to do. I know you'll forgive me, and I thank you for that.

Thank you for the gift of life to us Gentiles, and the examples of faithfulness in your Word. Thank you that we know the whole story and the ending isn't hidden from us. In case you didn't know, Satan loses. Booyah!

Love,


Acts 11

So. According to the evidence shown by Peter (and it is extraordinary evidence), Gentiles are now allowed to be Christians. Everyone was content then, but as we can see later, there were some debates about circumcision and stuff like that. Thank you God, for accepting Gentiles so that we may have life as well (life to the full! as Tammy S would say).

The persecution is still scattering the people, and most were just preaching to Jews, but now there are people preaching to the Gentiles as well. I don't know if it's because they heard that Peter did, or if they were also just led by God to preach. But either way, it's awesome to see how all of this is taking off!

Barnabas goes to help with the harvest in Antioch, and I love the verse showing what he found there: "When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts." And this beautiful picture was happening all over the region. And people were believing, even though they knew persecution might come upon them!

He gets Saul to go with him (who had been in Tarsus all this time) to help in Antioch. And that's where the term "Christian" was coined.

Someone predicted a famine, so everyone pitched in to help the affected area. That is community. Can we live up to that standard? That's what I'm going to try to do.

Proverbs 14:6 The mocker seeks wisdom but does not find it. Why do you think that is? I'm not sure, but it seems like a mocker doesn't take the words of people who are low in circumstance, or different from him. But that's usually where one can find the best, truest wisdom.

Verse 22 those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness. Awesome! (dance)

Verse 23 ALL hard work brings a profit. Even if it's a volunteering job. Why? Because the profit doesn't have to be money. Sometimes it's just the blessings you get from God for helping ungrateful people, or doing a menial task in secret. :-)

Verse 26 He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. SO true. My parents are prime examples of this verse :-)

I think my favorite part of Hebrews 11 is the part where they say they were strangers in this world, looking forward to a better, heavenly country. It always challenges me to start living by faith in that way right now. I mean, the end stuff about getting cut in two? That's a barbarian warrior deal, but I can't apply that to my life right now except to know that being a Christian is usually full of persecution, and often ends in brutal death. Jesus was the rule, not the exception. (I had to think for a second, I had "often ends in death," then realized that's the case for everyone except Enoch. Hehehe. And those rapture people.)

Oh, that's another favorite part: Whose weakness was turned into strength. Yesssss....

And Revelation 21-22 show what we are looking forward to. What kind of heavenly country we are going to enjoy. Ah! I love a good ending to an awesome story. I've still got my individual story to write, but the main plot is all figured out, and the ending is no mystery. How we get there will be different, but the end is all we need to keep going! Awesomeness!

One random thing: I can't imagine a gate being made out of one pearl. Not just because that's so glorious, but because pearls are round. Hehe. Not that that's really of any consequence. I'm sure it'll be beautiful to behold!

Thoughts on Inspirations: Nipto week 6

Dear God,

Thanks for the inspirations of Paul, Tabitha, the Strangers, and your defeat over Babylon. I pray you would help me do everything for you... that I would become like them by following you.

Love,


Acts 9:19b-42

Saul went at once and started preaching about Jesus. He didn't wait till he knew all arguments possible, and he didn't wait till people had forgotten that he had been persecuting the church. He started at once. He didn't care that they were all confused and making comments about how he's "switched sides."

And already he has to escape the city to save his life. He had to go over the wall in a basket instead of walking through the gates. Ridiculous.

And then he has to try to gain the trust of the Christians in Jerusalem that he had been persecuting. But Barnabas helped to vouch for him, and he made quite an impact in Jerusalem, until things got too dangerous there, so they sent him back to his hometown.

What a way to start your walk with God! Paul is obviously a debater. He likes the intellectual side of Jesus, even though his first experience with Jesus was a blinding light on a road... no real arguments or three point speeches.

Ok, now on to Peter. Peter heals a paralyzed guy which turns many people to God. And he raised a woman from the dead. This woman (Tabitha/Dorcas...I'm going to stick with Tabitha) was a Christian and was always doing awesome things. Her testimony in that community was astounding.

Hebrews 11:13-16
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. Even when they knew they weren't going to receive the promise, they kept going... And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. That would explain it. They kept going because: People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. We also need to be longing for our home country! We ARE strangers on this earth. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Revelation 18

Wow, this is going to be hard not to repeat myself. I guess I'll not focus so much on the actual "plot," but look at the "characters" here. There's God. He is a judge. He is mighty. He is just and righteous and he is avenging his children in Righteous anger. He is all powerful and defeated Babylon easily. Babylon was basically Satan's city. All the sidekicks/evil men who gained from her mourn her, but heaven rejoices. No pity here, this is the beginning of the ultimate showdown between good and evil. It's going to be epic. And evil will never rise again!

I'll have to do two Proverbs tomorrow, I have to go to work now.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not men!

Thoughts on traits of a Christ-Follower (&Paul's conversion) Nipto week 6

Dear God,

Faithfulness. Trust. Peace in your will. Wisdom. Humility. Kindness. I want to have more and more of these. Lord, thank you for your Word that speaks so much truth. Thank you for teaching me so much already.

Love,


Acts 9:1-19

So. Paul finally gets where he belongs. Let's take a look...

Paul gets permission to go to Damascus to persecute the Christians and bring them back to Jerusalem. God has other plans, though. This really was divine intervention. So he's going along the road, yeah? And it's probably daylight, because not very many people like to travel by night. But suddenly, everything gets super bright and this voice comes from heaven--turns out to be Jesus' voice! If that's not proof of the divinity of Jesus, I don't know what is. So Paul is blinded by the light and has to be lead by hand to the city of Damascus.

Can I just say that's pretty ridiculous?

But what I love is Ananias' part in the story. See, it almost seems like Paul had no choice in the matter. He just *poof* became a Christ-follower. But Ananias has a choice: Follow God and go to this man who has been known for breathing murderous threats to the Christians and has been a tremendous source of persecution, or does he go his own way out of fear of arrest? He goes. That takes hard-core trust in God and his faithfulness. That's trust in God's control and sovereignty--and the fact that even if it turns out Paul arrests him, it's all part of God's plan. Either he will escape, or he won't, but then he'll be in heaven. But if God said to go and show mercy to this man who needs to receive his (earthly) sight back, he'll go. Courage, man.

Do we have that trust and assurance in God's control and faithfulness?

Because Ananias followed orders, Paul can see again and gets baptized. Because Ananias followed orders, the author of the most letters in the New Testament is now a Christian.

Revelation 17

So there's this woman who represents Babylon which was a city that completely turned away from God and captured his people and sent them into exile. There's also all these beasts and kings and stuff.... basically the only revelation (haha) I had was the fact that they mentioned seven hills (verse 9), and I think I remember someone saying that Rome has seven hills.

Really the only thing I'll take away is that Jesus will overcome, because he is King of kings and Lord of lords. His faithful followers will be with him. (We are called and chosen! thank you!)

Hebrews 11:8-12, 17-19

Abraham. God said go, even though you don't know where, and Abraham went. He was a stranger in the promised land, but looked forward to a city with foundations built by God.

God said you'll have a son, and even though it seemed a little ludicrous to the old couple, it happened. Now he is the father of a whole nation, people... family of God! Just because he believed God.

Abraham took that child which God promised would bring many sons to Abraham, and still followed God, showing that he loved God more than his own son. That's dedication, faith. Knowing God's power. Abraham knew that even if he did have to kill his son, God could raise him back up from death. And he basically did.

Abraham is a crazy man. You have to be crazy to follow God and obey him, no matter what. Even if God seems to be contradicting himself, it all fits into a greater scheme of things. He was crazy because he traveled everywhere. He was crazy because he believed God would give him a son. He believed God would protect that son. He was crazy. We all need to be cRaZy!

Proverbs 11
4Righteousness will get you out of the important scrapes of life. Wealth is useless in such cases.

14 many advisers make victory sure. In which case, K's victory is most definitely sure. :-P

16 Kindhearted woman and 17 kind man. I think kindness is sometimes overlooked. Shouldn't.

24 One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. That is the mystery of how God works. If you are generous with your money, God blesses you for it. But this proverb if you just read it... it seems so backwards!

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise.

Happy earth day, God! :-)

Thoughts on a eunuch and the tongue: Nipto week 6

Dear God,

Lots to think about. Philip was eager to do what you told him to, and as a result, brought a eunuch into the family of God, who probably had a tremendous impact in his home town. The seven plagues were/will be intense! And I need to keep control of my tongue. Please help me take what I've learned today and apply it to the rest of the day. Thank you for your amazing faithfulness. You hear me and answer me. That's exciting!

Love,


Acts 8:26-40

Summary
So Philip goes on this journey to Gaza, yeah? And on the way, he meets a eunuch who is reading Isaiah where he's talking about Jesus--perfect timing (but how could it be otherwise? It's God, after all!). So Philip explains the passage and the eunuch then wants to get baptized. So they do it, and right after the eunuch comes out of the water and shows his new life to the world, Philip disappears. Like literally Apparates. The eunuch goes on home to tell everybody (even the queen) about Jesus.

Couple of things I want to point out:
when the Holy Spirit tells Philip to go up to the chariot where the eunuch was sitting, Philip RAN up to it. He didn't mosey his way over.

The eunuch was a very important man in Ethiopia, but he's a Jew, because he just went up to Jerusalem. Or, at least, he's a Gentile who is a part of Judaism. Or something.

The passage in Isaiah is so awesome in and of itself!

I'm not quite sure if Azotus is in Gaza or not, but it's definitely not in the heart of the area. So Philip never really makes it to his first destination--that was just for the eunuch. God's ways are mysterious and surprising.

Hebrews 11:3-7
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith we know that God created the earth. No matter what science says (though there is lots of evidence showing God created the earth). Sit and be still and be in awe of the power of our God. You can make the universe with a word. The. Universe.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Honestly, all this sacrifice stuff is a little over my head. I mean, I know that Abel did a lamb while Cain did vegetables, and blood's better than juice in God's opinion. But it's still a little confusing. All I can really think to take away from this is the fact that Abel showed the first example of what Jesus does for us.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Have I mentioned that I love the person Enoch? I'm sure you're not sick of hearing that. Lord, help me learn how to live like Enoch, one who pleases you in all things.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. Can you imagine building a HUGE boat in the middle of the desert? Now we are all his descendants because he did the crazy things. I've often wondered how all the animals could co-exist in a boat for that long. Obvious answer: God. Anyways, act when you've been warned.

Revelation 16

Wow. This is an intense chapter. It's all about the seven plagues. There's sores, blood instead of water (which the saints particularly like), major global warming, darkness, a dried up Euphrates and three frog-demons (how strange is that!), and finally, earthquakes and hail and thunder and lightning, and the earth is basically leveled--no mountains or islands. And this hail is some pretty heavy stuff.

And one verse stuck in all of this: 15 "Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed." Basically, there's no way to know what's coming next when. We need to be as ready as we can.

Proverbs 10

9 A man of integrity walks securely. That is a fabulous promise/fact. Doesn't mean he'll never have any trouble in life. But it does mean he's secure in the second life.

19When words are many, sin is not absent. If you just talk a lot, eventually you'll sin, because (as we learn in James) the tongue is basically the evil-est part of the body. So keep a hold on that. 31"a perverse tongue will be cut out." So keep it righteous.

Thoughts on Simon the Sorcerer, God's smokin' glory, and the Present: Nipto week 6

Dear God,

Sin has no power in me. It is dead in this body. Thank you.

The Present. That's all I have to worry about now. I know full well that as each new train case comes my way, I can give it to God, and we can carry it together--he'll give me the strength to hold on. So I don't have to worry about that. I don't have to bother my poor small finite head about such things.

At present, all I have to worry about now is getting a start on my day. School and UV. And then whatever God says I should do next. Lord, this is my training right here. I pray that what I learn today would stick with me and I would be able to use what I learned when it is needed. Thank you for... oh everything we spoke about last night. These next opportunities to do Your will. This day is surrendered to you. Do what you will, and I will follow with a contented heart.

Love,


Acts 8:1-25

So Saul's actually doing God's will even when he wasn't a Christian. He persecuted the church, the church was scattered, and people still preached Christ wherever they went. They weren't hiding, exactly. They were the first missionaries! Stephen's death started a chain of events that honestly have never ended. How cool is that? The works going on now are a result of Stephen's testimony centuries ago.
Nothing can come between God and His will. Persecution is opportunity.

Ok, haha. So I see that I'm starting to read about Simon the Sorcerer, and I'm like, oh here we go. This is going to be like Mary Magdelene's conversion but different. Simon thought he was the stuff, performing all this magic. But Phillip came and all Simon's followers disappeared! Here is where I expected Simon to get all mad and stuff, but then it says he became a follower of Phillip/Jesus, too. He followed Phillip around, marveling at what he could do. He wasn't copying everything Phillip was doing like the priests in Egypt. It might be because he couldn't do that stuff, or because he was humble and knew this was from a different Source than his magic.

And yet, Simon was naive and thought he could buy the power the apostle's power of laying on hands. But when the apostles rebuke him, he repents, and tries to learn. :-)
Humility. Even when Simon makes a mistake, he humbly asks to be forgiven, and moves on with his new knowledge.

Revelation 15

So the last seven plagues are preparing to be let loose. The people who have "somehow" survived the beast and his mark praise God in all his faithfulness and holiness and righteousness. This is coming from the lips of people who have had to depend on God for survival. Wow that sounds familiar, doesn't it? Does the name Corrie ten Boom ring a bell?

The glory and power of God gives off smoke! That's ridiculous. Actually, how cool is that!
God is in control. He is glorious. So glorious it smokes! Hehe...

Proverbs 9

I'm definitely simple. not nearly as wise as sometimes I think I am. But I am a little wise, because I fear the Lord, and the "fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." (co-op verse :-)

I just noticed: Wisdom and Folly shout the same thing: "Let all who are simple come in here!" But the roads lead to completely different places. Makes me think of that riddle Brandon told us. A fork in the road, two houses with a liar and a truth-teller, one road leads to heaven, the other to destruction. Ask each man one question to find out which way to go. What is that question? Hehe. Folly doesn't know the way to life; she only knows how to get to death.

Lord, please give me an ear for Wisdom!

Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

Sure of what we hope for and certain of what we don't see. What do we hope for? Eternal life. God. Being right with the Maker of the Universe. Faith says we can be sure of that. We can be sure of eternal life, and a relationship with God. (Yessss...) What don't we see? A LOT. God. Jesus. Angels. Demons. Satan. The Holy Spirit. The whole picture. The WHY of life. But we can be certain of God and all the spiritual participants of this war. We can be certain that the whole picture is beautiful. We can be certain that God is the Why of life. We can be certain of the beginning of the world and the end of the world--all it takes is faith.

This is what the ancients were commended for. So true. Not even just the ancient ancients. I can think of some "recent" followers of you that had a tremendous amount of faith. Lord, even if I never get into a single history book (except for yours, of course), I pray I would follow you with the faith of an Ancient.

Saul/Paul's Conversion

Before Stephen: Saul is a zealous Pharisee.
Stephen's death: Saul gives approval, holds coats while others stone Stephen.
Persecution: Saul arrests many Christians, scattering the churches.

Thoguhts on my true country Nipto 5.7

Dear God,

So I talked to K. Glad that's over with. First time's the hardest... I feel like we're more on the same page than we used to. Yes, avoidance is good but not forever :-P

Lord, if you could help calm my mind and focus now, that'd be great.

I feel like I've barely held on this week with readings. Haven't even thought about the challenges... hum... We'll work on that :-D

Wow, that didn't take long at all (sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm...). Lord, help me to remember this is not my real country. My true country is in another place. I pray though that I would learn to revel in your creation and find true delight in your presence.

Love,


Acts 6-7

So they deal with a food distribution issue. Sounds superficial, but they were actually dealing with a rift between the two groups of Christians: Jews and Gentiles. And that's not a so what situation!

Oh sweet! Stephen. This man gets two chapters in the bible, but they are completely amazing!

A man full of God's grace and power. Grace first, power second. Big significant things!

Ok, dude, this is ridiculous. So these people are trying to get Stephen thrown in jail/killed. So they accuse him falsely of some things. And so here's Steve-o, right, and he's standing there at his trial, and his face is like that of an angel. An angel! Ridiculous.

I love how they ask Stephen if those accusations are true, and he doesn't even ask if they want the short answer or the long answer. He goes straight for the long stuff, because he knows he's got a captive audience :-) So I always thought that he kinda just took that time to talk about the gospel, but he actually answered their question: Jesus didn't come to change Moses' customs; he came to fulfill them. Then he basically insults them by saying that they were just like their forefathers who killed the prophets. Tough stuff! No wonder they wanted to kill him!

Holy cow! So Stephen sees Jesus at God's right hand, and the people don't want to hear any of it--they actually cover their ears and shout! LALALALAICAN'THEARYOU!!!! And then they stone him, with Saul's approval. Just wait...

But the strength Stephen had to tell them all that, and then while they are in the process of killing him, he asks God not to hold that death against them. That is courage. Love. Grace. Yes. Grace.

Hebrews 11

Abraham is like, the major faith dude. It's ridiculous!

i think it;s really important to remember that these people didn't receive their promise here on earth, yet the still loved, trusted, and obeyed God every step of the way. They knew their promise was waiting at home for them, but they weren't home yet.

Lord, help me get the mindset of living in a country that is not my home.

Can I just say that Moses' parents rocked??!! oh yeah...

Hebrews 11:24-27:

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. 25He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.

^^ awesome.

Faith is powerful. Read Hebrews 11:32-40 if you don't believe me.

All that is possible, within anyone's grasp. All they need is faith in God.

"the world was not worthy of them"

Revelation 13-14

Patient endurance and faithfulness from us as the beast takes control. They blaspheme you. Your enemies misuse your name. And I'm sure it would be painful to listen to.

So sometime here this world is going to be rocked. My generation so doesn't believe in miracles. Nothing like healings or fire coming from heaven. I can totally see how the world would follow after the beast. Lord, help the people as they go through what Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to deal with all those years ago. Help them draw from your strength and refuse to worship the image of the beast...

Then it moves on to the 144,000 people who sing a new song, and the blessed martyrs to come, and the reaping of the earth. How ridiculous will that be. The reaping of the earth!

Proverbs 8

So, wisdom, something to chase after. And it's not something you'll never get. everyone who seeks wisdom finds it!

Wisdom makes the earth go 'round.

So. What I just kinda thought here as I was reading: Wisdom delights in God and his creation, yes, even in mankind! (not just nature). So should we. Delight in God's presence. In his word. In his creation. There's a big ol' world out there that he made for us to live in. How crazy it would be if we actually stepped outside the agenda and looked around us!

So wait and listen to wisdom, for there you find life. Good thing to have. :-)

Thoughts on boldness and faith: Nipto 5.4-5

Dear God,

Thank you for this new day full of possibilities. Thank you for this time with you. Calm my mind to receive what you have to say to me today.

Boldness. Compulsion of love, not duty. Strangely weird and weirdly strange goings on at the end of the world. But that dragon is going to come to a sad, sorry end. But he's going to try to take as many of us with him as he can. Help, Lord! Wisdom is always a good thing. And last but not least, Faith. Faith in all things. With God, with his power and wisdom and strength and involvement in our lives. In some ways, Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium movie is right: believing is seeing.

Thanks again for this time together.

Love,


Acts 4-5

Peter and John go before the Sanhedrin for healing the crippled man. Peter rocks it out and tells them all about you, and the people are amazed because you worked through unschooled ordinary men. Not rabbis or priests or rich people. I'm schooled. But I'm ordinary. I don't feel like I'll ever be anything "super spiritual" but you can definitely work through that.

So Peter and John get off with a warning, but Peter said there wasn't anyway they could ever stop talking about you and praising you and telling others about the tremendous love of you. I wonder how many Christians here in America would be all too happy to keep quiet. I know many do. But it's sad! Lord, help me feel that compulsion to talk about you, not because you want us to, but because there's no way we would be quiet about you. Help it be something I can't help! Help me speak with boldness like Peter and John prayed afterwords. You answered their prayer. I pray you would answer mine.

So all the believers are sharing generously. Sometimes they sell properties/things solely to give it to the church. Not just one tenth, the whole thing. Barnabas did that. What a name! (Son of Encouragement).

Ananias and Saphira do the same thing as Barnabas, but they keep back some of the money. That wasn't why they sinned. They made it out that they were giving the full amount to God. That is why they died. It seems so harsh, but they thought they could keep secrets from God.

Solomon's colonnade--look it up. Pretty interesting.

What would it be like to be so drenched with God that your shadow has Jesus' power?

So they get arrested for preaching about Jesus. They escape, thanks to an angel, and continue preaching in the temple. The Sanhedrin is gathered and they send for the disciples in jail, but they're not there. They're in the temple. So they go and bring the disciples back (without using force, meaning the disciples went with them, without standing there saying, "Make me!"), and question them and all. The disciples won't back down and make them angry enough that they want to kill them. But one of the guys, Gamaliel (which I think was Paul's teacher?) said that they shouldn't because they're not scattering like other movements when their leader was killed. If it's from men, it will fail. If not, we'd be fighting against God.

So yeah. I don't know why I felt the need to recount that all when it's in the Bible, but...

Awesome verse: Acts 5:29 We must obey God rather than men!

Revelation 11-12

Great, God. Fire-breathing prophets. These are weird times, I'm telling you! Oh, and then they die, lay there in the street for three and a half days, then stand back up again, alive and well. Then they float into heaven after a voice from heaven tells them to. Strangely weird, and weirdly strange!

Then the people in heaven praise you, probably the fire-breathing prophets with them. That will be completely awesome to hear! Better than the Messiah or anything like that.

So then there's this whole thing about the woman and the dragon. First the dragon tries to take the woman's baby, but that didn't happen. Then he fights against Michael and his angels, but he lost that and was thrown down to earth. And now his time is short. We need to watch out! yeesh.

Proverbs 7

Soo this adulterous woman. I thought of her this morning as I was reading about Patsy in Living on the Devil's Doorstep.

I need your wisdom, Lord. I know I can be naive. Help me become wise enough to know what needs to be done in every situation.

Hebrews 11

v 3 we don't need proof to know that God made the world. If he said he did, he did!

v 5 Enoch is one of my favorite very obscure Bible people. He walked with God. So close that he just went with God instead of dying. How completely awesome is that?

v 6 Guess what? I have faith! I know God exists, he's active in my life, and he blesses those who seek him. Not always in material wealth (most times that more of a curse than a blessing), but in God stuff. Wisdom. Patience, whatever. If nothing in this life, most definitely somethings in the next one!

v 7 Noah had faith and did what God told him to do. I don't remember anything about Noah giving tons of excuses and wondering how God was going to get all the animals to come and co exist in a boat for that long, and what to do when people laughed at him, and all that stuff. He just did it. And saved mankind. Well, his family. That was enough :-) Sooo... we're all descended from Adam and Moses and figuratively speaking Abraham. :-) Oh, don't get the Hebrews writer started on Abraham! He's his mostest favoritest person! With good reason...

We'll read more about Abraham tomorrow.

Thoughts on new lives, faith, and destruction Nipto 5.2-5.3ish

Dear God,

It's lateish. And I'm tired. Thank you for helping me get that scholarship thing done so quickly. I pray it would work? Three thousand dollars would be nice....

Acts 3
So you healed the beggar man who was crippled through Peter. Then that gave you the opportunity to speak through Peter. "you killed my son so that the scriptures could be fulfilled, now repent! Come and share in the freedom of Me!" And what a life was changed in the beggar! That would be ridiculous. I wonder what he did with his new life--hope it was for you :-)

Love,


Revelation 9-10

Try reading these with Lord of the Rings (fellowship of the ring) music in the background. I totally got an idea of the crazy chaos and destruction and complete terror those days will bring with locusts and horses and gigantic angels with one foot on land and one in the sea, and the seven thunders and ... I dunno... I guess in a way, the Lord of the Rings was about what seemed like the end of the world. I mean, when they defeated Sauron and the volcano erupted, that was pretty crazy.

Ok, I'm going to read Hebrews 11 straight through tonight, then more in-depth the next four days...

Hebrews 11

Wow. So many people from the beginning of creation who had faith. Followed you. Trusted and believed you. And you have done so much through them. Even though Abraham laughed. Even though Sarah tried to manipulate instead of waiting. Even though Moses doubted. Even though Israel did not want to come into the promised land. Even though Gideon was timid, Samson let women get to him, David let lust take over, the Israelites wanted a king instead of you. Even through all that pettiness which is our nature, you took what little faith we had and turned it into amazing things.

Don't expect life to be easy when you become a Christian. It won't. Just read this. There's no earthly blessing for any of these people, but they're commended as some of the most faithful people God had.

Lord, I pray that you would give me faith to move mountains :-)

Thoughts on the beginning of Acts Nipto 5.1ish

Dear God,

Man, this whole staying on top of it thing is harder than I thought. And the enemy's sneaky. Sorry about that. But I'm here now, and I know you won't hold it against me. :-D

Love,


Acts 1

So it starts with Jesus telling them (after the resurrection) to wait in Jerusalem until they receive the Holy Spirit. And these disciples still don't get it! They still wonder if NOW Jesus is going to conquer the Romans and become king. Wow. This is a big lesson in how our preconceptions can really pervade all of our thinking. Lord, please correct whatever misconceptions I have in my mind that is keeping me from really chasing after you and all you have planned.

And then Jesus floats into the sky... and the disciples stand there until some angels break their reveries. Ok, Jesus. Floating into the sky until a cloud covers you... that's pretty intense. People nowadays only do that in airplanes. Sheesh! haha. It'd be weird if you had to watch out for airplanes on your way down, but you'd think with the end of the world stuff you'd have cleared the air. Ok, I'm sorry, I'm in a weird mood. :-P

Boy humor... Sunday school... ahh the memories of those times...

So there had been some men who had stuck around since the baptism of Jesus to the time of the ascension, and they nominated two. I wonder how Joseph/Barsabbas/Justus felt about not becoming an apostle. Hopefully he really was a man of God and took it humbly, right? :-)

Acts 2

I love the Pentecost scene, particularly in regards to the language thing. It's so cool! There were so many different languages in the area at the time--so many people from so many places. People from all over the world of that time. And everyone can understand these people. And yet still there's those "just" guys who say they just had too much wine. It's not a miracle from God.

verse 24: But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. death couldn't hold you down... Jesus Christ, your name is lifted high!

Peter's sermon was pretty awesome. Lots of good scriptures and just introducing the whole idea of Jesus crucified, raised to life, and giving us life. I must remember this was all completely new for these people. And they were cut to the heart about this. I honestly think that's how it is with everybody the first time they hear and understand.

39 "The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." And two thousand years later, almost... here we are!

Three thousand first believers, then more every day. And they truly loved each other, cared for each other, did not think of their possessions as theirs, but gave it all freely and lived together, ate together, and grew together. How amazing that would be. And that's just a foretaste of heaven!

I must think of how to do that kind of thing that fits this culture and times.

Revelation 8

Silence in heaven for 30 minutes. Then one after another, the trumpets are sounded and there is chaos on the earth. Lord, I pray for the believers of that time, that you would help them be strong and draw that strength from you.

Thank you for this time, but it's now late and I need to start doing stuff. I pray for this random last minute scramble scholarship, that the scramble would be worth it.

Thoughts on love and devotion: Nipto 4.5 (shortish)

Dear God,

Thank you for your love for us. Thank you for teaching us how to love others. Please continue to show me more of you... help me become more like you, someone who loves to do Your will.

Love,



John 16-18

It's funny, I think this will be a short one, because I've pretty much said everything about these passages because I just read them last week.

Ok, nevermind. JOHN 17 IS AMAZING. :-) I've always loved it when Jesus prays for his disciples and the whole body of Christianity, but it's particularly awesome today. Jesus prayed for (so far) two millenniums of believers, and that includes me, my family, my church, and every believer I know or have read about... and all those countless others I have not heard about. What a powerful prayer!

Pilate: What is truth? Professor LV talked about this some... The answer: God. haha :-)

Proverbs 5-6

6:6-8 I want to work like an ant :-) It's satisfying.

6:20-23 My parent's instruction... spiritually, academically, practically, and (ecumenically, grammatically...) haha. No really, I've been blessed with lots and lots of instruction from my parents. (and the weird thing is, I see that as a good thing! hehe).

Psalm 119:97-128

Love. That's what I keep thinking when I read Psalm 119. They Love you. They Love your word. They Love obeying them. The only reason they do any of it is because of Love. Not because of Obligation, or a sense of Duty. Just because they love what is right.

Help me become that kind of a person, Lord!

Revelation 5

What a glorious scene! The Lamb was slain, but he is worthy to open the scroll and save us. He really does deserve all our praise. Thank you!

Thoughts on LT, non-vicious cycles, and wisdom: Nipto 4.4

Dear God,

This was a good letter. I got memories from LT rolling around in my head, at the beginning and at the end... In the middle, You showed me the cycle of love and obedience, faithfulness and wisdom... I pray you would give me wisdom! Thank you for letting me, a doubting, failing sinner, come into your presence and praise you and love you and try to do what You want. Your love deserves endless praise.

Love,


John 13

I'm having flashbacks to LT. Sitting on the couch and the boys washing the girls' feet. Stories of Tom washing the feet of people in India, to show that he doesn't want to be treated like (almost) royalty. To show that he loves these people. What Jesus did here has been done many times, but I'm sure it's nothing like when Jesus did it. He's the Son of God and he is washing feet, with love.

And Jesus says someone will betray him... and FREEZE! Last supper by Leonardo di Vinci.

But really, things are getting very confusing for these disciples very fast.

Jesus is cramming in all the most important things to tell the disciples. He's showed them the spirit of humility and the attitude of serving others. Now he tells them to love one another.

14
Still saying the most important things now, because time is short: I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

v 16 For each and every Christian, Jesus has personally asked God to send the Holy Spirit. Me gusta esta fotographia.

If you love God, you do what he says. Because you love God.

And the world has learned that you do nothing except what Dad tells you to. Some may just see it as craziness, but You did EVERYTHING... no matter the cost or temporary pain...

And as you obey him (because you love him), you love him more. It's a non-vicious cycle :-P

Love, obey, expect difficulties, testify His love.

Proverbs 3
v 3 Love and faithfulness. Exactly what was said above.

v 26 God my Confidence. I like that title. It's a good one.

Proverbs 4
Wisdom is the thing you need to pursue. God's wisdom will make obedience and love easier than if you're a fool. I mean, I think we will all be recovering fools... unless there are some among us who are recovering evils... hehe... :-\

v 12 and we would all like to run the good race. So we need wisdom to keep us upright and steady.

v 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
THAT is focus.

Revelation 4

Interesting...

It's so annoying. I'm reading about the door to heaven, and the throne and the beasts, and the elders, and everything that's going on, and I can't get the clouds out of my head. I'm like, it doesn't say anything about clouds. That's just an American deal. (or I dunno... is it more international than I know?) But it's HEAVEN there's nothing LIKE it. I wonder if John saw the full effects, even when he wasn't dead... maybe you need your new body to see heaven in all it's glory... like 3d glasses haha.

Also interesting and annoying: I read about the elders and the beasts continually praising and worshiping God, and usually I have a sense of happiness, of joining in and singing the revelation song... but this time it was more a sense of revulsion, I think because I imagine God as a man... if this was going on on earth, it'd be terrible. He'd be a tyrant and destroy the world. I have to remind myself that God is and never will be a tyrant... and he deserves all the praise of the world continually worshiping him. I believe that. But I was surprised to find myself feeling disgusted at that scene. I know in heaven, there's no way those feelings will enter again. They're from Satan and once I see my Lord face to face, there will be no cause for concern. He'll be glorious and obviously God.

Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.... With all creation I sing, praise to the King of kings. You are my everything, and I will adore you.

Psalm 119:73-96

v 89-96 are AWESOME!! I think my favorite verse is 96 here.

To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless.

Lord, your commands are beyond perfect!!

Thoughts on the future

Dear God,

Thanks for the letter you sent. It was kinda long, but the end was especially good. sheesh, any word from you is precious!

Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; It speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.
-Habakkuk 2:2-3

Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor's crown unless he competes according to the rules.
-II Timothy 2:5

...he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.
-II Timothy 2:21

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
I Corinthians 9:24-27

Love,

*Thoughts on Life to the full, names and overcoming: Nipto 4.3

Dear God,

Your Canadian geese are obnoxious. Sheesh!

Thank you that you came so that we could have LIFE TO THE FULL!!! Help me listen only to your voice, like a sheep listens only to his shepherd. Thank you that eventually everything will make perfect sense. Thank you that I don't need audible voices, because if that were the case, I'd be sunk right now. Thank you for not judging me, but saving me instead. Thank you VERY much for your promise for wisdom.

It was fun to make a list of Jesus' names in Revelation, and what will happen to him who overcomes. Thanks for all that's going to happen!

Love,



John 10
Sheep. They only follow one voice. (Lord, I pray that I would become more like a sheep... too often I try to think things out for myself, or listen to somebody else. I want you to be the only voice I listen to.)

v 10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." As TS would say, "Why has he come, child of God? So that you may have what? LIFE and have it to the FULL!! Just think about that!" And I have. And I will...

Couple things: Jesus and his sheep are one, just like Jesus and his Father are one. How awesome is that?! Also, Jesus has a couple of sheep pens. Never noticed that. So Jesus knows definitely that the Gentiles are gonna be a part of his flock. :-) Of course he knows that.

Best part: He's going to lay down his life for the sheep, then take it back up again. No one takes it from him. Not Judas, nor the Sanhedrin nor Pilate nor Herod nor the Pharisees who stirred up the people nor the Romans who actually did the crucifying. He laid it down himself. Then he took it back up again. He has authority to do it from his Father.

And everyone wonders if he's gone crazy or is possessed by a demon. Pretty crazy.

So everyone's getting a little tired of Jesus' maybe hints. Well, are you the Christ or not? Answer: Daily double. There's my 1. Miracles and 2. I and the Father are one.

And they try to stone him, when he says yes. hmm...
John is like the best gospel for disproving people's theories today about Jesus. He was a good teacher only... not God. Well, he thought he was God. He definitely thought he was God. That's clear. And that's not good, if he isn't God. And if he is, he's not just a teacher. Well, maybe he's crazy. That one's a little harder... hmm... I'll have to ask someone about this, because I can't think up a good answer off the top of my head. I mean, if you read the Gospels, there's too many things that he does that proves that he's not crazy. I just don't have specifics...

Yes, I'm working on my apologetics. I'm just not that good yet.

11
So. Lazarus gets sick and Mary wants them to come... partly because Jesus is his friend and partly because Jesus can heal him. But Jesus stays where he is until he knows Lazarus is dead. And he tells the disciples plainly that he is glad he wasn't there. Sounds harsh, but when you know how it ends, it makes perfect sense. That's usually how it is with everything God does.

In the end, everything will make perfect sense, and I'll look back and shake my head at the whole attitude of my spiritual life. I know I'm not taking God and his love and forgiveness seriously enough. He is glad whenever I make any step in the right direction. He's not charting out my life on a graph: Oh, she was really spiritual that day, but then it went down today because she slept in (which is what happened today...)

Anywho. So Jesus is like, let's go back to where Lazarus lives, which happens to be where they tried to stone him not too long ago, and the disciples are convinced they're all gonna get killed.

11: 25-26 Awesome verses, I'm telling you! MEMORIZE these too, Me. Hehe.

So Martha is an awesome Christian, and I can totally relate to her. She gets Mary to go see Jesus. So Mary comes and probably a little more emotional than Martha. Just a guess, no way to know for sure... And Jesus started crying. And I think that's so interesting, because he knew Lazarus wasn't going to stay dead (I'm sorry, did I ruin it for you?) but he still was sad that he had died. Plus, tears are contagious. :-P I should know that pretty well...

So Lazarus comes back to life. I wonder if he was more appreciated after this haha.

Wow, we're already getting to the major plot to kill Jesus and
12
Jesus anointed and coming into Jerusalem.

Ok, can I just say that everyone is in their typical spot. Lazarus is hanging out with Jesus, Martha is serving, and Mary is showing pure adoration. Umm... Ok, so I can't bash Martha serving too much. That's an act of worship. But she's eclipsed by Mary. Of course. haha.

Just from their personalities, I'd say Martha is older than Mary...

They were plotting to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus. We don't find out if they succeeded, though I think not. I'd hope John would mention it, right?

A week before Jesus' death, it looks like the whole world believes in him. But many turn around a week later, so that Jesus would be glorified, though they don't know that. But seriously, a week?? Sheesh.

So some Greeks want to see him. In the context/what Jesus talks about next, it's kinda random. But I don't know everything, I wasn't there. But I feel like there are some missiong pieces.

I love how Jesus is just standing there talking about his death and how he doesn't want it per se, but he wants to glorify God's name more. And then out of nowhere, this voice answers him. Some say it was an angel, some thunder... but I love this next part: Jesus said that the voice was for the people around him's benefit. He didn't really need to hear what God said about already having glorified God's name and doing it again soon. Jesus knew all that because the Spirit already told him. I have the Spirit. I don't need audible voices from heaven either. Sweetness, right? I mean we'd all love the audible voices from heaven, but we don't need them.

So some leaders do believe Jesus is the Christ, but they keep it a secret, because they loved praise from men more than praise from God. I bet that's the same for me. Percentage-wise. Hehe. Thankfully for me, more often than not, praise from men and God are the same because I have so many Christians in my family and friends. But if I had no support... would I be able to say I love God's praise more than men's? I'd like to think so, but I don't know. But God has not put me in that position (yet) so I don't have to worry about it (yet).

John 12:47 "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it." Jesus doesn't judge me, he saves me... yes, there is a time when there's judgment, but I have you to save me from that. :-) And yes, I don't always not keep Your words, but I don't always keep your word, either. I'm memorizing this one eventually, too.

Man, I have a lot to memorize! Sheesh...

Proverbs 1
So he says not to follow the evil men who wait for people's blood. But hardly ever is it that obvious. That's when you need wisdom to listen to God. :-)

2
If I call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and look for it like silver and gold, then I will ... find the knowledge of God. What a great promise! I need that one right now. Yesterday I was calling out for insight about which college I should go to. Nice to know I'll know.

And not just for college, for everything! Being in college, living life, doing everything that I'll be doing? I'll have God's wisdom. I'll have God's wisdom. How ridiculous is that! You are so generous.

Revelation 3

Couple of things: There's the church where most have gone astray, but a few have stayed faithful (how awesome are those few!); there's the church who are weak from persecution and trials but have held on (they too are amazing!); and there's the church who doesn't really have anything going for them (lukewarm water really is the most disgusting of the lot).

Jesus' different names:
-He who holds the seven stars (angels of the churches) in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands (the seven churches).
-He who is the First and the Last, who died and came to life again.
-He who has the sharp, double-edged sword (out of his mouth--Word of God?).
-Son of God, whose eyes are like blazing fire and whose feet are like burnished bronze.
-He who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars (angels).
-He who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
-The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God's creation.

He who overcomes:
-I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
-will not be hurt at all by the second death.
-I will give some of the hidden manna, and give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.
-I will give authority over the nations...I will also give him the morning star.
-Will be dressed in white, I will never blot his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.
-I will make [him] a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.
-I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Just interesting...

Psalm 119:49-72
This person is chasing after you with all they are. That is ridiculous...-ly awesome!

The earth is filled with your love. Think about that, man!

This person has completely lost their mind. They are completely barbaric, and completely consumed with you. What an example!

EDIT:: I did NOT realize how long this was. Ridiculous! Well, it has been well over an hour....

Thoughts on the gospel John... Nipto 4.2

Dear God,

Day 96

It's early. But I'm UP! That's exciting.

John is officially my favorite gospel. No doubt about that. :-)

Thank you for John's account of things. You really did have a ton of people after you to get you to trip up so they could kill you. Only YOU could have made it three years in ministry...

Thank you for my mom and how awesomely Proverbs 31 she is.

Thank you for helping me get a move in the right direction. It's not like you can give me a little push and I'll just keep moving forward. Thank you that you keep pushing me in the right direction. I pray you would help me continue to let you.

Love,


John 7

Jesus is avoiding the people who want to kill him. For now. Shows that you can be smart about things and shouldn't always head straight for danger and trust God to get you out of it. Wait for God's timing. It wasn't Jesus' time. But when God says go, wherever it may lead, I need to go.

Interesting exchange between Jesus and his brothers. His bros didn't believe him, so they're trying to get Jesus to perform more miracles and such, but he doesn't want to go... publicly. He comes secretly and doesn't start teaching until halfway through the Feast of Tabernacles.

And yes, Jesus gets the crowd mad eventually and he trusts God to get him out of it because it wasn't his time still. There's times to stay and times to go, times to expect a rescue from God, and times to endure whatever he has planned for you.

Jesus, you're hardcore! So all these people are trying to figure you out, yeah? And you just keep doing your thing. You offer awesome living water... which I have by the way. All these promises are here. There's a few missing, but they won't be fulfilled till Revelation... Tis awesome, I must say.

v 50 there's Nicodemus... so that's three times: Chapter 3, 7, and at the burial of Jesus...

I love how the leaders are like, bring him in, c'mon! and their forces are like... I dunno... he talks like no one else... and the leaders are like, GAH this man is from GALILEE! He's supposed to come from Bethlehem. (Funny Jesus never mentioned that just in passing to convince people...)

So they bring an adulterous woman, yeah? ( Just think about all the Proverbs about this kind of woman...) and Jesus is writing on the ground when they're trying to get him to condemn the woman. I wish I knew what you wrote. But what I do know that you showed that woman amazing love, grace, and forgiveness. I think the Christians today are too quick to condemn sometimes, even if it's only in their heads. Help us (me too!) learn how to accept everyone with their sins. (Not accept their sins, but not expect them to get it all together before they think about stepping into the Christian circle.)

Everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Let's be Abolitionists!

Interesting... At Jesus' trial, no one could come with legitimate accusations, but here are plenty they could use: HE CALLED HIMSELF GOD. And eventually they got there. But really. He said he was God. God. NO ONE IS GOD. Except Jesus... And God, of course. And His Spirit. Hehe.

(YAY The sun is out. But don't always be looking for the sun. Look for the Son. hehehehhe.)

Sometimes difficult stuff is not because you sinned but to glorify God later. :-)

I think I'd like hanging out with that former blind man. He's rather... Mr Bennet-like it seems. I can't tell you why I think that, but that's just the feeling I get. :-)

Proverbs 30
Of the 4 things that the earth trembles and cannot bear up, there is an unloved maiden who is married. Interesting. That is quite a sad story, I must say. No one wants a story where the girl gets married, but is not loved.

Proverbs 31
The 31 Woman. She is awesome. She makes it cool to have a godly character. But what I absolutely love about this chapter, is that she reminds me so much of my mom. I stand up now and call her blessed. She is amazing. Thank you for her, Lord.

Revelation 2
Remember the height from which you've fallen! Return to your first love. Hehe, I'm getting there. I'm returning. And it feels nice.

The church in Smyrna is hardcore.

To him who overcomes. Lord, help me overcome the troubles in this life. You've overcome the world, now grab my hand and take me too.

I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first. God is always happy that we're just doing more now than before. He still points out things to work on, but he's happy when we're moving in the right direction.

Well, I feel like I'm moving in the right direction. Getting up early just to be with you. I used to do that all the time... hmm... But it's a step in the right direction.

Thoughts on satisfaction Nipto.4.1

Dear God,

I think I can't...I think I can't, but I think you can, I think you can... gather my insufficiencies and place them in your hands...

Lord. You are so crazy. Please show me what to do with this. The basic sense I'm getting from this is satisfaction and love for your laws. Contentment with following you, no, longing to follow you and finding it's perfect.

Love to you,


John 4

It's so weird to jump back into Jesus' ministry after seeing it all come to fruition. Hmm...

So Jesus actually starts talking to this woman at the well. That's unheard of. Breaking down barriers. Jesus, you are so... revolutionary. Could you give me a few lessons? :-)

I love that there's no secrets with this woman. He knows her background concerning husbands, he reveals to her that He is the Christ.

I love how the disciples are surprised to find him talking to this Samaritan woman (??!!!) but they didn't say anything. They might be getting used to his weird liking for outcasts.

Two things. First, Jesus is satisfied doing the work of his father--as satisfied as if he had had a good meal. Second, Jesus says the disciples will reap the benefits that another man sows. That is so true. Sometimes people invest so much time and energy bringing a person closer to God, then someone else takes them across the Bridge. And it's so not fair. Hehe. But it's so how that works.

Because of this woman, a whole town believes in Jesus. Sweetness!

Jesus heals an official's son... John says this is the second miraculous sign. That and the water--> wine. John places way more emphasis on Jesus as the Son of God.

5
Jesus heals one guy at the pool. ONE guy. Not all of them. Interesante... And then that guy gets burned by the Sabbath police.

I like this second half of John 5. I've a mind to MEMORIZE this too. :-)

I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. How often can I say this is true about myself? Pretty much never. If not NEVER. Eww.

Verse 42 We are not born with the love of God in our hearts. That makes the above confession a little easier.... it's an "acquired taste." hehe.

6
So Jesus feeds all these people, then they try to make him king by force. Or they think that. But hey, it's the thought that counts, right?? hehe.

So they're rowing. Jesus comes along on the water, happy as larry, scares them out of their wits, right? Then He tells them its him, and they let him on the boat. Then it's like magic, man, and they're at their destination. It's wicked cool, no?

Ok, I don't know where that came from. :-)

The work of god is this: (I perk up) To believe in the one he has sent. (I'm disappointed. No, "Go To ____!" hehe ) But it's so simple! Believe in Jesus. That's almost too simple for most of us. No structure, no formula.

Go with it.

The will of God is to lose NO ONE. Can we do that? no. Can God do it through us, if we let him? YOU BET!

"They will be taught by God." I am being taught by God. How crazy is that. It's not something that will happen later. It's happening. Now. Right this very second. Yesss...

Ok, Jesus, that's just gross. You go on and on and on about eating your flesh and drinking your blood... It's disgusting. Then I have flashforwards(backs?) to the cross. And then it makes perfect sense. You're so weird that way.

Jesus knew from the moment he called Judas I. that he would betray Him. He knew he had to call him, otherwise none of anything would matter. He had this burden his entire life. Yet, I'm sure it was a joy now and again. Because he knew it didn't end at the cross either. hehe.

Proverbs 29
Basically the ONLY verse that stuck out to me:

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

Need I say more?

Revelation 1

You love us, have freed us from our sins by YOUR blood! To you be glory and power forever and ever, AMEN!

You were dead, and behold, You are ALIVE forever and ever! You have the Keys.

Need I say more? Don't think I could put it better. To YOU be glory and power forever and ever, amen!

Psalm 119:1-24

v 5-6. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.

v 10-11 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

v 18 Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

v 20 My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times.

Some of this is true right now, some of it is stuff I need to work on. Def need to work on.

Thoughts on Easter: Nipto.8.8

Dear God,

Thank you for the end of this story. Thank you that it does not end in a death, but in a risen life, and a continuance of that life. Thank you that you loved us so much that you went through the valley of death so that we would have to walk through only the valley of the shadow of death. Thank you!

Love,


Matthew 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:1-31

So these women go to bury you properly, but you're not there. And there are angels. and earthquakes. And guards acting like dead men. And conspiracies afterwords to get the guards out of trouble.

The women don't know what to make of all of this, they tell the disciples who don't really believe them--but John (?) and Peter go to see with Mary. The tomb is empty. The linen and stuff is all nicely folded. The men leave, but Mary stays. The angels reappear, and then Jesus himself comes. How amazing would that be!! I mean, I've seen enough shows where the guy who was thought to be dead is actually alive, and just the joy and amazement of the discovery always sends chills up my arms.

And I absolutely love this story of you talking to the two disciples on the road. (how did you keep your scars hidden?) hehe and there's so many stories like this. Jesus appeared to about 500 people. that's a lot of stories.

Ermm.. wow, It's kinda interesting. A lot of people are like, Easter's over, that was good. But Jesus didn't ascend till over a week later. So right now is the most unique week of the history of the world: Jesus risen, but not ascended, establishing a new covenant, revealing how things work. How things led up to his crucifixion, etc. I've never really thought of the space of time between easter and the ascension. :-) Interestante.

Go. I am with you!

Thoughts on the crucifixion and beyond Nipto.8.7

Dear God,

There. It is finished. The deciding battle was fought and won. Now we are just finishing up the war, trying to get as many people on this side as possible.

It is finished, but we are not done. There's still Revelation. There's still the Present.

What you did... do... is amazing. What you will do? Can't wait.

Love,


Matthew 27:27-56; Mark 15:16-41; Luke 23:26-49; John 19:17-30; Matthew 27:57-66; Mark 15:42-47; Luke 23:50-56; John 19:31-42

This is not the Messiah. The Messiah would not die. The Messiah would definitely not die such a humiliating and painful death.

Yet he did. And he forgave them. And he still showed them love. Compassion. Even though he was in their power, he still gave up the little power he had to hurl insults back. Love. Such a powerful word. It's not a feeling. It's something that goes down to your core and, if you let it, takes over and becomes a part of you.

Ok, I'd like to point out the fact that many people were raised from the dead the moment Jesus died. And yet...? They only get a verse or two. That's how crazy the event were going on here.

John's account of Jesus' death is so simply put. It is finished. Hallelujah, amen!

Burial of Jesus.

Hey, it's Nicodemus! I was positive he didn't ever come back in the story again. Weird thing is, only John mentions him. I wonder how many other people were a part of that revolution Jesus created that never got mentioned. Weird to think about, a bit.

And that's it. That's the Passion week. The end. NOT. No. There's a sequel. Without the sequel, this first bit is POINTLESS. Thank God that's not the end of the story.

Thank you.

Thoughts on the events leading to the crucifixion: Nipto.8.4-.6

Dear God,

I am humbled.

Love,


Matthew 26:14-16; Mark 14:10-11; Luke 23:3-61

The insults. The abuses. The comments about how you should save yourself. The criminals with you. Ridiculous. You endured all of that. For us.

Just the whole thing. The darkness. Everything that happened... what you said and did and what happened around you. The curtain (shiver :-). The women who stayed. They stayed. For you. Thank you women, for doing that... since I could not be there... He deserves it.

Joseph comes and honors you with a tomb of his. The women make note of it for after the Sabbath so they can properly bury you. (little do they know...)

Matthew 26:17-29; Mark 14:12-25; Luke 22:7-20; John 13:1-38; John 14-16:33; Matthew 26:36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:40-46

ok backing up.

How sad would that Last Supper be? Everything is coming to a head, and Jesus says someone will betray him, and says it's Judas when Judas asks. Just bittersweet. And full of foreboding.

And of course, beautiful! I love the breaking of bread. It's so symbolic and wonderful.

And don't forget the beautiful representation of how we need to be. (Which personally I'm having a hard time with.) We need to be humble, willing to serve and wash each other's feet. Beautiful.

Love one another. That's really the whole key. Love God, love people, love yourself last. How impossible is that?! Very. When you're alone. With God, it's possible.

Jesus is going ahead--but he's coming back to take us with him. Ah what a day! I know the way. Now I just have to follow it. If you love God, you will obey him. Me, do you love him?

I know the Spirit. I can honestly say that. So that's something I'm growing in. Whether I listen to him is another thing altogether, but you and me, we're working on it.

I think I'm trying to bear fruit without clinging to the vine. Which is definitely not good. I'm even trying to cling to the vine by myself. It's hard to do by oneself. But so much easier when you actually remember God's got your back.

Thank you for choosing me. I definitely could not pick you without you picking me first.

John 15:19 YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO FIT IN!!!! (Thank you TS)

Everybody knows at this point that he's going somewhere. He's going to his Father. Yet their eyes were not opened to everything that meant. But it's so... refreshing to read these words. I don't know why. But they are. Just to think of Jesus going to the Father, sending the Holy Spirit, knowing that all this is still going on.

John 16:11
because the prince of this world now stands condemned. Hallelujah! That gives me chills. So amazing.

Oh won't that be a blessed relief! When Jesus no longer talks figuratively but speaks plainly! He does some... but once we're up there... it'll be so clear!

I'm with A on John 16:33! "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Thank you Jesus.

Matthew 26:47-27:26; Mark 14:43-15:15; Luke 22:47-23:25; John 18:2-19:16

And here is where it is all heading. And it's ridiculous. I mean really, better than any novel. And the best part? It really happened, and it was for all of humanity, so we can be a part of this story. This is the epic tale of all epic tales.

Jesus still calls Judas friend. Even though he just kissed him to betray him. And Jesus knew it. And he still called Judas friend. The ultimate love right there.

After praying with his father, and everything, Jesus was willing to do what he needed to do with as little bloodshed on anyone else's part.

Poor Peter. Lord. I don't know what to say. He walked with you for 3 years and yet when things are getting really rough, he backs out. I mean, I'm not saying that I would never do that (I never want to do that, but I doubt Peter wanted to either), but it's just sad. And what's just as sad is that it's happening a lot still. Teens who grew up in the church are turning their backs to You. Lord, use me to chase after them.

Poor Judas.

The shame and humiliation just for people to decide if they're going to crucify you or not is sobering. This is just the start and already I'm cringing for you. For what should have been me. You didn't do anything wrong. I did. I have. I will. And yet I would not be behaving so well as you. You didn't sin. Not even at the end. I wonder how much Satan toyed with your mind during that last 24 hours of your life. Or how much you just shut out and pushed him away. You definitely did not give in. If you have that power, so do I. (How amazing is it to be able to say that?!)

I love you Lord.

*Thoughts on awesome timing.

Dear God,

Man, do you have a way with me. Sheesh.

So I'm agonizing with my sisters about how crazy and depressing it is that I can't seem to have time to hang out with you, right? And k gave me some ideas etc...

And then you have to come in and just blow me away with your forgiveness, grace, and piercing, blunt, honest and yet kinda painful love.

My Utmost for his Highest

April 3rd.

Look it up, me.

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art.
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee, Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Riches I heed not, nor man's empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my Treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, my victory won,
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heav'ns Son!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my vision, O ruler of all.

Love to my dearest love,

Thoughts on Jesus anointed: Still Nipto.8.3

Dear God,

You're getting ready for your death. This is so ridiculous! I love you.

Love,
Me

So Matthew and Mark: Home of Simon the Leper, some random lady wastes amazing amount of money and perfume on Jesus. How lovely and beautiful that was! The disciples were indignant, thinking about the poor and how much good that could have done. But Jesus defended her. (w007 Jesus!)

Interesting: John says that Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were throwing the party, and Mary was the one who did it. She would, that's so like her. (May that be said of me someday!) And Judas is the one condemning it because he loves money so much.



P.S. So I'd just like to say: Some people may freak out because it says that Simon the Leper was throwing the party, but then Lazarus and his sisters were--that's a grave contradiction!
I don't think so. It says the home of Simon the Leper, but Lazarus and co. were giving the dinner. So they could have arranged for the dinner at Simon's house, but they served. Anyway, it's irrelevant.

Thoughts on parables and tests: Nipto 8.3

Dear God,

I'm getting this sense of everything coming to a head. Jesus is getting really offensive (hehe) and everyone's trying to trap him in something, and Jesus just slips out of all of it. Then he goes on to pretty much curse the Pharisees. But he still "finds time" to just get excited about the love offering from that widow. That just shows You right there! A day in the life of Jesus... never a dull moment.

Love,


Matthew 21:23-27, Mark 11:27-33;

So all these super religious guys come up to Jesus to ask him where he got the authority to drive out the money changers and teach and stuff. But Jesus is like, let's look at John the Baptist. Where was his authority from (because Jesus' and John's authority was the same). They said they didn't know because they were afraid of ridicule either from Jesus for being dishonest or from the people for being honest. So Jesus didn't tell them.

I wish I knew how that side tactic (if that's what it was. I'm guessing it's not, Jesus is too awesome for such things) relates to what I could do today. hmm....

Matthew 21:28-23:29, Mark 12:1-44, Luke 20:9-21:4;

I like the parable of the two sons because it gives me permission to change my mind if I'm feeling obstinate and then repentant.

Parable of the tenants... It is pretty crazy. This is a direct slap on the faces of the Pharisees. And they're getting angry. Jesus, did it pain you to talk about the son getting killed? or was it ok because you knew the big picture? I love you.

The wedding. You invited the Israelites, but not many of them were willing. So you opened it up to all of us as well. Thanks for that. But man, the shame of having no one come to your wedding feast! *slapslapslapslapslapslapslap* But thanks for opening it up to us. But that one man without wedding clothes! (without Jesus I'm assuming?) that was not good, Mr. Jesus!
I love this because this story shows your love, your humiliation, and the par-tay we're going to have later! (w007!)

Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's. Basically, yes, we're under the power of the Romans, but don't forget about God. I love though that this wasn't really an issue of taxes. It was an issue of trapping Jesus. And they couldn't. They knew it, he knew it.
Jesus: 1 Testers: 0

Ok, I love that the Sadducees are asking Jesus about the resurrection, even though they don't believe in it. So Jesus says there's no marriage in heaven... and let's go deeper about the resurrection, since you don't believe that one. God says he's the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But they were dead by Moses' time. But God's a God of the living. *Cue exclamations from the crowd, testers leaving.*
Jesus: 2 Testers: 0

Interesting. Mark, who often abbreviates everything, has the longest section about the greatest commandments. Matthew says this guy was a part of the Pharisees, testing him. Mark says it's just an expert of the law who actually wants to understand something, since Jesus is doing so well. So love God, love people. I like the man's answer: That sounds exactly right. :-)
Jesus: 3 Testers: 0

And while the testers are regrouping, trying to think of a new test, Jesus gives it for them. How does David call Jesus "Lord" when Jesus is David's son? That'd be weird. So he just makes the point that he's got his stuff down... ok, more he makes the point that he can answer all questions wisely because he's God.
Jesus: 4 Testers: 0

Then he warns people against the Pharisees because they like to waltz around acting holy and being praised and adored because of it.

Most definitely on the lookout for that in others and in me...

I've said this before, I'll say it again. I love the story of the Widow. Everyone else is taking out of their surplus, but she's giving everything--even though that everything is hardly anything to live on. But she could still hold onto it--but she didn't. That's love for God. And God noticed, and loved it. Jesus got excited seeing her do it.

And then the 7 woes. Jesus is really laying it on thick--he doesn't want anyone to doubt his thoughts on hypocrisy. He also wants to leave some really important stuff about doing things for God, not men. Doing things for each other, not elevating each other, only God.

Clean the inside. Practice what you preach. Don't swallow camels.

Thoughts on a fig tree and driving out the money changers Nipto.8.2

Dear God,

To think, you really did all this stuff around this time, 2000 ish years ago! Everything you did was with a purpose: Glory to God. May I have that purpose as well.

Love,


Matthew 21:18-19, Mark 11:12-14; Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18.

So you're running up the road back to Jerusalem after spending the night in the outskirts of town, and you're hungry. You see a fig tree up ahead (And fig trees have figs that can be eaten most of the time year round) but it happened to be not the season for figs at the time. And you got mad at the tree and told it to never bear fruit again. Sheesh, Jesus, what a temper!

Or not.

But really, this next story doesn't help disprove the temper point.

You go into the temple and start driving out all the money changers. I mean, it was fine because it's a righteous anger from God. These men were using religion to get money. They were selling animals and such for sacrifices... Imagine what Jesus would have done if he had come across the Catholic church centuries later selling indulgences. Same principle. Eww...

*relooking over the passages and a little context*
So Jesus withered the tree so that the disciples would know the power of faith and prayer.Like we said, you had a purpose for everything...