Dear God,
I need a mirror. Hope Romans has one!
Well, I still don't know. It might :-) I just finished it. oops? Great stuff. I think I got through it all because it's easier than the first few chapters, and I'm not in such a notey mood.
LOVE. That is the word of the world. All we need is love (and God) and we're all set! Acceptance. Don't sweat the small stuff. Don't trip others up because you know you're right--but so are they! Unity. Among the churches throughout the world. What a glorious time we will have in heaven!
Thank you...
Love,
ME
Romans 13
Submit to authority, Do what is right, Pay taxes--it's right there in the Bible!!
Love your neighbor. All the other commandments are in this one. If you love God and people, then you're good to go. Love is the fulfillment of the law. Thank you Westley and Buttercup.
The night is nearly over. If the night was nearly over two thousand years ago, dawn is almost upon us!
Keep going
Romans 14
Wow. Verse one is a good one. Accept those whose faith is weak--don't get caught up in the little stuff! Verse two and three make me think of my sister. Haha. I love this section, I've decided. I love most sections. But I like this one because it's basically saying, "Don't sweat the small stuff. You need the basic doctrine, but then you can follow God however He tells you, which can be different for different people." Awesome.
And from that, make up your mind never to trip up anyone else. If someone's convictions are different from your own, make up your mind to respect them and encourage them with that.
Keep going
Romans 15
Spirit of unity. Yes, dear God. Fine. Accept one another.
Paul wrote boldly on some basic stuff to remind us of the wonderful of it all.
I love that he says that it was his ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that he was not be building on someone else's foundation. He was a foundation-layer. Sometimes I'm like, yes! We need to go out and make our own foundations where Christ has not been known. And then I realize that more and more, America is becoming that place. People don't know a whole lot about Jesus anymore. And if they do, they have weird perspectives on him. Yes, there are a lot of great Christians out there. I just know that things are not what they were. According to my parents. :-)
But I still feel a pull to other places...
I'm jealous of Paul. He's planning on traveling the world. He already has quite a bit. Beh.
Keep going.
Romans 16
I can't wait to meet all these people.
Careful of people who try to steer us away from the faith. Help with wisdom, Lord, ok?
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
To the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
AMEN!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thoughts on living sacrifices, gifts, and genuine love: Romans 12 Nipto.
Dear God,
:-) I'm actually not doing this at midnight! Yay!
Lord, I give myself as a living sacrifice today. After this I am getting ready as fast as I can so that I can be ready for whatever you have for me today. Whatever I have to do at work today Lord, I do it for you, not just the customer or manager who told me I needed to do it. Today, I am a servant of all. I know I'm not perfect, I will make mistakes today. I know that I think I'm awesome when I'm really not. But I know you have equipped me with whatever needs to be done today. God, I want to use my gifts in a way that benefits others and glorifies you. Please help me learn how that all works!
God, this next part I think is a tough one for me. I don't love people enough. I do my best to look like I love them, but sometimes my thoughts are far from loving. Especially when I'm trying to close :-) Give me love for them. By myself, I would never be able to do anything. But with you, I can be the love guru. I don't know where that came from... haha. God, give me the time and motivation to memorize this chapter. I really want to be able to spout this off, because it's a great chapter. Thank you for your living, breathing, speaking Word. Please help me listen to it more today.
Love,
ME
Romans 12
Of course the first two verses of this are awesome. And yet I forget to live them sometimes. I am a living sacrifice. I need to worship him by giving myself every day. Do I do that often? NO. I need to stay away from what the world is doing and let God transform me into a new person who does not think some of that stuff is cool. I never really realized that verse two was a "know God's will verse." Or I forgot. But if I do that--if I don't conform to the world and I let God renew my mind, I will know what God's will is because my new mind will think like He thinks... to an extent. We just learned yesterday that I can't really comprehend His thoughts, but that's ok. That's what makes You AWESOME.
Verse 3 burn. I don't do this either. Really being honest about who I am and where I am in the walk? Nope. I think I'm better than I really am. Now I know that and now I'll work on that.
Ahh gifts. serving others... serve them well... teaching others... teach well... encouraging others, do it... Giving to others... give generously... take any leadership roles seriously...
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. HATE what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. LOVE each other with GENUINE affection, and take DELIGHT in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically!! Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on PRAYING. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Great section. No really, that is a fabulous section to keep on the wall, gimme a sec... ok now it's on my wall.
I'm wondering if I should just memorize all of Romans 12. Do that instead of James today :-P
because there are a lot of great practical things, but the first two verses tell you why you should do all those things.
.
:-) I'm actually not doing this at midnight! Yay!
Lord, I give myself as a living sacrifice today. After this I am getting ready as fast as I can so that I can be ready for whatever you have for me today. Whatever I have to do at work today Lord, I do it for you, not just the customer or manager who told me I needed to do it. Today, I am a servant of all. I know I'm not perfect, I will make mistakes today. I know that I think I'm awesome when I'm really not. But I know you have equipped me with whatever needs to be done today. God, I want to use my gifts in a way that benefits others and glorifies you. Please help me learn how that all works!
God, this next part I think is a tough one for me. I don't love people enough. I do my best to look like I love them, but sometimes my thoughts are far from loving. Especially when I'm trying to close :-) Give me love for them. By myself, I would never be able to do anything. But with you, I can be the love guru. I don't know where that came from... haha. God, give me the time and motivation to memorize this chapter. I really want to be able to spout this off, because it's a great chapter. Thank you for your living, breathing, speaking Word. Please help me listen to it more today.
Love,
ME
Romans 12
Of course the first two verses of this are awesome. And yet I forget to live them sometimes. I am a living sacrifice. I need to worship him by giving myself every day. Do I do that often? NO. I need to stay away from what the world is doing and let God transform me into a new person who does not think some of that stuff is cool. I never really realized that verse two was a "know God's will verse." Or I forgot. But if I do that--if I don't conform to the world and I let God renew my mind, I will know what God's will is because my new mind will think like He thinks... to an extent. We just learned yesterday that I can't really comprehend His thoughts, but that's ok. That's what makes You AWESOME.
Verse 3 burn. I don't do this either. Really being honest about who I am and where I am in the walk? Nope. I think I'm better than I really am. Now I know that and now I'll work on that.
Ahh gifts. serving others... serve them well... teaching others... teach well... encouraging others, do it... Giving to others... give generously... take any leadership roles seriously...
Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. HATE what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. LOVE each other with GENUINE affection, and take DELIGHT in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically!! Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on PRAYING. When God's people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
Great section. No really, that is a fabulous section to keep on the wall, gimme a sec... ok now it's on my wall.
I'm wondering if I should just memorize all of Romans 12. Do that instead of James today :-P
because there are a lot of great practical things, but the first two verses tell you why you should do all those things.
.
Thoughts on grafted branches and glorious thoughts: Romans 11 Nipto
Dear God,
Thank you for awesome hang out times with awesome people! I feel so full when I come home, and not because I ate a lot of junk food!
Thank you for your free grace and grafting us into the tree of Abraham. Thank you. Your thoughts are high and glorious. If we could comprehend them, we would fall over in awe!
Love,
Me
Romans 10nish
God's grace is free and undeserved. Hallelujah! If it was any other way, it would be impossible!
The Gentiles were able to have this grace when the Israelites rejected it. So think what could happen when the Israelites actually receive this grace too!
Paul's talking to me right now. Gentiles: make people jealous so that they want what you have.
I love the beautiful picture of being grafted into this tree. That is so pretty.
God is severe to those who disobey, but kind to those who trust him. It sounds like conditional love. No: He loves us the entire time, but it's just like a parent and a kid. A father is severe to a kid he loves when that kid is not obeying, but he doesn't love him any less.
Careful not to think you're amazing because you are this awesome grafted branch.
God's thoughts and wisdom and knowledge is ridiculous! Hallelujah to that, man!
.
Thank you for awesome hang out times with awesome people! I feel so full when I come home, and not because I ate a lot of junk food!
Thank you for your free grace and grafting us into the tree of Abraham. Thank you. Your thoughts are high and glorious. If we could comprehend them, we would fall over in awe!
Love,
Me
Romans 10nish
God's grace is free and undeserved. Hallelujah! If it was any other way, it would be impossible!
The Gentiles were able to have this grace when the Israelites rejected it. So think what could happen when the Israelites actually receive this grace too!
Paul's talking to me right now. Gentiles: make people jealous so that they want what you have.
I love the beautiful picture of being grafted into this tree. That is so pretty.
God is severe to those who disobey, but kind to those who trust him. It sounds like conditional love. No: He loves us the entire time, but it's just like a parent and a kid. A father is severe to a kid he loves when that kid is not obeying, but he doesn't love him any less.
Careful not to think you're amazing because you are this awesome grafted branch.
God's thoughts and wisdom and knowledge is ridiculous! Hallelujah to that, man!
.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Ten impossible things...
One. God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh.
Two. God is three in one.
Three. Jesus was/is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God, and that only makes one hundred percent.
Four. God loves every single one of us, more deeply than we can imagine.
Five. Every single sin that ever was is or will be was slayed on the cross.
Six. Jesus lived a perfect life.
Seven. Jesus rose from the dead.
Eight. We can put to death our old sinful selves and become new creations.
Nine. Miracles do happen.
Ten. We can know God, starting today.
Two. God is three in one.
Three. Jesus was/is one hundred percent human and one hundred percent God, and that only makes one hundred percent.
Four. God loves every single one of us, more deeply than we can imagine.
Five. Every single sin that ever was is or will be was slayed on the cross.
Six. Jesus lived a perfect life.
Seven. Jesus rose from the dead.
Eight. We can put to death our old sinful selves and become new creations.
Nine. Miracles do happen.
Ten. We can know God, starting today.
Thoughts on the Spirit of Life: Romans 8 Nipto
Dear God,
Six impossible things before bedtime:
One. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Two. We can live by the Spirit.
Three. I am not controlled by the sinful nature.
Four. The Spirit of Life, that raised Christ from the dead (4.5) lives in me.
Five. I can slay the misdeeds of the body.
Six. We are children and heirs of God and can call Him Daddy.
That sounds good to me. Thank you that nothing is impossible with You.
Love,
ME
Romans 8
The law of the Spirit of LIFE set me free from the law of sin and death. FREEDOM!!! Thank you Mel Gibson for that epic cameo, now please leave....
The law was weakened--it could not save us. God condemned the sin--not the sinful man, the sin. Of course, if you don't separate yourself from the sin, things will get complicated.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Do I have my mind set on what the Spirit desires, or what I desire? Depends. Well, stop that.
I am pleasing God though.
Verses 9-11 IS. IS. IS. Not will be. Not should. Not could. IS. it is true that the sinful nature IS dead in me, now, because I am in the Spirit. (I almost capitalized the am there, but then it felt like blasphemy.)
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. *cue overcome music!!*
We have an obligation. Not to the sinful nature. No, we fight that jabberwocky with the vorpal blade of the Spirit. I need to put to death the misdeeds of the body. Not just shove them aside. Not ignore. Not fight. OFF WITH ITS HEAD!!.
We are not slaves to fear. We are not even slaves to God. We are Children, heirs of God. we can call Him Daddy.
.
Six impossible things before bedtime:
One. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Two. We can live by the Spirit.
Three. I am not controlled by the sinful nature.
Four. The Spirit of Life, that raised Christ from the dead (4.5) lives in me.
Five. I can slay the misdeeds of the body.
Six. We are children and heirs of God and can call Him Daddy.
That sounds good to me. Thank you that nothing is impossible with You.
Love,
ME
Romans 8
The law of the Spirit of LIFE set me free from the law of sin and death. FREEDOM!!! Thank you Mel Gibson for that epic cameo, now please leave....
The law was weakened--it could not save us. God condemned the sin--not the sinful man, the sin. Of course, if you don't separate yourself from the sin, things will get complicated.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
Do I have my mind set on what the Spirit desires, or what I desire? Depends. Well, stop that.
I am pleasing God though.
Verses 9-11 IS. IS. IS. Not will be. Not should. Not could. IS. it is true that the sinful nature IS dead in me, now, because I am in the Spirit. (I almost capitalized the am there, but then it felt like blasphemy.)
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. *cue overcome music!!*
We have an obligation. Not to the sinful nature. No, we fight that jabberwocky with the vorpal blade of the Spirit. I need to put to death the misdeeds of the body. Not just shove them aside. Not ignore. Not fight. OFF WITH ITS HEAD!!.
We are not slaves to fear. We are not even slaves to God. We are Children, heirs of God. we can call Him Daddy.
.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thoughts on no condemnation: Romans 8:1 Nipto
Dear God,
I've kinda already said this down farther. But thank you for being such a great dad, and thank you for the amazing knowledge and truth that we have NO condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. THANK YOU.
Love,
Romans 8
This'll be quick, but I had other posts to think about :-P
There is no condemnation for those in Christ. I have no condemnation. I don't think I actually know what that means. I'm almost tempted to stop there and really think about that. I actually might. Gimme a sec...
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...
Yess....
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those (of us) who are in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those (of us) who are in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, (because we are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness,) THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. (wow I feel like I'm shouting.)
I should be shouting. This is joyful news. This is what will save the whole world. If I know this verse, If I know this verse deep down in the core of my being and in every inch of my being, and I portray that, and other people portray that, this world could be change. This, my dears, is a world changer.
No matter what you have done, no matter what sin/crime you have committed, whether it could get you in jail or in counseling or made an outcast, or whether it has made you rich and famous and loved by all... You are LOVED by God. This God loves you like a true Father should. This God made a way for us to know him, and through this way of knowing him, there is no condemnation. There is NO Condemnation. Your sins are completely washed clean. God will never again look at you in such a way as to make you feel like you are doomed. God is no longer someone to be Feared--respected-feared, yes--but not FEAR feared. You can know Him, and he will accept you with open arms. He already knows you. He knows all of your deeds.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Live today like you know that.
.
I've kinda already said this down farther. But thank you for being such a great dad, and thank you for the amazing knowledge and truth that we have NO condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. THANK YOU.
Love,
Romans 8
This'll be quick, but I had other posts to think about :-P
There is no condemnation for those in Christ. I have no condemnation. I don't think I actually know what that means. I'm almost tempted to stop there and really think about that. I actually might. Gimme a sec...
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus...
Yess....
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those (of us) who are in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, there is now NO condemnation for those (of us) who are in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, (because we are no longer slaves to sin, but to righteousness,) THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST JESUS. (wow I feel like I'm shouting.)
I should be shouting. This is joyful news. This is what will save the whole world. If I know this verse, If I know this verse deep down in the core of my being and in every inch of my being, and I portray that, and other people portray that, this world could be change. This, my dears, is a world changer.
No matter what you have done, no matter what sin/crime you have committed, whether it could get you in jail or in counseling or made an outcast, or whether it has made you rich and famous and loved by all... You are LOVED by God. This God loves you like a true Father should. This God made a way for us to know him, and through this way of knowing him, there is no condemnation. There is NO Condemnation. Your sins are completely washed clean. God will never again look at you in such a way as to make you feel like you are doomed. God is no longer someone to be Feared--respected-feared, yes--but not FEAR feared. You can know Him, and he will accept you with open arms. He already knows you. He knows all of your deeds.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Live today like you know that.
.
A Fathers' Day Letter
Dear God,
Hi daddy. Wow. What an honor to talk to you and call you dad. Daddy. Abba. Father. Papa. Lord, it's so crazy. You are GOD. G-O-D!! Eternal. All powerful. All knowing. Full of wrath, judgment, power, holiness, inspiring fear and awe and worship. But you are also merciful. Loving. Faithful. Sacrificial. Lord--it's so crazy that even though we messed up and became disgusting, covered in the filth of this world full of sin and wickedness. Yet even though you are Judge, Holy, and full of Wrath towards evil, you still love us. We are Gollums, but you are in love with the Smeagol. And it's not a small love. It's not even the most love us humans can possess. It's God-sized love. Lord. You. Love. Me. Wow. And you took action on that love and found/made a way for us to come to you, to come across that gap, that separation. You brought your own Son to fulfill the requirements. He/You paid the price. I can't wrap my mind around the pain in that sacrifice. Thank you.
Though: If the GOD and MAKER of the UNIVERSE has to experience so much pain and rejection and sorrow, there's NO WAY finite, created human beings can get through life without pain, suffering, sorrow and rejection. Yes, we can rely on God, yes, there are redeeming things about life. Same for god. But we can expect life to be easy, to lie on a bed of roses forever (though I don't know who thought that lying on a bed of roses would be a good idea).
So Daddy. Here we are on Father's day. Thanks for being the Ultimate Dad. Thank you for allowing my dad to be my ultimate dad. Thanks for the both of you.
All my love,
Hi daddy. Wow. What an honor to talk to you and call you dad. Daddy. Abba. Father. Papa. Lord, it's so crazy. You are GOD. G-O-D!! Eternal. All powerful. All knowing. Full of wrath, judgment, power, holiness, inspiring fear and awe and worship. But you are also merciful. Loving. Faithful. Sacrificial. Lord--it's so crazy that even though we messed up and became disgusting, covered in the filth of this world full of sin and wickedness. Yet even though you are Judge, Holy, and full of Wrath towards evil, you still love us. We are Gollums, but you are in love with the Smeagol. And it's not a small love. It's not even the most love us humans can possess. It's God-sized love. Lord. You. Love. Me. Wow. And you took action on that love and found/made a way for us to come to you, to come across that gap, that separation. You brought your own Son to fulfill the requirements. He/You paid the price. I can't wrap my mind around the pain in that sacrifice. Thank you.
Though: If the GOD and MAKER of the UNIVERSE has to experience so much pain and rejection and sorrow, there's NO WAY finite, created human beings can get through life without pain, suffering, sorrow and rejection. Yes, we can rely on God, yes, there are redeeming things about life. Same for god. But we can expect life to be easy, to lie on a bed of roses forever (though I don't know who thought that lying on a bed of roses would be a good idea).
So Daddy. Here we are on Father's day. Thanks for being the Ultimate Dad. Thank you for allowing my dad to be my ultimate dad. Thanks for the both of you.
All my love,
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Thoughts on the war between the flesh and the mind: Romans 7 Nipto
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us good. We don't have it inside of us to start with--you give it to us. Praise to you! Help me learn better how to wage war against the evil that wants me to do wrong.
Love,
Romans 7
The law is only binding till death. Take marriage: Till death do us part. Mrs. H. has had three husbands, but she has not broken the law. She has just had the misfortune of losing her first two :-(
We have died with Christ, so the law no longer binds us. Now we can serve God!
The law is not sin, the law reveals sin. But when the law said "Don't covet," you realize you covet, and then you die, because sin is in you.
Then there's some stuff that's a little hard to follow. Basically, the law and command is holy, and shows what is sin is utterly disgustingly sinful. I think.
Then comes the part that I've been relating to lately. I know what I need to do, but I don't do it. In fact, the stuff I know I shouldn't do, I do that instead. But I need to realize that I'm not the one doing it. It is the sin living in me.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
That hits me right where I've been. I have been experiencing that war a lot more!
Thank you for giving us good. We don't have it inside of us to start with--you give it to us. Praise to you! Help me learn better how to wage war against the evil that wants me to do wrong.
Love,
Romans 7
The law is only binding till death. Take marriage: Till death do us part. Mrs. H. has had three husbands, but she has not broken the law. She has just had the misfortune of losing her first two :-(
We have died with Christ, so the law no longer binds us. Now we can serve God!
The law is not sin, the law reveals sin. But when the law said "Don't covet," you realize you covet, and then you die, because sin is in you.
Then there's some stuff that's a little hard to follow. Basically, the law and command is holy, and shows what is sin is utterly disgustingly sinful. I think.
Then comes the part that I've been relating to lately. I know what I need to do, but I don't do it. In fact, the stuff I know I shouldn't do, I do that instead. But I need to realize that I'm not the one doing it. It is the sin living in me.
So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
That hits me right where I've been. I have been experiencing that war a lot more!
Friday, June 18, 2010
Thoughts on freedom from sin: Romans 6 Nipto.
Dear God,
We are no longer slaves to sin, but to YOU! how awesome is that??!! And the only way to change ownership is through You. Thank you for that gift. It's a GIFT. We should not abuse it, but it's a GIFT! it's freeeeEEEEEE! hahaha.
I have so much freedom, right here, right now. I am not a slave to sin. I am not a slave to procrastination or self-interest. It's all put to death. Sometimes I follow the sin anyway because I want to, but ultimately I come back, because it's put to death, and now I live, a slave to God. Which is, in fact, freedom.
Love,
So we just found out that when sin increases, so does grace! Which is awesome!
Romans 6
But now we have died to sin, so we can't go on sinning. So it shouldn't be something you just keep doing because grace increases with it. We have died with Jesus and now we live with Jesus in righteousness.
Are you getting this? Our old selves were CRUFICIFED! They are done away with! We are no longer slaves to sin. Sometimes I feel like Satan is having too much fun kicking me around and messing with me, but it says here that we are no longer slaves to sin. We can walk away from sin. We have power to do the right thing!
V 10: The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. AWESOME VERSE!!
SIN SHALL NOT BE MY MASTER. GOD is Lord over me. He can tell us to not let sin reign in our lives because it's possible! Actually, he tells us to not let sin reign in us, even though it's impossible, and then he empowers us to do it in His strength and timing, not ours. Just to prove how awesome He is. :-)
We are going to be slaves of something, either of sin, or of righteousness. Which one do you want to be your master? One gives you stuff that is easy, but ultimately leads to an unfulfilled life and death, while the other is HARD, but ultimately leads to a satisfied and eternal life.
Verse 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ANOTHER AWESOME VERSE!
Can you tell I like CAPS??!!
.
We are no longer slaves to sin, but to YOU! how awesome is that??!! And the only way to change ownership is through You. Thank you for that gift. It's a GIFT. We should not abuse it, but it's a GIFT! it's freeeeEEEEEE! hahaha.
I have so much freedom, right here, right now. I am not a slave to sin. I am not a slave to procrastination or self-interest. It's all put to death. Sometimes I follow the sin anyway because I want to, but ultimately I come back, because it's put to death, and now I live, a slave to God. Which is, in fact, freedom.
Love,
So we just found out that when sin increases, so does grace! Which is awesome!
Romans 6
But now we have died to sin, so we can't go on sinning. So it shouldn't be something you just keep doing because grace increases with it. We have died with Jesus and now we live with Jesus in righteousness.
Are you getting this? Our old selves were CRUFICIFED! They are done away with! We are no longer slaves to sin. Sometimes I feel like Satan is having too much fun kicking me around and messing with me, but it says here that we are no longer slaves to sin. We can walk away from sin. We have power to do the right thing!
V 10: The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. AWESOME VERSE!!
SIN SHALL NOT BE MY MASTER. GOD is Lord over me. He can tell us to not let sin reign in our lives because it's possible! Actually, he tells us to not let sin reign in us, even though it's impossible, and then he empowers us to do it in His strength and timing, not ours. Just to prove how awesome He is. :-)
We are going to be slaves of something, either of sin, or of righteousness. Which one do you want to be your master? One gives you stuff that is easy, but ultimately leads to an unfulfilled life and death, while the other is HARD, but ultimately leads to a satisfied and eternal life.
Verse 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. ANOTHER AWESOME VERSE!
Can you tell I like CAPS??!!
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Thursday, June 17, 2010
Thoughts on Jesus vs. Adam; life vs death: Nipto
Dear God,
Thank you. Sin and death came through one man, Adam. Because of one act. But you made it so that LIFE and Righteousness and Forgiveness and Grace would come through one man, Jesus. Because of one act. GRACE HAS INCREASED!
Thank you for getting me in Romans. This is basic, yet deep stuff. But it's concentrating on the Big issue, separation from God and getting back with Him and how all that works. Perfect. Of course.
Love,
Romans 5:12-21
One thing I've kinda noticed is that Romans is really a long, deep theological sermon. He makes some good arguments and points and illustrations. :-) I think Paul's really trying to show who we are in Christ and what it means when we're forgiven, and how mind-blowing God's love and grace really is. He doesn't want us to take it for granted.
Sin entered through Adam and Eve. Sin came before the law came. Some would be like WHOA! contradiction! You said that where there is no law, there is no sin! But Paul goes on. Sin is not taken into account by the One who always has the law, until the law was given.
So, through the sin of Adam, many sin and experience death. How much more will the grace and life be present in us through Jesus!
Law-->increase in sin --> increase in Grace --righteousness-->LIFE because of Jesus.
Thank you. Sin and death came through one man, Adam. Because of one act. But you made it so that LIFE and Righteousness and Forgiveness and Grace would come through one man, Jesus. Because of one act. GRACE HAS INCREASED!
Thank you for getting me in Romans. This is basic, yet deep stuff. But it's concentrating on the Big issue, separation from God and getting back with Him and how all that works. Perfect. Of course.
Love,
Romans 5:12-21
One thing I've kinda noticed is that Romans is really a long, deep theological sermon. He makes some good arguments and points and illustrations. :-) I think Paul's really trying to show who we are in Christ and what it means when we're forgiven, and how mind-blowing God's love and grace really is. He doesn't want us to take it for granted.
Sin entered through Adam and Eve. Sin came before the law came. Some would be like WHOA! contradiction! You said that where there is no law, there is no sin! But Paul goes on. Sin is not taken into account by the One who always has the law, until the law was given.
So, through the sin of Adam, many sin and experience death. How much more will the grace and life be present in us through Jesus!
Law-->increase in sin --> increase in Grace --righteousness-->LIFE because of Jesus.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Thoughts on the ramifications of justification: Nipto (Like my long words??)
Dear God,
What love is this? We have been made friends of God. We have peace with God! We can hope in God's glory!! We rejoice in suffering, which is upside-down. But suffering, if you treat it the right way, comes to hope. And it's not a hope in some dream that can never come true. It's hope in something concrete: GOD. (some would say that God is not concrete. But to me, He is!)
Love,
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Can we just dwell on that fact for a second? We have been justified through FAITH, not works. Not doing, being. So now what? WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD!!!! There's a way to know the God of the Universe, who is eternal and unchanging, and faithful and loving and true. How amazing is that??!!
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Took the words right out of my mouth.
we also rejoice in our sufferings, because Suffering→Perseverance→Character→Hope. And we don't hope in vain. God delivers. AWESOME.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. What love is this? This is love no finite heart could possibly grasp.
We are now friends of God. How cool is that? In case you didn't know, it's way cool.
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What love is this? We have been made friends of God. We have peace with God! We can hope in God's glory!! We rejoice in suffering, which is upside-down. But suffering, if you treat it the right way, comes to hope. And it's not a hope in some dream that can never come true. It's hope in something concrete: GOD. (some would say that God is not concrete. But to me, He is!)
Love,
Romans 5:1-11
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Can we just dwell on that fact for a second? We have been justified through FAITH, not works. Not doing, being. So now what? WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD!!!! There's a way to know the God of the Universe, who is eternal and unchanging, and faithful and loving and true. How amazing is that??!!
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Took the words right out of my mouth.
we also rejoice in our sufferings, because Suffering→Perseverance→Character→Hope. And we don't hope in vain. God delivers. AWESOME.
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. What love is this? This is love no finite heart could possibly grasp.
We are now friends of God. How cool is that? In case you didn't know, it's way cool.
.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thoughts on Abraham credited as righteousness: Nipto week 11
Dear God,
I know you can do anything. When that doesn't show through my actions, I pray that you would help me get there. My head knows it, but it's harder to actually live that way. I pray you would help me with my unbelief!
Love,
Romans 4
Basically, Abraham has righteousness because of faith and belief, not works. Not even circumcision. That came after the believing and crediting as righteousness. Nothing we do can ever make us right with God. Only trusting Him will do it.
Abraham is the father of all who trust Jesus, whether they are circumcised or not. Funny how Paul omits the people who are circumcised but don't trust God.
Abraham didn't get it through the law, either. The law was a different thing altogether.
"Where there is no law, there is no transgression." That's an interesting statement. I suppose you can't break the law if there is no law. But God has a law in each of us.
Look at this example Abraham sets for us. He fully believed that God would do what he said he would do (even though he laughed). He was positive that God could do anything! So we need to believe that God can do anything. How often do we fully believe that God will come through? That God will give us the strength needed to do what needs to be done through us? That God will do what he will with the circumstances we face?
I know you can do anything. When that doesn't show through my actions, I pray that you would help me get there. My head knows it, but it's harder to actually live that way. I pray you would help me with my unbelief!
Love,
Romans 4
Basically, Abraham has righteousness because of faith and belief, not works. Not even circumcision. That came after the believing and crediting as righteousness. Nothing we do can ever make us right with God. Only trusting Him will do it.
Abraham is the father of all who trust Jesus, whether they are circumcised or not. Funny how Paul omits the people who are circumcised but don't trust God.
Abraham didn't get it through the law, either. The law was a different thing altogether.
"Where there is no law, there is no transgression." That's an interesting statement. I suppose you can't break the law if there is no law. But God has a law in each of us.
Look at this example Abraham sets for us. He fully believed that God would do what he said he would do (even though he laughed). He was positive that God could do anything! So we need to believe that God can do anything. How often do we fully believe that God will come through? That God will give us the strength needed to do what needs to be done through us? That God will do what he will with the circumstances we face?
Monday, June 14, 2010
Thoughts on the end of Romans 3: Nipto, week 11
Dear God,
Help me do this.
Level playing fields, no boasting except in what Jesus did for us. We have a FREE way to heaven! How amazing and wonderful is our God! He made this whole way for us to heaven without becoming unjust or unloving or unmerciful. His GRACE overflows. Wow. Now we have the ability and power and freedom to follow Him and His law. Yesssssss. Overwhelming.
Love,
Romans 3:21-31
Can I just start this off with saying that this has so much Christianese, it could only be the Bible?
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, Thank goodness, I was "hoping" it wouldn't all be doom and gloom because the law can't save us...
to which the Law and the Prophets testify. and this is why my dad is a Christian. There's an awesome website that looks into this. I haven't personally looked into it as much as I would like, but... there you go.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. That is about as simple as it gets. Awesomeness.
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Paul is really laying it on thick that there is NO ONE righteous. We are all in the same boat. And it's sinking. But Jesus is our Coast Guard? haha.
and are justified freely (freely!) by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. If we have faith in Jesus' blood--that it paid our sin and assuaged God's wrath, then we are REDEEMED!!! Thank you God.
He did this to demonstrate his justice, Wow, you'd think it would more show his MERCY than his JUSTICE! But I think it's cool that Paul says that.
because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— (Delayed justice) he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just (God is just, he can't delay that forever--but he showed his justice in a merciful way) and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus (He justifies us. He takes that justice and made it so that it would be to our advantage, if we trust in Jesus).
Help me do this.
Level playing fields, no boasting except in what Jesus did for us. We have a FREE way to heaven! How amazing and wonderful is our God! He made this whole way for us to heaven without becoming unjust or unloving or unmerciful. His GRACE overflows. Wow. Now we have the ability and power and freedom to follow Him and His law. Yesssssss. Overwhelming.
Love,
Romans 3:21-31
Can I just start this off with saying that this has so much Christianese, it could only be the Bible?
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, Thank goodness, I was "hoping" it wouldn't all be doom and gloom because the law can't save us...
to which the Law and the Prophets testify. and this is why my dad is a Christian. There's an awesome website that looks into this. I haven't personally looked into it as much as I would like, but... there you go.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. That is about as simple as it gets. Awesomeness.
There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Paul is really laying it on thick that there is NO ONE righteous. We are all in the same boat. And it's sinking. But Jesus is our Coast Guard? haha.
and are justified freely (freely!) by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. If we have faith in Jesus' blood--that it paid our sin and assuaged God's wrath, then we are REDEEMED!!! Thank you God.
He did this to demonstrate his justice, Wow, you'd think it would more show his MERCY than his JUSTICE! But I think it's cool that Paul says that.
because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— (Delayed justice) he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just (God is just, he can't delay that forever--but he showed his justice in a merciful way) and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus (He justifies us. He takes that justice and made it so that it would be to our advantage, if we trust in Jesus).
Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. There is no way any of us can boast, because it was all done for us. All we have to do is take it. We can't boast in that, not in the least bit. There's no better or worse, it's an even playing field.
On what principle? On that of observing the law? Boasting is excluded, because we observe the law? That doesn't really make sense, because if we can observe the law, it's by our own endeavors. If we could get to heaven by works, there would be boasting, because it would be up to us. So:
No, but on that of faith. I suppose you could try to boast because you believe Jesus, but it would not be taking into account that you did nothing. You believed, but anyone can believe. So I guess you could try, but it wouldn't work.
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. You don't have to observe the law to have faith in Jesus. Afterward, it's advisable, but you don't have to fix your life first. THANK YOU LORD.
Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, (Thank goodness) since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith. So there is no difference, even, between Jews and Gentiles. We can all be redeemed through the same faith. It seems so simple and obvious to us now, but back then I'm sure it was pretty hard to grasp.
Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. Exactly. Some could wonder whether, because of this faith, the law is now of no use. If we have a different way to heaven, we don't need the law. But really, this faith ensures that we will be with God one day, and in the meantime, we have the power and ability to actually uphold the law.
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