Well today is Friday!! It always amazes me how I feel on Fridays... Excitement for 2 days off work, list of things "todo" in my head, anticipation for afterschool sports game. Today there is one more thing Raeanna has a "school dance" and last night at 9:30pm could not decide what to wear. This really bothers me because she usually doesn't care just puts on a pair of jeans and off she goes... Last night she wanted a dress (doesn't own one) and was going crazy think of what she could wear and talking about getting up early to do her hair. (the dance is right after school) I know you are thinking of what I am thinking. This teenage girl thing is really too much!! Here we go hang on it could be a bumpy flight!! She found a dress in my closet that was too small for me (thank goodness I never clean out my closet) and put it with a cute tank and little jacket and looks really cute...
Chapter 14:
I have created a link to go directly to a website call biblegateway.com. It is to Romans 14 in The Message translation. Please read it first, I have made some comments about the verse. Don't worry it is a short read and I think you will like it...
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2014&version=MSG
1-5 I think is a great reminder that we all have different ways of thinking of our God. Some think of God and "religon" being the same thing. Many have been "hurt" by religon/churches. Please know that our God is bigger than that. Remember that religon/churches are run by people who are all sinners and can hurt others.
6-12 are good reminders on "judging" others. I think we are quick to judge others instead of worring about our own walk... My advice watch where you are going... you never know who is following you!!
15-18 is some powerful stuff that I could spend hours, days, weeks maybe a lifetime of perfecting!!
19-21 are huge!!
The last sentance is worth repeating!!
"If the way you live isn't consistant with what you believe, then it is wrong!"
Thursday 2/18/10 Romans Chapter 13
Well yesterday morning something hit me like a ton of bricks!! I was fine on Tuesday and then yesterday morning bam!!! I had such a bad sinus headache/migrane I couldn't even drink my coffee. I called my boss and went back to bed. Slept till almost 11:00 got up took a shower, went to Wal Mart and got some Excedrin Migrane, Advil, and Tylenol and took that with my alergy stuff and barely made it threw my afternoon classes and afterschool sports. This morning is much better. I feel as if I was hit by a "Mach Truck" but will survive. What a horrible feeling to feel so much pain. I am not a good "sick" person!!
Chapter 13:
1-7 This is hard for me to understand... Are they talking about all authorities?? Like my boss? Like my husband?
After studing from The Message I found this... How are we feeling now??
from The Message:
6-7That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
8-10 LOVE!! this one can be trying at times. Love your neighbor I don't think it means just those living next to you but all you meet!! This can be hard especially after what we just read in verses 1-7. Those that are in authority are sometimes hard to understand more less even harder to love!!
from The Message, too beautifully put.
8-10Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
LOVE YOU ALL!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!
Chapter 13:
1-7 This is hard for me to understand... Are they talking about all authorities?? Like my boss? Like my husband?
After studing from The Message I found this... How are we feeling now??
from The Message:
6-7That's also why you pay taxes—so that an orderly way of life can be maintained. Fulfill your obligations as a citizen. Pay your taxes, pay your bills, respect your leaders.
8-10 LOVE!! this one can be trying at times. Love your neighbor I don't think it means just those living next to you but all you meet!! This can be hard especially after what we just read in verses 1-7. Those that are in authority are sometimes hard to understand more less even harder to love!!
from The Message, too beautifully put.
8-10Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other. When you love others, you complete what the law has been after all along. The law code—don't sleep with another person's spouse, don't take someone's life, don't take what isn't yours, don't always be wanting what you don't have, and any other "don't" you can think of—finally adds up to this: Love other people as well as you do yourself. You can't go wrong when you love others. When you add up everything in the law code, the sum total is love.
LOVE YOU ALL!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!
Tuesday 2/16/10 Romans Chapter 12
Well here is another short week. I am having trouble getting my feet under me. I had a great day yesterday and got alot accomplished although didn't get everything done that needed to be done. Story of life. I always make so many lists and never finish everything. Although it sure feels good when I get some important things done or start. I think half the battle is starting a project.
Chapter 12:
1-2 this is always a hard few verses for me.. "bodies as a living sacrifice" I feel I fail at this. I don't take care of my "body" like I should... something to work on...
6 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."
I think sometimes in the church especially we have to we have to be able to "try" new things in serving. I remember when I was starting with the youth. scary, questioning God, unsure, not comfortable etc. sometimes I have found when we get "comfortable" serving in a ministry God shakes it up alittle. I still get nervous when some of them start talking to me about "big stuff". Ministry to me is not comfortable at all because I am constantly growing and learning.
From The Message:
6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." I think this might be my new favorite verses!!
14 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited. " talk about practicing some hard stuff. Try practicing this for just one day... I especially love the part where it says mourn with those who mourn. So many times we are afraid to mourn... It is so healthy and we need to do it. It helps us move on and be able to "live in harmony with one another".
From The Message:
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. Don't know about you but I am not going to let evil get the best of me!!
Chapter 12:
1-2 this is always a hard few verses for me.. "bodies as a living sacrifice" I feel I fail at this. I don't take care of my "body" like I should... something to work on...
6 "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully."
I think sometimes in the church especially we have to we have to be able to "try" new things in serving. I remember when I was starting with the youth. scary, questioning God, unsure, not comfortable etc. sometimes I have found when we get "comfortable" serving in a ministry God shakes it up alittle. I still get nervous when some of them start talking to me about "big stuff". Ministry to me is not comfortable at all because I am constantly growing and learning.
From The Message:
6-8If you preach, just preach God's Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don't take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don't get bossy; if you're put in charge, don't manipulate; if you're called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don't let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
12 "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality." I think this might be my new favorite verses!!
14 "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[c] Do not be conceited. " talk about practicing some hard stuff. Try practicing this for just one day... I especially love the part where it says mourn with those who mourn. So many times we are afraid to mourn... It is so healthy and we need to do it. It helps us move on and be able to "live in harmony with one another".
From The Message:
20-21Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he's thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don't let evil get the best of you; get the best of evil by doing good. Don't know about you but I am not going to let evil get the best of me!!
Monday 2/15/10 Romans Chapter 11
I love 3 day weekends. It is such a bonus!! My Valentines was wonderful, Vince came to church with me, he also got me flowers and cards, family together. And today a bonus day off. I am hopefully going to get all my taxes stuff together. This is always a big chore for me. You know my afterschool sports program... well, it is like owning my own business. I get alot of tax breaks but have to claim all the money... In other words alot of numbers and finding of reciepts today...I am thankful I am getting started in February usually it is March or heaven forbid April.. I will keep you posted...
Roman Chapter 11:
Paul is still trying to convince the Israelite's about Jesus. Paul is using the law and what the prophets said from the old testament. They do not want to get it.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
this next part if straight from The Message. What kind of a branch are you??
16-18Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there's bound to be some holy fruit. Some of the tree's branches were pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to crow over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren't feeding the root; the root is feeding you.
19-20It's certainly possible to say, "Other branches were pruned so that I could be grafted in!" Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason you're on the tree is because your graft "took" when you believed, and because you're connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don't get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green.
21-22If God didn't think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn't give it a second thought. Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don't presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you're out of there.
23-24And don't get to feeling superior to those pruned branches down on the ground. If they don't persist in remaining deadwood, they could very well get grafted back in. God can do that. He can perform miracle grafts. Why, if he could graft you—branches cut from a tree out in the wild—into an orchard tree, he certainly isn't going to have any trouble grafting branches back into the tree they grew from in the first place. Just be glad you're in the tree, and hope for the best for the others.
This is alittle longer today and let me tell you I lost focus many times. Now I am glad I made it back to it. I love this with the branches it reminds me of several things, families, churches, work places, relationships etc. what comes to your mind when you read these words about "branches"??
Roman Chapter 11:
Paul is still trying to convince the Israelite's about Jesus. Paul is using the law and what the prophets said from the old testament. They do not want to get it.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
this next part if straight from The Message. What kind of a branch are you??
16-18Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy, there's bound to be some holy fruit. Some of the tree's branches were pruned and you wild olive shoots were grafted in. Yet the fact that you are now fed by that rich and holy root gives you no cause to crow over the pruned branches. Remember, you aren't feeding the root; the root is feeding you.
19-20It's certainly possible to say, "Other branches were pruned so that I could be grafted in!" Well and good. But they were pruned because they were deadwood, no longer connected by belief and commitment to the root. The only reason you're on the tree is because your graft "took" when you believed, and because you're connected to that belief-nurturing root. So don't get cocky and strut your branch. Be humbly mindful of the root that keeps you lithe and green.
21-22If God didn't think twice about taking pruning shears to the natural branches, why would he hesitate over you? He wouldn't give it a second thought. Make sure you stay alert to these qualities of gentle kindness and ruthless severity that exist side by side in God—ruthless with the deadwood, gentle with the grafted shoot. But don't presume on this gentleness. The moment you become deadwood, you're out of there.
23-24And don't get to feeling superior to those pruned branches down on the ground. If they don't persist in remaining deadwood, they could very well get grafted back in. God can do that. He can perform miracle grafts. Why, if he could graft you—branches cut from a tree out in the wild—into an orchard tree, he certainly isn't going to have any trouble grafting branches back into the tree they grew from in the first place. Just be glad you're in the tree, and hope for the best for the others.
This is alittle longer today and let me tell you I lost focus many times. Now I am glad I made it back to it. I love this with the branches it reminds me of several things, families, churches, work places, relationships etc. what comes to your mind when you read these words about "branches"??
Saturday 2/13/10 Romans Chapter 10
Well here it is the day before Valentines.... I love Valentines working at a school and watching the kids get so excited about those crazy little cards, candy and just something out of the ordinary. I have to admit I also secretly look forward to Valentines Day. I know that Vince and I exchange cards and he always spends time to find the right card. A few years back he gave me some rose bushes and said "there I'm done" since then I have only gotten flowers once (for anniversary). I have to admit I love those rose bushes. They are alot like relationships. You have to work at them all the time. Watering, pruning, fertilizing and sometimes they hurt you. The good part is that you get to enjoy them when they are blooming they are pleasing to the eye and smell soo good. They don't bloom all the time. Can you see the simularities??? I think that in all our relationships we expect them to be "in bloom" all the time. That is just not going to happen you have to take care of every relationship and enjoy the good with the bad... They are alot of work. I have found that this is very true with my relationship with God. It is not always easy in fact this morning I wanted to take the day off. I am so thankful that I have this crazy bible study to keep me where I need to be. Thanks to you all and I hope you have a wonderful Valentines!! If nothing else celebrate it with the One who loves you more than anything... After all He sent His Son to show how much He loves YOU!!
Chapter 10
9"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." sounds easy enough???
14"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" We all need to be telling others and how beautiful are the feet??? SERIOUSLY??? WHAT IS UP WITH THIS STATEMENT??
19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."[j] 20And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."[k] 21But concerning Israel he says,
"All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people." THESE LAST FEW STATEMENTS GIVE ME HOPE FOR ALL I KNOW THAT DON'T KNOW!!
Chapter 10
9"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." sounds easy enough???
14"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" We all need to be telling others and how beautiful are the feet??? SERIOUSLY??? WHAT IS UP WITH THIS STATEMENT??
19Again I ask: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says,
"I will make you envious by those who are not a nation;
I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding."[j] 20And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."[k] 21But concerning Israel he says,
"All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people." THESE LAST FEW STATEMENTS GIVE ME HOPE FOR ALL I KNOW THAT DON'T KNOW!!
Well yesterday I went to work and the school nurse sent me home... I don't have a fever but I sure did feel horrible... Today I still don't feel 100% but moving toward the task at hand. Yesterday was filled with laying on the couch and watching/listening to t.v. Today I am moving alittle slow but on the move. I hope that some rest was all I needed. I have a 3 day weekend so I am really looking forward to that and getting some more rest. Found out yesterday that Prestin made the JV baseball team. Looking forward to start going to some games again... We are on the move again around here...
Chapter 9:
1-5 I know what Paul is talking about when he is talking of the Israelites. I have so many in my life who do understand my relationship with Christ and it makes me so sad in so many ways...
10-13 compares other stories to the same feelings of insecurity... Jacob and Esau
20-33 describes how we are all different and for a reason.
this was a hard chapter for me to wrap my head around today... I need your help... I tried to look it up on biblegateway.com in The Message and got alittle help really nothing was jumping off the page at me... HELP WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS!! OPEN MY EYES...
Chapter 9:
1-5 I know what Paul is talking about when he is talking of the Israelites. I have so many in my life who do understand my relationship with Christ and it makes me so sad in so many ways...
10-13 compares other stories to the same feelings of insecurity... Jacob and Esau
20-33 describes how we are all different and for a reason.
this was a hard chapter for me to wrap my head around today... I need your help... I tried to look it up on biblegateway.com in The Message and got alittle help really nothing was jumping off the page at me... HELP WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS!! OPEN MY EYES...
Thursday 2/11/10 Romans Chapter 8
The last couple of days have been interesting... At work the kids really loved have the Arizona Coyotes there. It was 3 guys from the organization that did hockey clinics and promoted the Coyotes. It was something out of the normal and the kids loved it. I saw every student(700+) in the school in 2 days. I am exhausted. Plus I have been dealing with some stuff in my personal life. The suicide of an acquaintance that used to be a youth leader at our church and went on to be a youth directer at another church, has brought up alot of old feeling of when my cousin committed suicide. And last night at church brought up some heavy stuff for some of the kids. And then there is the normal stuff to deal with at my house with 2 teenagers in the house... Life really throws some stuff at us that can be tough to deal with that is why I am so glad that I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I can cast my cares on Him and know that I don't have to deal with it. I can give it to Him. The hard part is not taking it back and trying to deal with it myself...
Chapter 8:
5........"but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires".
6"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" I choose life and peace!!
14 "because those whos are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" What are you being led by??
18 This is exactly what I needed to hear this morning... "I consider that our present suffering are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." So many times I have not known what to pray for and I am so glad to know that the "Spirit" will help with that... and then at the the of 27 we are reminded that the "Spirit intercedes with fht esaints in accordance with God's will"
28 Now here is good news!! "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, wha have been called according to His purpose."
37-39 compares alot of drastics...you can do your own comparing... good vs bad things that has happened to you or around you... the hope is in the last verse..... READ IT AND BELIEVE IT IS FOR YOU!! "anything or nothing else in all creation, will be able to separete us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Know that you are loved! and that nothing is to great to separate you from the love of God...
Chapter 8:
5........"but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires".
6"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace" I choose life and peace!!
14 "because those whos are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" What are you being led by??
18 This is exactly what I needed to hear this morning... "I consider that our present suffering are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
26 "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express." So many times I have not known what to pray for and I am so glad to know that the "Spirit" will help with that... and then at the the of 27 we are reminded that the "Spirit intercedes with fht esaints in accordance with God's will"
28 Now here is good news!! "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, wha have been called according to His purpose."
37-39 compares alot of drastics...you can do your own comparing... good vs bad things that has happened to you or around you... the hope is in the last verse..... READ IT AND BELIEVE IT IS FOR YOU!! "anything or nothing else in all creation, will be able to separete us from the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Know that you are loved! and that nothing is to great to separate you from the love of God...
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