Well today I started my day like a do almost all the time... Getting up putting on my walking clothes, shoes and jacket. Opened the door and out I went. I was really hoping for rain not all day just long enough for an excuse to not walk...No such luck so off I went. Why is it that I really don't want to do it sometimes?? But once I get out there and do it I feel so much better? Maybe it is the cups of coffee I get from my neighbors house.... They have the Saeco machine that has the beans and water in a resevoir you push the button and then a delicous cup of strong coffee ready in minutes. I must say I suffer from coffee maker envy!! I think some mornings this is the only reason I walk. I made a deal with myself no walk no "Mojo" (that is what we call her coffee). Then I come home and start my life.... Then I am ready to understand what I am ready in my bible. And hopefully encounter Him while being alittle more awake!!
Chapter 7:
I read all of chapter 7 and then re read it at biblegateway.com in The Message verison. What I have come up with is we are struggling with sin. Some admit it some don't. It is not always the outward sin in fact it is more the inward sin. The things we think, or do by ourselves. This is the struggle for most of us. Just like me with my coffee maker envy. That would be know as coveting... I struggle with that more than anything I always want what someone else has. Friendships, relationships, different car, house or even spirtual gifts... I have an awesome life with so many blessing and I want more... or what someone else has. Bottom line that is not what God wants for me or He would have given it to me. I need to practice what I tell my kids... Be thankful for what you have not wishful for what you have not... So a few verses that stood out to me..
6But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.
14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21So 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.
This is alot to digest!! there is so much to deal with...
Tuesday 2/9/10 Romans Chapter 6
Well today is going to be interesting!! I have to only do "crowd control" at school. The Phoenix Coyotes (hockey team) are bringing some people to our school to do a hockey clinic they will run everything. So really the next 2 days are going to be pretty easy for me. I know the kids will love it. I am really getting excited to watch them interact with these people. I don't know if it will be players, bench warmers or admin people but a change of pace is always interesting to me.
Chapter 6:
1-13 talks alot about why we should stop sinning... and how we as christian believe that once we have accepted Christ we are dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. this is hard for me to comprehend. if we are to stop sinning why do we keep sinning... justifing that it is not a sin, or making excuses why we still sin... I know I am so guilty of this at what point is it gossip??? Do I start gossip?? Do I go to the source?? Am I 2 faced??
But then in verse 14 it gives me hope..."For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace"
16 what are you "slaves" too??? Sin or obedience??? I choose obedience which leads to righteousness. Although not perfect at it by any means.. In fact still have alot of work to do to try and get there and stay there...
18 from The Message
All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
19I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
20-21As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end.
22-23But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
So the way I look at it is: it is up to us... How are you going to live??
Chapter 6:
1-13 talks alot about why we should stop sinning... and how we as christian believe that once we have accepted Christ we are dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. this is hard for me to comprehend. if we are to stop sinning why do we keep sinning... justifing that it is not a sin, or making excuses why we still sin... I know I am so guilty of this at what point is it gossip??? Do I start gossip?? Do I go to the source?? Am I 2 faced??
But then in verse 14 it gives me hope..."For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace"
16 what are you "slaves" too??? Sin or obedience??? I choose obedience which leads to righteousness. Although not perfect at it by any means.. In fact still have alot of work to do to try and get there and stay there...
18 from The Message
All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
19I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
20-21As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter. But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end.
22-23But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
So the way I look at it is: it is up to us... How are you going to live??
Monday 2/8/10 Romans Chapter 5
Well today is a good day!! I am blessed to have a job to go to, A home to wake up in, A family and friends to share life with... Monday's are really hard for me to get moving. Thank goodness my neighbor holds me accountable to walking so I was up and at it at 5:00am. Not long a quick 1 mile walk but it really starts my day off right!! (Thanks Melissa and Jerry) I got some very sad news this morning and it reminded me of all the things I had listed above. Sometimes I focus on the wrong things really it is quite simple I am so blessed!! Happy Monday!!
Chapter 5:
3-5 I really love this verse and thought it ended with character and that was good enought for me... today I find that character leads to hope.... "and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
6-8 brings up the question who would you lay your life on the line for.... God choose to lay His life on the line for us and I don't know about you but I am so unworthy...
12-14 makes sense although doesn't make it easier!! we all went into sin with Adam and saved from sin with Jesus!
from The Message
18-19Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.
20-21All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.
Chapter 5:
3-5 I really love this verse and thought it ended with character and that was good enought for me... today I find that character leads to hope.... "and hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
6-8 brings up the question who would you lay your life on the line for.... God choose to lay His life on the line for us and I don't know about you but I am so unworthy...
12-14 makes sense although doesn't make it easier!! we all went into sin with Adam and saved from sin with Jesus!
from The Message
18-19Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.
20-21All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn't, and doesn't, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it's sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that's the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life—a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.
FRIDAY!! 2/5/10 Romans Chapter 4
Another great Friday!! It is pay day for me. I know you don't think it is very exciting but it truly is... I get paid on the 7th and 22nd these are weird days and then when they land on a weekend we get our checks on Friday. Yahoo!! So I say bring on the weekend!!
Chapter 4:
1-6 Is explaining the difference of earning and recieving blessings. Using Abraham as an example.
9-12 is preatty awesome, it talks about how Abraham believe and was blessed although was not circumcised felt the call to be circumcised which makes him the "father" of both. In other words he can relate to both sides. There has been so many things in my life that have kept me close to different people. I am sure now it if for the kingdom..
13-14 Explain the difference between believing because you fall "heir" to it and know the laws. How righteousness comes by faith.
16 (from The Message)
This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God's promise arrives as pure gift. That's the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that's reading the story backward. He is our faith father. Sounds like good news to me!!
22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Wow what a day.... This is good stuff this Romans has so much to offer!!
Chapter 4:
1-6 Is explaining the difference of earning and recieving blessings. Using Abraham as an example.
9-12 is preatty awesome, it talks about how Abraham believe and was blessed although was not circumcised felt the call to be circumcised which makes him the "father" of both. In other words he can relate to both sides. There has been so many things in my life that have kept me close to different people. I am sure now it if for the kingdom..
13-14 Explain the difference between believing because you fall "heir" to it and know the laws. How righteousness comes by faith.
16 (from The Message)
This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, and then simply embracing him and what he does. God's promise arrives as pure gift. That's the only way everyone can be sure to get in on it, those who keep the religious traditions and those who have never heard of them. For Abraham is father of us all. He is not our racial father—that's reading the story backward. He is our faith father. Sounds like good news to me!!
22This is why "it was credited to him as righteousness." 23The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, 24but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
Wow what a day.... This is good stuff this Romans has so much to offer!!
Thursday 2/4/10 Romans Chapter 3
I really love Thursdays, I think it is for several reasons...
1. It is the day after our "midweek" bible study night at church. Last night out youth had a youth band and did worship... IT WAS AWESOME!! The song choices were perfect and they sounded really great!!
2. Thursday at work is a great day for me. It is a lighter schedule and I don't have afterschool sports.
3. Vinces' payday and we usually go out for dinner!!
I could go on and on about Thursdays but I am sure you get it..
Romans Chapter 3
1-8 is hard for me to wrap my thoughts around!! so gool ole "bible gateway" helps again. When I have trouble understanding something I can look it up there in different translations (usually The Message) here is a link to it. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203&version=MSG
10-18 my bible has a side note that is great...Talked about modern day announce a cure of a flu that no one knows anything about NOT MUCH EXCITEMENT... Pauls message is about God's amazing grace but people won't seek a cure until they know they are ill. 11 Is a really hard verse although I think I need to be reminded of that...There is no one righteous, not even one there is no one who understands no one who seeks God. I need to get off my "high horse"
this is from gateway from the message 20 ish
This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity(which means our involvement, accomplice) in everyone else's sin. To me this means that we have to be so careful to not make others stumble either by our actions, words or how we live our life. Are you the same everywhere you go??
22 now we are getting to the good stuff!! "This righteousness from God comes throught faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference." I don't know about you but this is good stuff!!
23 " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" you and I are not alone for all have sinned EVERYONE
24...by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
27-31 is just another great reminder of ANYONE can be a christian if they so choose.. it doesn't matter where you have been, what you have done ANYONE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TO FOLLOW AND BE FORGIVEN!!
1. It is the day after our "midweek" bible study night at church. Last night out youth had a youth band and did worship... IT WAS AWESOME!! The song choices were perfect and they sounded really great!!
2. Thursday at work is a great day for me. It is a lighter schedule and I don't have afterschool sports.
3. Vinces' payday and we usually go out for dinner!!
I could go on and on about Thursdays but I am sure you get it..
Romans Chapter 3
1-8 is hard for me to wrap my thoughts around!! so gool ole "bible gateway" helps again. When I have trouble understanding something I can look it up there in different translations (usually The Message) here is a link to it. http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%203&version=MSG
10-18 my bible has a side note that is great...Talked about modern day announce a cure of a flu that no one knows anything about NOT MUCH EXCITEMENT... Pauls message is about God's amazing grace but people won't seek a cure until they know they are ill. 11 Is a really hard verse although I think I need to be reminded of that...There is no one righteous, not even one there is no one who understands no one who seeks God. I need to get off my "high horse"
this is from gateway from the message 20 ish
This makes it clear, doesn't it, that whatever is written in these Scriptures is not what God says about others but to us to whom these Scriptures were addressed in the first place! And it's clear enough, isn't it, that we're sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else? Our involvement with God's revelation doesn't put us right with God. What it does is force us to face our complicity(which means our involvement, accomplice) in everyone else's sin. To me this means that we have to be so careful to not make others stumble either by our actions, words or how we live our life. Are you the same everywhere you go??
22 now we are getting to the good stuff!! "This righteousness from God comes throught faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference." I don't know about you but this is good stuff!!
23 " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" you and I are not alone for all have sinned EVERYONE
24...by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
27-31 is just another great reminder of ANYONE can be a christian if they so choose.. it doesn't matter where you have been, what you have done ANYONE CAN MAKE THE CHOICE TO FOLLOW AND BE FORGIVEN!!
Wednesday 2/3/10 Romans Chapter 2
I can't believe it but we here in the desert are supposed to get MORE rain. I know that some of you are glad which I am also our desert really needs the moisture although I am running out of tricks up my sleve to do PE inside. There are only so many "Heads Up 7 Up" and "4 Corners" games that you can play with a big group inside. Plus my afterschool sports program.... Boy I sure wish I had a gym!! The thoughts are endless of what I could do with a gym!! Dreaming helps me cope...
Romans Chapter 2:
I got out an old bible that Pastor Sherry Lyford gave to me. This was my first "real" bible that I used for bible study. It has some really helpful insight on stuff. So here we go!!
1-4 I guess to me means face the music. We all have faults. (a subnote in my bible states From Adam and Eve people tend to blame others or make excuses for themselves for what goes wrong. Alcholics Anonymous believe that unless you first accept responsibility for wrong behavior and stop blaming others you will never get well. ) I find this very interesting!!
6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done" (okay I am alittle scared, I have done some good and bad)
I need help understanding something.... So far he has mentioned "first the Jew then the Gentile" what where when and why this statement?? HELP!!
13 I think this is an important verse... to me it means you can't just come to church on Sunday or Wednesdays and sit there and listen and know the law. You have to believe and act on the law.
17-29 I think to me these verse are saying you have to be inside out. You have to live your life like no one is watching but know that everyone is watch. Like driving the speed limit when there is no cop (or photo radar) around. Inward and Outward.
Romans Chapter 2:
I got out an old bible that Pastor Sherry Lyford gave to me. This was my first "real" bible that I used for bible study. It has some really helpful insight on stuff. So here we go!!
1-4 I guess to me means face the music. We all have faults. (a subnote in my bible states From Adam and Eve people tend to blame others or make excuses for themselves for what goes wrong. Alcholics Anonymous believe that unless you first accept responsibility for wrong behavior and stop blaming others you will never get well. ) I find this very interesting!!
6 God "will give to each person according to what he has done" (okay I am alittle scared, I have done some good and bad)
I need help understanding something.... So far he has mentioned "first the Jew then the Gentile" what where when and why this statement?? HELP!!
13 I think this is an important verse... to me it means you can't just come to church on Sunday or Wednesdays and sit there and listen and know the law. You have to believe and act on the law.
17-29 I think to me these verse are saying you have to be inside out. You have to live your life like no one is watching but know that everyone is watch. Like driving the speed limit when there is no cop (or photo radar) around. Inward and Outward.
Tuesday 2/2/10 Romans Chapter 1
Well today we begin Romans another book of the bible finished and a new one begining. I love this feeling you see I have never read so much in the bible based on whole chapters and really studied it like this. I am so excited to be doing this and God has taught me so much and I have had quite an insight from everyone who has taken time top post their thoughts on this. It truly has been and continues to be a blessing for me!! I hope you are enjoying it as well...
Romans Chapter 1:
Before we start I have to admit it was hard for me to get into Acts so I think it is funny how it works that we are moving to Romans... I think God is trying to make me get Paul and where he is coming from and I have alot to learn from him. In one of my bibles it states "Romans does not read like a dry book of theology. Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley all trace their spiritual renewels to reading Romans." I find this very interesting and exciting all at the same time. I find it interesting that these people had "troubles" and have had "spiritual renewels" in their lives and I am excited that we could experience the same thing....
1-6 this is a great reminder of Who we are learning about and where He has come from...
12 "that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith." (sounds to me like this is what we do!!)
16-17 are amazing to the greatness of the gospel and sharing it. "The righteous will live by faith"
20 I always have an excuse.... something to work on...
21 I think is key to so many, they think since they know of God that is enough..."their foolish hearts were darkend" something to think about...
22"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools" makes me remeasure up!
25 "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen" What are you worshiping?? (and why Amen at the end???)
26-32 has alot of information that make my head spin. some with looking where I was and thankful I am forgiven. Some with looking at others and worried that they will not be saved or that they will continue to have bad things come there way. alot to process!!!
Romans Chapter 1:
Before we start I have to admit it was hard for me to get into Acts so I think it is funny how it works that we are moving to Romans... I think God is trying to make me get Paul and where he is coming from and I have alot to learn from him. In one of my bibles it states "Romans does not read like a dry book of theology. Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Wesley all trace their spiritual renewels to reading Romans." I find this very interesting and exciting all at the same time. I find it interesting that these people had "troubles" and have had "spiritual renewels" in their lives and I am excited that we could experience the same thing....
1-6 this is a great reminder of Who we are learning about and where He has come from...
12 "that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each others faith." (sounds to me like this is what we do!!)
16-17 are amazing to the greatness of the gospel and sharing it. "The righteous will live by faith"
20 I always have an excuse.... something to work on...
21 I think is key to so many, they think since they know of God that is enough..."their foolish hearts were darkend" something to think about...
22"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools" makes me remeasure up!
25 "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator who is forever praised. Amen" What are you worshiping?? (and why Amen at the end???)
26-32 has alot of information that make my head spin. some with looking where I was and thankful I am forgiven. Some with looking at others and worried that they will not be saved or that they will continue to have bad things come there way. alot to process!!!
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