Posts Tagged ‘Romans’

Different Strokes for Different Jedis

May 4th, 2012

This week I sat in a training class for 2 and 1/2 days.  I mean literally sat – think about the worst conference room your could imagine, populate it with stationery chairs, a few too many people, and lectures that go for 2 hours at a time!  It’s spelled F-U-N!  But these long periods of time together with others, allowed me to observe how people approach learning so differently. Did I mention there was a test at the end of the time?   Yeah, so some people are just listening, some are frantically making notes, some are making note cards, some look totally confused, and some totally in tune.  I think it is so great to see how different we all are.  Although we share so much in coming, it’s easy to see the different preferences, styles, attitudes, approaches and skills we have.

It reminds me of this section from one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible – Romans 12

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function,5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.  Romans 12

We each are giving different gifts, but we are all ask to use to with all of our heart.  That’s a good thing to have in common.

Be strong today, as you use  your gifts to impact others,

and

May the Fourth be with you!

National Day of Prayer

May 3rd, 2012

It’s the National Day of Prayer.  In continuing Paul’s urging in First Thessalonians, lets make sure we “pray continually” and participate in the day in  some form or fashion.  As believers this is quite an honor and privilege and a source of great encouragement.  Make sure you work in a little extra moment of prayer today – and pray about this nation and the people you come in contact with each day. Oh, and also do it while you are full of hope and joy!

 

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18New International Version (NIV)

 

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 NIV

And don’t forget the rewards from turning over things is praying.  The payback when we leave our anxieties with the Christ is tremendous.

 

 6-7Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Philippians 4:6-7 The Message (MSG)

 

I think today may be a good day to reap some of those, don’t you?

Don’t Resist

April 17th, 2012

Unfortunately, I am pressed for time for morning, and I had a great idea that I wanted to share.  Oh well, if the Lord allows, I will post that later.  But these few simple words below are probably more powerful anyway.

 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 New International Version (NI

That reminds me of this quote I read on the Twitters last night:

“People don’t resist change. They resist being changed!” – Peter Senge

 

Don’t resist!

Friday the 13th

April 13th, 2012

Hey all you Paraskevidekatriaphobics out there.  I suppose most of you will be staying home today, locked inside for security.  Yep, Friday the 13th is upon is! But really, whats the deal with Friday the 13th and why are we taught from a young age that this is a day to fear?

Well it seems that this is the convergence of two traditional unlucky things!

UNLUCKY FRIDAY + UNLUCKY 13 = UNLUCKIER FRIDAY

I guess we have always heard that 13 is an unlucky number for some reason.  But I didn’t realize Friday was given that same name.  But check out this story I discovered while doing a little bit of research

Legend has it: Never change your bed on Friday; it will bring bad dreams. If you cut your nails on Friday, you cut them for sorrow. Don’t start a trip on Friday or you will encounter misfortune. Ships that set sail on a Friday will have bad luck, as in the tale of H.M.S. Friday. One hundred years ago, the British government sought to quell the longstanding superstition among seamen that setting sail on Fridays was unlucky. A special ship was commissioned and given the name “H.M.S. Friday.” They laid her keel on a Friday, launched her on a Friday, selected her crew on a Friday, and hired a man named Jim Friday to be her captain. To top it off, H.M.S. Friday embarked on her maiden voyage on a Friday — and was never seen or heard from again From : http://urbanlegends.about.com/cs/historical/a/friday_the_13th_3.htm

So fun! ( well I guess not for those on the Friday!)

As I was reading some history, it seemed that a lot of this talk about Friday and 13 have a long history in humanity, and that when Christianity spread it change them even more.  It seems to me however, that the presence of the Christ would not have demonized these things, but set people free from the fear of them!

The LORD is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?  Ps 27:1

or what about this bit of truth

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8

Seriously, if God if for us, can a day of the week and a number conspire against us?

Enjoy the great day! ( and leave the salt at home!)

Wretched

April 12th, 2012

I wrote this post a few weeks ago, but didn’t post it.  But for various and sundry reasons, I keep coming back to it.  I am sure you can relate.

It’s starting to be one of those days when I can relate to Paul.  I am sure that lots of you feel this way as well

For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing.

Drives me NUTS.

And it drove Paul nuts

 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am!

I hate feeling like the wretched man.

Luckily, as like Paul, we all have one form of deliverance and hope.

Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Romans 7

Stay the course, and keep fighting the battle inside your mind today.  The victory is worth it.