Bible 365: Week 44

This weekend, we decided to get a head start on our Christmas decorating and take advantage of the Mr being home.  We put up the Christmas tree and decorated the refrigerator!  Moo and JJ were just too excited about the tree.  And I'm happy we put it up too because I have some of my closet space back now that I'm not harboring presents in it. I know, I know it's a tad bit too early for Christmas trees for some folks, but it's just the right timing for us.

Moving along, just a little over three weeks left in the Bible 365 Challenge!  It's tempting to double up on my reading so that I can finish faster, but I'm staying the course.  In week 44, we finished the book of Romans and started 1 Corinthians.  I have to say that I'm enjoying reading what God had to say through Paul (formerly Saul).

There were quite a few scriptures that stuck out to me like Romans 5: 3-4, "And not only that, but we also [find] glory in tribulations knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."  If you've been reading YUMMommy for the last few months, then you know that we've been going through our share of tribulations.  However, I can testify that going through these difficult times have definitely motivated me to keep pushing forward.  I do feel like my hope in God is stronger.  I know it sounds like it should be the opposite way around, but it's not.  I feel my faith getting stronger and I'm remember not to take things for granted!

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).  If I ever I would be interested in getting a tattoo, this is what I would want.  This scripture is constant reminder that we need to work hard at walking as closely to God's commands as possible.  I don't know about you  but death in the biblical sense is something to be fearful of.  I want to experience external life and all the joys that Heaven has to offer.

And no matter what you're going through remember that "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37).  With God, we conquer and overcome anything.  Since starting this blog, I've had to overcome grief, letting go of friends and not wallowing in Mommy Guilt.  I've learned to take my problems to God in prayer and trust His guidance.

"So then faith comes by hearings, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).  Did you know people are more likely to believe what they hear or read than what they see?  It's true.  Why do you think these gossips magazines and blogs are so successful?!  Many of Jesus' critics couldn't understand how so many people who had never even witnessed His miracles still believe Him to be the son of God.  It's because they heard the prophecies and later heard of the miracles.  We have to trust that Bible is really the word of God and then put those words into action.

Not too long ago, I had a friend ask if I would still be friends with someone cheated on their husband just for the sake of cheating?  Her husband didn't cheat on her, worked hard, helped out around the house, respected her, but she felt bored and was now exploring her options.  My answer was and will always be no. The company we keep will eventually become a direct reflection of ourselves at some point.  For this very reason, Romans 16: 17 says, "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner- not even to eat with such a person." 

Now if God doesn't even want us sharing a lunch date with people who have instilled in their minds that sinning is ok, you know I'm not going to be friends with one.  There's a difference between people who sin and recognize that what they did was wrong compared to those who sin and see it as the only way to live their lives.  Their evilness can rub off on you.  Before too long, you'll find yourself doing things that you would have once saw as wrong but will be brainwashed into thinking is really ok.  Exactly, why I keep my circle small and why I'm never afraid to let go of friendship if it's for the greater good.

Lastly, remember that you are VALUABLE!!  "You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23).  The price at which we were purchased was the crucifixion of Jesus.  And Jesus did not die on the cross for us to confirm to the rules of society!  We are way more precious to be put into molds.  Dare to be different.  This is part of the reason I talk so openly about my faith on this blog.  It's considered taboo and too many bloggers value to opinions and page views of readers to even admit that they are Christian.

I don't!  I know my worth and I'm not selling out to ANYBODY except Jesus.  If my faith preference makes me person that you don't want to get to know then so be it.  I refuse to become a slave to our society and its standards.

How do you stay positive in the mist of trials and tribulations?

Week 45 Readings

11/04: 1 Corinthians 8-11

11/05: 1 Corinthians 12-14

11/06: 1 Corinthians 15-16

11/07: 2 Corinthians 1-2

11/08: 2 Corinthians 3-7

11/09: 2 Corinthians 8-9

11/10: 2 Corinthians 10-13

Bible 365: Week 43

Happy Monday!!  This weekend I had planned on getting out of the house, but it was just too cold to be out and about with the kids.  We all just had a cold recently and I didn't want to risk the chance of anybody getting sick again, especially with JJ's doctor appointment tomorrow.  I ended up using the weekend to clean, rearrange and catch up on my blog reading and commenting.

Week 42, was all about seeing how God can change the heart of the worst sinner and use him/her for the spreading of His word.  You see, Saul hated Christians with a passion.  He persecuted them to no ends.  He testified against them to have them sentenced to death, threw them prison and even beat them severely.  To say that he was on the path to Hell would be accurate.  However, God had different plans for Saul.

He sent Jesus to appear to Saul and his friends one day.  Jesus asked "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" (Acts 9:4).  Of course, Saul was afraid and wanted to know who was it that spoke to him in such an loud, authoritative voice and had appeared to him as a blinding white light.  When he found out it was Jesus, I can imagine Saul felt panicked and probably thought that Jesus was coming to seek revenge on him for everything he had done.

Jesus blinded Saul and told him to continue to Damascus and there he would find out the reason for Jesus' visit.  I'm sure Saul never imagined that he would end being baptized, have his sight restored, his name changed to Paul and that he would become a disciple for Christ!  You see, a man who once sentenced Christians to death had now been converted to the very thing he once hated so vehemently (Acts 9:20-22).  All I can say is look at God work!

Paul (formerly Saul) then gained first hand knowledge of what the Christians he had persecuted felt.  The Jews had it out for him.  They tried on several occasions to kill him and even have him sentenced to death.  In fact, Paul spends much of the book of Acts in and out of prison for preaching the word of God.  With the conscience of the those who had rooted and had a hand in the killing of Jesus weighing heavy, anybody who preached about Jesus, especially the fact that Jesus was not dead, but had indeed risen on the third day, were not well received. 

However, God was with Paul all the way.  Even when Paul was in jail, God made it so Paul was able to see who wanted, still preach the word and live like he was still among the free.  The best example I can give of Paul's jail condition from our society would be Martha Stewart.  Paul might have been in jail, but God made sure he still had the same comforts he would have had if he wasn't in jail. 

Paul's transformation from Saul hold an important lesson that we as Christians often times forget and that I was reminded of both in my bible study and in watching Joel Osteen last night.  We get too hung up on people's sins.  Joel Osteen used the example of how a lot of churches discriminate against those members who live the gay and lesbian lifestyle.  They tell them that they can't be on the choir, they can't help with Sunday school, etc.

But here's the thing, God put us here to love, not judge.  If God can take a man who was murdering people and turn him into a man who ended up leading hundreds of souls to Christ, certainly God can do it again with those who we often times consider lowly sinners.  As Joel put it, "Love the person, not the sin."  We've all fallen short of the grace of God.  Some of us fall short of the grace everyday, but that doesn't stop us from getting back up.

Where we are right now in our walk to Heaven isn't necessarily where we're going to end up.  And the Jews failed to see that about Paul, just we often times fail to see that about people who live a lifestyle some of us don't agree with.  I for one can certainly testify to that.  I've come a long a way as Christian.  I too was once living a lifestyle that wasn't pleasing to God.

I lived as man and wife with my husband for years before we actually became man and wife.  I knew what I was doing was wrong, but reasoned it ok in my mind because I had never really witnessed a successful marriage in my life.  Marriage scared me. I had a child out of wedlock and got pregnant with my second before I was married too.  But it was part of my journey to get back to God and I'm thankful for it.

God knows that we're hardheaded.  That's why He invented forgiveness and sent Jesus.  However, that doesn't mean we should be out there sinning for the sake of sinning.  At some point, He does expect us to get on the straight and narrow and stay there.  God won't be played for a fool!

Do you find it hard to NOT judge people who had a bad reputation in the past?

Week 44 Readings

10/28: Romans 4-5

10/29: Romans 6-8

10/30: Romans 9-11

10/31: Romans 12-16

11/01: 1 Corinthians 1-4

11/02: 1 Corinthians 5-6

11/03: 1 Corinthians 7