We've had quite the eventful day! To read about it/watch videos about it (eventually) you can go here :)
My dad is watching golf right now. And the guy who's leading (McDowell) is from Northern Ireland. And he has a fantastic accent. And he looks like he's gonna win it!
Soooo there was no NIPTO tonight because Brandon and Erin both left for SOWER (a kind of habitat for humanity project) in Southern OH this afternoon. So I just shortened the sections that I read.
So tonight I'm going to cover Ephesians 4:29-32
29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ahhhh... Language. I love the part that says "let... only what is helpful for building others up" part. Apparently at LT a few years ago one of the quotes that the girls hung up on their wall was "edify, stupid!" It's like, one of my favorite lines :P But really. What we say shouldn't tear other people done. We should only say what is beneficial to others.
30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
To be completely sure what "grieve" ment in this situation, I went to Blue Letter Bible. So trusty :) So... copied and pasted, here is what their definitions of "grieved" are: 1) to make sorrowful 2) to affect with sadness, cause grief, to throw into sorrow 3) to grieve, offend 4) to make one uneasy, cause him a scruple Just to clarify things. Don't make the Holy Spirit sad. We're sealed with him for the day of redemption. It's pretty intense stuff!
31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.
This is a heavy list. Bitternes, rage, anger, fighting, slander/gossip, along with every form of malice. That's a lot of stuff. That's a lot of stuff that isn't easy to get rid of! But he doesn't give it to us without something to replace it.
32Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Instead: be kind and compassionate. Forgive each other. And don't just forgive eachother. Forgive eachother as Christ forgave us. That's intense forgiveness.
Alas and lack a day, I'm being summoned to bed. But I just had a fantastic time Skyping with my friend Anna! We need to Skype more often! And also dancing to Manipulation by Group 1 Crew. It's one of the best songs to have a dance party to! :D
I feel like there's so much to write about. But I don't know how to start.
Yesterday afternoon, I was reading MckMama's blog and she mentioned another blog. I clicked on the link and went to the beginning of the posts. January 2008. The blog is written by a woman named Angie Smith. On her blog she tells the story of how they lost their daughter. It's a heartbreaking story. I'm in August of 2008 right now. Their faith through all of the awful things that happened is amazing. If you've never heard her story, I would strongly recommend going to her blog and reading it. I can't do it justice here. I went to bed crying last night. Crying because of loss and hurt and heartbreak. I started listening to music on my phone while I was getting ready for bed. Barlow Girl's song Porcelain Heart came on. There's a line that says "were hearts made whole just to break?" and I thought about it. And I think the answer is Yes. Hearts were made whole to break... and then be made whole again by Jesus.
You know/You pray/This can't be the way/You cry/You say/Something's gotta change/And mend this porcelain heart of mine/Someone said/A broken heart/Would sting at first then make you stronger/I wonder why this pain remains/Were hearts made whole just to break?/You know/You pray/This can't be the way/You cry/You say/Something's gotta change/and mend this porcelain heart/Creator/Only you take brokenness/And create it into beauty once again/You know/You pray/This can't be the way/You cry/You say/Something's gotta change/You know you pray/This can't be the way/You cry/You say/Something's gotta change/And mend this porcelain heart/Please, mend this porcelain heart of mine/Creator, mend this heart
Last night I had the privilege of watching two adorable boys that go to my church. They're so stinkin' cute! I took a few pictures and so I thought I'd put up a few.
This is Toby (He has gorgeous eyes!)
Annnd this is Eli (He has an adorable smile!)
Let me tell you. They are sweet sweet boys.
This, however, is not one of the boys. It's a clothing line.
I thought it was cool with the sunlight on it so I took a picture.
A reflection
I saw the bud in the last picture and immediately took a picture of it. It was shining with light reflected off of a window. I looked at it and thought "that's what I want to be" I want to be a flower that shines light. God's the sun, Jesus is the window, I'm the flower.
Just a thought.
Oh the irony of the words we speak. I just called my sister and her friend weird because they highlighted their class schedules... while I was coloring a page that my sister printed out for me with CRAYONS. Oh yeah. My mom made fun of me after that.
My dog's insane. Just thought you should know that. That's all.
Okay. Back to Angie's blog. I read more of it today. I think I'm well on my way to reading her entire blog in 3 days... That's a little scary. But I feel drawn to read more. I keep my spot bookmarked on my computer. I'm in June 2009. Less than a year to go =P
But seriously. Reading about how she and her family dealt with and are still dealing with the pain and grief of losing a child is amazing. She is such a strong woman. I hope that I'll get to meet her in person some day. She's a gorgeous woman with a heart that longs to serve Jesus. Go check out her blog if you haven't already. Just click here. I think, to be honest, I'm going to be bummed when I have to wait for her to actually post new material! I've been reading in volume and I'm going to have to wait! But waiting can be a good thing. But seriously. Go read her blog. Now. Mine will still be here later. So will hers. Take your pick. I might be a little while longer! hah!
(We both have a tendency to write long blog posts. I like her already!)
It is now 10:30. WOOOOT for posting late. My grandparents came today and we went to pick my sister up from Kent. Then we went out to lunch at Applebee's which was faaantastic! And then we came home and just sat around and talked. It was fabulous to "gospel" with the ladies, as we like to put it.
My grandparents and sister are here because tomorrow is a very special day. My middle sister, Hannah, is graduating from high school! I can't believe that I'm goign to be all alone next fall (sniff sniff... (Hey. I'm looking forward to getting stuf done without my sister randomly popping in to see what I'm doing. SCHOOL. Bug off. =P (I don't tell her that. Really. (This is now quadruple parenthesis HAHA)))) Sorry. It's getting late and something, maybe the delicoius dessert (chocolate chocolate chip ice cream and black raspberry pie) are getting to me. (I did not eat those together. That would've been gross. The pie and the ice cream were in separate bowls... I think I've just experienced OCD to the fullest... ha!)
So I think I better start actually getting to this scripture!
Onwards to Romans 6 today!
This is a lot more than I've covered this past week. But it's good. I really like this section. So I guess I'll let you read it. And my notes on it :) Finally.
(This is the first time in a week or so that I've posted "late." It's kind of weird. I've felt weird leaving this post open all day to do other, school and family related, things as posted above)
Romans 6:1-14 1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?
WHOOP! I addressed this question in my last post. GO ME. =P Here's some actual scriptural references to this. Not just me and my faulty opinions.
2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
DUDE. Sin is dead to us. There is no way that it can have any kind of hold over us. How comforting is that? `
3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
This is a beautiful picture of baptism. This is the picture of baptism. We were buried with Christ (being lowered into the water) then we are raised from the dead through the glory of God (being raised out of the water) We're actually having a baptism at church in a couple weeks. I'm excited. Baptisms are always exciting. (And because I'm an EK (Elder's Kid) I get to find out who's getting baptized. It's exciting!) We get to live through God. FANNNNTASTIC.
5If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.
So baptism is how we're united with Christ's death. How much more will we be united with him in his resurrection? It's encouraging. Comforting.
6For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7because anyone who has died has been freed from sin.
Our old self is gone. Our old nature is gone, I should say. Anyone who has died with Christ is free. We're no longer bound to our old nature. God has dealt with that. We don't need to worry about it anymore. We're free. Free. λύω. lyō (lü'-ō).FREE. If you want to see all the definitions for this word, you can click here. It's amazing.
8Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
GAAAAAAAAAH. I may or may not have just screamed. You'll never know. BOO YAHHH. =P (I felt the need to add a "boo yah" to this post... just fyi.) This is a fantastic portion of scripture. We die with Christ. We live with Christ. Annnd since Christ was raised from the dead and can no longer die, once we die and are raised from the dead, we won't die again. It has no mastery over him. Or us. FREE.
10The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.
I can't even find words to describe this verse. That's all.
SS 11In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
This is good. Great. Amazing? Yeah. We're dead to sin. It can't touch us. We're alive to God. Through Christ's resurrection. YUP. We're alive. And that is something to be thankful for.
12Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of
Sin has no control. We're free. That's what this post is about I guess. Freedom. I feel like I should reference Beth Moore's "Breaking Free" study... but I've never done it... hah. But seriously: We should offer ourselves fully to God. We've been brought from death to life. Amazing. I can't even comprehend it.
14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.
WOOOOOOOOT FREEDOM. Grace. Freedom. No more law. Just freedom and grace. (The law still applies. (We should actually uphold it. Romans 3:31. Check it if you don't believe me.)) (BOOYAH! to the Matilda reference. If you got it *high five*) (I'm a nerd. And like parentheses?)
OOOOOKAY. I'm done for now. I need to go to bed. I need to get up early tomorrow for my sister's GRADUATION! Crazy.
Goodnight. I'll post tomorrow afternoon. Probably with pictures. BE prepared.
BYE.
Youtube Video of the day: Everything Glorious by David Crowder*Band
Allllrighty. Today is Wednesday. You probably already knew that. I'm just clarifying for myself. Gotta get a lot of school done today... and I have a couple of letters I want to write... and I have dance class (aaaaalways a fun thing!) annd I want to sleep tonight. I don't want to go to bed after 11. I'd really love to come home from dance at around 8 and get ready for bed. I'm sounding lame... but dude. I'm tired. I haven't been able to type right for the past few days. I'm tired. I could hit snooze a thousand times... but that doesn't happen because I guess I'm disciplined enough to get up. Even when I'm tired. Have to fight the battle of the blankets.
I thought this was funny... conversation that happened yesterday at Urban Vision where I volunteer. I had just finished playing basketball with a few of the boys there and this conversation ensued. (2 boys in 4th and 5th grade... I think.) Boys: Miss Abby, you should play women's basketball Me: uh.. Really? Boys: Yeah! Me: I'm not tall... Boys: You don't have to be tall... you could play point guard or something like that. Me:... uh..okay. Thanks?
Apparently I'm good at basketball and don't even know it. I mean, I did make half of our points (2 shots... woo) but still. I'm not that good at basketball. My friends would laugh if they heard this. They know I'm not good at basketball... haha.
Okay... lets see if I can come up with anything serious after that!
God's Wrath Against Mankind
That seems cheerful... not.
18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.
So this seems like the wrath of God is being shown to the people who know what is to be known about God, because he made it plain to them, but still suppress the truth.
20For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Okay... I like how the NASB puts it: 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
So we understand God's power and his divine nature because of the things he created... like the earth and other human beings. I like this. We don't have excuses to use against God's invisible attributes or qualities because we've seen them and he made them understandable.
21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
They knew God.... They've turned away from him. Their hearts were darkened. The Greek word for darkened: skotizo-σκοτίζω meaning 2) to be covered with darkness, be darkened a) of heavenly bodies as deprived of light
The second of the 2 meanings probably isn't what this is referring to, but I mean, it's the same word. So it does kind of mean that. But the part I liked about that was the "deprived of light" even though the people he's talking about have turned away, they're still depriving themselves of light. Make sense?
22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
Claiming to be wise is about the most foolish thing you can do. But a foolish person believes that they're wise in their own eyes... and it's pretty futile to argue with them.
23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
Glory. Reading and annotating Revelation 1 made me realize how glorious God is. We sing songs about glory but I don't think we fully get it. Immortal-this word stuck out to me. Jesus, when he was on earth before he died, was mortal. I think that a lot of people worship that Jesus. The mortal one. We need to worship God in is immortal glory. Not the mortal man (the other thing I had highlighted). Or any other mortal thing for that matter.
24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
God gave them over to their sinful desires. He kind of gave up on them. That, I think, is the ultimate wrath of God. To be given up on. It just seems extremely hopeless.
They exchanged the truth of GOD for a lie. God has so many truths. I mean, he is truth. How much more truthful can you get?!?!
28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.
I'm making a sad face right now... can you picture it? Okay. Yeah. But they didn't think it was worthwhile to think about God. It's not worthwhile to think about anything else! So He gave them up. Again, it feel so hopeless.
29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
This isn't a comprehensive list. Unfortunately. This is a list of things we shouldn't be/do. I'm going to leave it at that.
32Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Messed. Up. That's what this is. There's no other way of putting this.
M E S S E D U P
They know these things are wrong. THey keep doing them. And they approve of other people who do these things too. No wonder they're getting the wrath of God. Crazy.
On a lighter note... my birthday is tomorrow! Sooo today is my last full day of being 15. In my 16th year. (=P)
I told my dad this and he promptly began to sing me "Happy...." (Happy Birthday with nothing but the happy's... on your birthday, you get "Birthday" which is the same thing but different). Oh Fam[ily].
I don't really have anything planned for tomorrow... except a blizzard (I have a buy one get one free coupon from DQ for my birthday!) and maybe getting some Starbucks (Because I have free Starbucks too! Oh... I love coffee! and free stuff cuz it's your birthday.)
I'm planning on chronicling my day in pictures. I did this on my 14th birthday and it was great fun. I'm also planning on wearing a tiara all day... if my sister doesn't have it... I hope she doesn't have it at school. I might have to ask my parents to get it while they're in Kent today if she does! haha.
Oy vey. I'm crazy. But I guess I warned you of that in my "About Me" section =P
Time to get started on school. YIPEE (I have NIPTO done and it's not even 9 am yet! I've gotta admit. I'm happy with myself)
Hope you have a good day!
Why is it late every time I post?!? This awful pattern needs to end. Tomorrow. I am GOING to get up early, exercise, and have my quiet time before school. It is GOING to happen. I'm posting this on here so it will happen. Because I might just shrug it off tomorrow morning when my alarm goes off. I shall fight the battle of the blankets tomorrow morning. (I cannot take credit for that statement, seeing as it was in Rick Warren's book about bible study methods =P We were talking about that today)
(Saved/sozo(Greek)) σῴζω
(To wash/Nipto (Greek))νίπτω
sozo has been one of my favorite words for a long time. I'm not sure when it started, but I reallly like it. More on that below. I decided today to go to Blue Letter Bible and look up what the Greek is for nipto. I knew that it meant "to wash" so I just put that into the search engine, looked for a verse in the New Testament (Important: The NT is written in Greek, OT in Hebrew. I wasn't going to find the Greek for a word in the OT (Which part of the bible is written in Aramaic?) =P There is a handy dandy little button that you can push. I believe it's the icon "C" that has a concordance/lexicon. It breaks down the verse into the different words in their original language. I think it's sweet. My sunday-school teacher, Matt, introduced BLB to me and my sisters, and I love it. I should tell him that :)
σῴζω (sozo/saved) is something that I kind of want to get a tattoo of at some point in my life. This is the point in my post where adults in my life (my parents/grandparents/any other adults (tee hee hee)) vehemently discourage me from getting a tattoo. =P We'll see. I'm still definitely not old enough to get a tattoo, but we'll see once the time comes. I think it's just a sweet reminder that we are saved. Not by our works but by the blood of Christ. SWEET. =D
John 3:9, 21. 9"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. I tend to ask a lot of questions. It sometimes gets me in trouble with my classmates at school. They don't like it when I bring something up that they don't want to talk about in class. My teacher loves it, but my friends, not so much =P But sometimes we find ourselves asking "How can this happen?" or "Why did this happen?" Whenever questions like this come up, I love love LOVE this verse: Lamentations 3:37 "Can anything happen without the Lord's permission?" NLT How COOL is that. NOTHING happens without the Lord "decreeing" it as the NIV puts it. That verse has brought me tremendous peace when I've been dealing with something stressful or kind of off putting. It's great. I love it. I've gone to that verse multiple times. It's definitely a good one :)
Proverbs 28:23- He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor than he who has a flattering tongue. This is interesting to me, just because in the world that we live in today, it's not really "normal" to "rebuke" someone. We like to be all nice and kind to people. But in the end, the person who is kind of brutally honest, in a good way, will have more favor than a person who just kind of glosses over mistakes and things that need to be fixed. Interesting.
Revelation 22:20- He who testifies these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. This verse just gives me chills. It's fantastic. He's coming soon. To be able to say "come, Lord Jesus" is fantastical. I love it. Annnnd I'm going to end with that :)
