Today has been an eventful day. If you want to read about it you can click over to this post about it!
But now I'm tired. (Dad, I hope you're not relying on this too much for your message in a couple weeks ;) I'm ready to be ready for bed... but I'm not. But I will be soon. I think I have to be before this post really gets started. I need to take my makeup off. And brush my teeth. Then I feel like I can finish this!
Alrighty. Wow. It's been a while since I've posted from my bedroom. On my bed. Last night I managed to stay in the living room until I was done. But tonight everyone booked it upstairs so I felt obligated to follow. I don't like having to turn all the lights off =P
OOOOOKay. Onto Romans 6:15-23 Quick refresher of yesterday's post: Dead to sin, alive to Christ. We're free and we're not under the law. We're under grace:
Romans 6:15-23 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?
So basically, you can't go crazy now that you're "not under the law." We still have to obey our master. And our master is, thankfully, God. When you become a bondservant (δοῦλος, doulos) of God, when you choose to do his will not your own, you are a slave to him. You have to obey him. When you are a slave you give up your rights.
17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. 19I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness.
DUDE! Paul! Thanks. I'm glad you put this in terms we could understand! I was kind of worried there for a minute =P. Seriously though: Now that we're no longer slaves to sin, we're able to fully obey God's commands. We're set free (FREE. Remember the last post? Yeah. Free was kind of a theme.). We're slaves to righteousness! That's something I don't mind being a slave of! The beginning of verse 19 is kind of nice, but also kind of annoying. I mean, he had to put it in human terms because he could understand it sans human terms. Kudos to you Paul for having super Jesus insights! I don't, so thanks for writing some of those super Jesus insights down for us! We're weak. We need God to be our strength. I mean, these people were offering their bodies in a way that was not pleasing to God. Do you think we offer things to God that aren't pleasing to him, but we just don't realize it? Hmmm...
20When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death!
We were free to do what we wanted. Which isn't really freedom at all. Because those things resulted in death. Righteousness has this control over us. It brings up this thing that's called a conscience. It can get annoying at times if you're trying to ignore God. (Ignoring God doesn't work in the long run.) But your conscience (with the help of the Holy Spirit) makes us feel guilty when we do something wrong. When we do things that result in death.
22But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. 23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But now we're free from sin. We're able to serve God. We're able to get the advantages of God. Sin leads to death. God leads to eternal life. I feel like this deserves a resounding BOOMSHAKALAKA! Oh yeah. Being a slave to God is awesome! There are some awesome perks that go along with this fabulous job... like eternal life. And that's just one of the fantastic benefits you get from this servanthood!
This has basically nothing to do with this post, but it is adorable.You might recognized this song from an AT&T commercial that was on a while ago.
The letters are getting blurry. With my glasses on. That is a sure sign that it is time to go to bed. So goodnight. (she says as she basically falls asleep at her computer.) Bye you awesome people who read my blog!
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!
This is basically going to be my notes from last night's Encounter. With a little elaboration from what I remember but didn't write down :)
April 11, 2010 Encounter62: BKight
"Epic Series-Of Royal Blood: Sons and Daughters"
We are part of the family of God. Jesus was born of royal blood through the line of David. God promised David that if he became king his entire line would be royalty... if they followed him. Now Jesus is King forever.
God has adopted us into his royal fam[ily]. When we were adopted we were given a new life, a fresh start.
When it comes to adoption, the family who adopts a child chooses them. God chose us to be adopted into his family. He completed our adoption through Jesus' death. Also, part of our adoption is us choosing fully follow God.
John 18:33-37-
33Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" 34"Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?" 35"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?" 36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." 37"You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Jesus clearly states here that he is a king.
Romans 8:16-17a- 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.
God agrees that we are his children not only that but we are his heirs. Co-heirs with Christ. So... God's king, Jesus is a prince, we're co-heirs with Christ/children of God which would make us princes and princesses. I've always known I was a princess... and that I'm adopted... (Long story. Not now. Maybe at the end of this post if I'm feeling ambitious.) Now we go back and look at these verses in a little more context.
Romans 8:12-17a- 12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ
12-we have an obligation to live for God once we accept the adoption that he gives us. 13-If we do what we want to do, we'll die. Period. Buuut if we put to death the things of the flesh, we'll live. I wrote in my notebook: "If you put something to death it doesn't have the option of living itself out in your life." So if you put something to death in your life, it's gone for GOOD. 14-Sons of God. Princes. Princesses. Privileged. Undeserving to be sons&daughters of God, but we are. 15-We received the Spirit of God. If we have that we aren't bound to fear. Fear has no hold in our life. We receive sonship or adoption as sons in the NASB. I LOVE how that puts it. Because that's what we're talking about. It's fantastic and it gets even better. By the spirit we cry "Abba, Father." This word in Aramaic is translated to Daddy. Jesus uses this word in Gethsemane when he's crying out to God and pleading with him. He uses this term of familiarity: Abba (ἀββα). Daddy. We can use this phrase too! We're able to approach God with our arms outstretched and say "Daddy." How COOL is that?? He will pick you up and carry you if you need to be carried. He'll listen to your needs and he'll care for you. You don't need to be formal with God. He's all about familiarity. He wants to be close to you. If you come near to him, he will come near to you.
I'm a princess. I think I might have to do a follow up post to this... Yup. It's late. I need to sleeep. School tomorrow... volunteering... Should be fantastic!
My sister is LAMESAUCE. She IMs me when she's sitting literally TWO feet away from me. I could reach over and touch her laptop if I wanted. HOW LAME IS THAT?! Extremely.
I have a headache. It's no fun. It's late. I don't really want to be up right now. I'd much rather be sleeping like the kids I just got home from babysitting. I have to get up early tomorrow morning. But I've dedicated myself to doing this every day. SO. Here goes nothing.
John 19:24 and 36-37 are great examples of prophecy fulfilled. The fulfilled prophecies are a great tool when you're showing someone the Bible. It's an amazing truth that the Bible isn't some jumbled book of stories. It is a book of fantastic stories, but it is also the story of how Jesus came and died for us. There are hundreds and hundreds of prophecies concerning Jesus' coming/crucifixion/coming back to life. You should check it out sometime.
Proverbs 6:23- For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way of life. Yay for lamps and lights and correction and discipline and life. I feel sooo uber lame right now. I'm tired. My brain isn't really working right...... yippeeee.
Revelation 6:9-When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the alter the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. That's a lott of people. Millions and millions of people have died for their faith. It's crazy. And fantastic.
Psalm 119:114- You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. The first part of that verse is everything I need. The second part of this verse is everything I need to do. (I feel very ambiguous. But that's fine with me.)
Two new Greek words for you:
This is the word for broken: σπασμένος I can't find the English pronouciation of it, but I'll try to find it sometime.
We were talking about being exposed and open with each other last night at the Chipotle service. Sooo I decided to look up the Greek word for exposed, and here it is: εκτεθειμένα (ektetheiména)
That's all for tonight folks. Gotta get up early to do music at church tomorrow. Should be good, but I'm going to be exhausted by the time tomorrow afternoon comes around when I have to finish homework. (Cuz I'm awesome and definitely don't leave my homework until the last minute. ME? Neverrr)
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 :)
