Romans 9

"I will have mercy on who I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." This verse is so un-politically correct. It kinda makes you stop and think that God really doesn't need us, nor care about our opinions of him. We need to stop arguing and get in line.

Romans 8

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."

I already wrote earlier in the semester how I felt that Christians are too shortsighted when it comes to heaven. If we really believed in heaven we wouldn't complain so much about our present lives. After reading this verse I saw that I had fallen into the same pattern that I had criticized. Worrying about a job, friends, and where I'm going to stay, it's so easy to lose sight of what really is important.

Romans 7

"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."

I find it reassuring that Paul went through what we all went through. I have been reading his letters and he keeps admonishing the other churches not to sin. It is easy to say "Don't sin" but to actually not sin is so difficult. Paul says that when he sins it is not he who is sinning but his sinful nature.

Need to start trying again, do work.

Romans 6

Paul talks at length about being dead to sin and alive in Christ. He makes the comment that we are a slave to either Christ or to sin. The problem is when we dabble in sin. The law is just to make us realize how much grace has saved us, but when we're apathetic to being saved I struggle the most. I know trying to obey the law is futile, but without thoughts of punishment I won't obey Christ on my own will.

Romans 5

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us."

Romans 4

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him."

In this chapter Paul is again talking about faith, and how it saves us instead of works. I'm confused as to what role works plays then because Paul often chastises other congregations when they sin, but then later he will talk about how God overlooks transgressions because of our faith?

Romans 3:22

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe."

 Paul talks about how our righteousness is from God. We really have no good works. I don't know what to think of this. Having repeated sins is so frustrating because it feels like I'm not even trying. I want to do good, but I do bad instead. Sure, righteousness comes from God, but I need to be making an effort.

Romans 3:20

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin."

This is a very aptly timed verse for me. I have been struggling with the idea of sin. I have slowly started believing that every time I sin, God will decide to punish me for it. I must continue to do good to win God's favor. Not necessarily salvation, but just blessings. This verse kind of shows how bad we really are though, even when we're good, we're bad. Our sin guilty shouldn't make us just feel bad, but it should draw us closer to God by making us realize how much we really need Him.

Romans 2:1

"You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgement on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgement do the same things."

In other verses Paul tells different churches, such as the one in Corinth, how many things they are doing wrong. I think maybe that we use this verse too liberally to say we don't want to take a stand for righteousness. The judgement could easily be a damning judgement, rather than just a, "Hey I think you need to stop this activity" type of judgement.

Romans 1:20

For 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."

I always hear of people who say that they see God in nature, but I have never seen it. While I appreciate the nice view of a mountain landscape, it still seems so random to me. But the other day as I was walking past a building at Purdue, I looked at the straight lines and design over the windows and I was struck by how obvious God is. I may not see God where other people do, but I see him in my own personal way, and that is comforting.

Psalm 51

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

I'm tired of living this loop over and over. I really pray that God will give me a heart that seeks after him.

Psalm 46

I was thinking that in order to love God more, I should probably be more thankful. I have been slowly getting more bitter over the years and it is difficult to be loving when you keep cynicism in your heart. After skimming some of Psalm I see how much David praises God and gives thanks to him. God calls David a man after his own heart. It is probably a good idea to learn from the best :)

1 Corinthians 13:1

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal."

I've been working hard this semester to clean up my life and really put a lot of effort into living a more Christ-like walk. It has been really hard though, some weeks I would do well, and then others I would slip even further. I drove home very frustrated tonight, feeling like I was caught in a cycle. But I had the realization that I have been trying to do this all as a works based effort. The greatest commandment is to love God and then to love others. Really though, I have been loving myself. Thinking that if I do good, I will feel better about myself or perhaps God will reward me.

Good works are important of course, but as Paul says, without love they mean nothing. I am not sure how suddenly start loving like I should, but I have a goal now.

Isaiah 2:10

"Go into the rocks, hide in the ground from dread of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty." This is similar to what Joe was saying in church this morning. God loves us, yes, but he also demands our respect and obedience. I feel like the image of God promoted today is one of love, but love to point that God comes across as weak, or a pushover. Reading the Old Testament is a good reminder of how small we are to God, and how respectful we should be of his power.

Isaiah 1

"Stop doing wrong, learn to do right." This is one of the best things I've read in the my quiet time in a long time. It is so straight and to the point. God requires us to live holy lives, I need to stop making excuses.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

I have been trying to find God's will for my life lately and it hasn't been going well. What this verse tells me is that I shouldn't worry about what my purpose is, I should just worry about following God, something I really should be worrying more about.

1st Thessalonians 4:1

Well I was complaining that I didn't know what my life's purpose was. But low and behold, "Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

 I keep coming back to this theme of working honestly. Maybe this is God's calling after all?

Unity in the Body of Christ

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

It feels like there is more division between Christians than between non-Christians. This is also something that doesn't seem to get addressed enough. The second greatest commandment is to love each other, why does slander seem like such a plague in the church?

Words

I've been thinking alot about sin in my life lately. I think most of us have those 2 or 3 that we struggle with, but it has become more and more obvious to me how much total sin I actually have. The one I really have started noticing a lot is how much I sin with the words that I say. Whether I'm cursing at peope while I'm driving, or making an inappropriate remark with friends, or saying something behind someone's back, I just realize I have so much work to do.

Tonight's Sermon

It was interesting to hear a charismatic preacher after such a long time being away from that kind of setting. I thought his overall message was really good as it is exactly what I had been thinking about. But then at the end, as he went through the familiar alter call and vague prophetic prayers I remembered why I stopped going, and made me question his original message. After all, maybe he's not speaking to me, I'm sure everyone wonders what their life goal is and what God's timing is.

I was reminded of Paul (I think) though, who said he didn't care why peope preached God's word, as long as it was being preached. In essence, maybe I have become jaded to his style of preaching, but that doesn't mean that his words don't mean anything. It's okay to be skeptical, but in the end we need to compare the words against what the Bible says.

Ephesians 4:29

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up accords to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

Jennifer Knapp

One of the comments Jennifer Knapp made was telling pastor Bob that while she appreciates his concern, he has no business interfering outside of his congregation. I didn't really know what to think of that. When we see a brother or sister falling, should we confront/rebuke them even if they don't want to hear it. As I started reading the New Testament again today, I realized that most of Paul's letters are in fact written to instruct members outside of his congregation. We're all one family, and if we don't communicate with each other, we fall apart.

Ecclesiastes 8

All my motivation is slowly fading. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do when I don't even feel like praying.

A life once spent is irrevocable. It will remain to be contemplated through eternity.…The same may be said of each day. When it is once past, it is gone forever. All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever.…Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny.…How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness…! It is too late to mend the days that are past. The future is in our power. Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever. And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked.

Ecclesiastes 7:15

"I have seen both of these: a righteous man perishing in his righteousness, and a wicked man living long in his wickedness."

For a while I have been considering sin to be its own consequence. We reap what we sow. But as I have been reading Ecclesiastes and Jeremiah I am not sure that is the case. God clearly seems to bless those who follow him, and punish those who oppose him. At other times though, like here, he seems to just let things go and neither bless nor curse either party. We need to remember that God is in control, we should do what he commands regardless of the consequences. And just because we're sinning and perhaps getting away with it, doesn't mean that what we are doing is right.