I've decided to keep it simple and only keep the blog listed below, so it will work for all of my various projects.
Sorry to change yet again. Hopefully, this will be the last time.
~ Stacy Duplease
Christian, Patriot, Writer, Journalkeeper
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Monday, May 26, 2014
Thank You, U.S. Military
Thank God for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. For my freedom. For your freedom. For our freedom.
They didn't have to. But, they did. They know the price of freedom. Peace doesn't simply exist because we will it or say it should. Peace happens, sometimes through a show of force--for freedom. And sometimes peace can happen because the entirety of a nation chooses to live by the will of God, not for self. (How rare. But, isn't this truly peace? We will not know this, though until Jesus Christ returns, but should strive for this today and tomorrow.)
Thank God people believed in our nation and the foundations our forefathers envisioned... Our military and their families. Past, present, and future.
Thank you for those serving now. You don't have to, but you believe in the U.S. Constitution enough to defend her. I pray you will continue to take this seriously every day and are forever mindful of this. (I pray we as a nation do this as well.)
What the U.S. military does is often ignored, often despised, often taken for granted. So many say they support the military and really don't.
May we remember our military, and what they sacrifice and have for our freedom... so we can continue on with life as normal while theirs is anything but.
People have died on our behalf. And people are willing to now. How humbling. I sure don't deserve it. But, they have and will do it anyway.
Thank God.
God bless the USA.
Friday, May 23, 2014
Land of Lethana News
I've written it and published it already, but want to update it and then finish writing the epic series.
This is my latest writing project.
~ Stacy Duplease
Christian, Patriot, Writer, Journalkeeper
Check out my latest blogs
Greetings.
Have a blessed day.
~ Stacy Duplease
Christian, Patriot, Writer, Journalkeeper
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Moving to a different blog
My main blog will now be the blog listed below.
-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Blog: http://AGodlyVision.blogspot.com
-- Stacy Duplease, Writer
Sent from Amazon Kindle Fire HDX
Blog: http://AGodlyVision.blogspot.com
Friday, April 25, 2014
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Day 17 Counting of Blessings
224 Beth Moore and her writing--allowing God to use her and her team.
225 Beth Moore Bible studies
226 "Believing God" by Beth Moore, which I started yesterday
227 The upcoming summer study by Beth Moore, "Children of the Day," which I will also take part in, even as I finish up "Believing God."
228 For God to speak to me as clearly as He did yesterday.
229 For God to speak to me as clearly as He did today.
230 For a profound revelation God gave me in the middle of the night.
231 Bojangles grilled chicken bites
232 A loved one had a safe trip
233 For our friends, M, T, I, and N. They are supreme blessings in our lives.
234 Zack had dementia earlier today and is better now.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Day 16, Part 2 Counting My Blessings
I am thankful, Lord, for...
212 The Spring
213 Spring flowers
214 The color purple, violet, lilac, plum, and all the shades in between
215 A mind to use so I can be mindfulness about counting my blessings
216 Mindfulness
217 This day
218 Coffee
219 Time with You, Lord
220 Reading a good book
221 Inspiration
222 Helping me, Father, through this life-change-on-a-dime-moment over the last week
223 Words of comfort and inspiration found in the Bible, the Word of God
AYOAGT Day 16: How Do I/We Offer Thanks Each Day for a Year?
AYOAGT Day 16: How Do I/We Offer Thanks Each Day for a Year?
April 23, 2014, Wednesday, 829 a.m.
HOW DO I/WE OFFER THANKS EACH DAY FOR A YEAR (AND MORE) ANYWAY?
How am I supposed to live 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and Philippians 4:6 every day, all day and night long, moment by moment? This is the question.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 / New Living Translation (NLT)
18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
-- NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Please look up this verse at this link. Every version says it a little differently. Read this link for a fuller understanding of 1 Thessalonians 5:18:
Philippians 4:6 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
6 Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.
-- GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.
And, look this up as well for all English translations of Philippians 4:6:
How do we, and how will I, live these verses every day and night, in each moment, for at least a year (if not for the rest of our lives, as those verses instruct)? Simply. We just start.
Yep. Just begin.
Try to count at least three blessings, and things you thank God for, each and every day. Do this for the rest of your life.
That’s it.
It isn’t any more complicated or profound than that.
It’s okay to repeat things you are thankful for, if you really are grateful for it when you write it down.
I also advise looking around, where you are, and you’ll see things you are thankful for, or what you see will trigger something or someone else you’re grateful for and you can then write it down.
Also, as you go throughout your day, expect God to reveal His glory to you. He will pour on the blessings, as He always has. You just need to be open to see them and receive them. Intentionality is the key. Write them down as you see ways in which God is present, and working, in your life, around your life, and through your life--and through the lives of others.
You have the potential for writing hundreds down each day if you carry your gratitude journal with you everywhere you go--and watch, wait, and listen to God and the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
God has divine appointments set up for you to see Him working and to bless you through His work and glory. Keep these appointments all day and night long. Don’t miss out.
Also, if you don’t know what to thank God for, go through your gratitude journal. Seeing your list will remind you of things you are thankful for today and will stir up new ones.
Look around. Listen. His glory, and work, is all around. You just need to be open and be intentional.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Day 15 When God Blesses
Day 15 When God Blesses
We should never be surprised by God. He is God. He can do what He wants, when He wants to do it, how He wants to do it. He is the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe. He is God.
But, aren't there times when He acts and we sure don't expect it? And, He acts in a way we should know to expect, but we are still taken aback?
And, then there are the times God blesses your socks off, in extraordinary ways, you know you don't deserve at all. But, because of His grace and love, He does it anyway. That's what happened to me yesterday.
Lord, I am thankful for:
198 How You answer prayers I didn't even know I had.
199 How You remind me You are still in control.
200 For opening my heart and mind up to remember, and perhaps learn in a whole new and deeper way, how I am utterly, totally dependent on You--not on people, self, circumstances. You. And You alone.
201 The reminder You are the only One whose promises are guaranteed.
202 I do not deserve one blessing, yet You so profoundly and profusely bless me every day all day long, even when I feel kicked.
203 How turning to You alone is the only answer, for You are the Answer.
204 The sun still rises each morning.
205 The sun still sets each evening.
206 You can still use battered and bruised people who are hardly eloquent or wise.
207 How You love me.
208 A new vision
209 Your vision
210 Another new beginning
211 You are God. There is none like You.
(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014)
Monday, April 21, 2014
When You Need Wisdom
I am still writing and taking part in "A YEAR OF ALWAYS GIVING THANKS: THE JOURNAL OF MY JOURNEY, PART 1." That will not change for the next year and more.
However, I am now working on this for a personal Bible study, but will also turn it into a Bible study I will share in time on this blog.
With everything that's happened, I think I am setting the Romans study to the side for now. I am not in the place to write it right now. I'm far too emotional and would butcher writing the study or in personally taking place in the study. Therefore, I will wait. I need to deal with what is right now--and that is dealing with life challenges and when god has said no or wait.
Let's face it. I am desperate for wisdom. But, I'm not desperate for just any wisdom. I want wisdom that will carry me through every day for the rest of my life. Philippians 4:4-13 is precisely the passage I so desperately need right now--and every day.
Out of Order
I apologize. Every now and then these blog posts will be out of order on this blog.
(The good news is they will be in order on wattpad and in the published version of this blog book.)
Day 13 Grieving and Cumulative Nos from God
Day 13
Grieving and Cumulative Nos from God
Journal
April 20, 2014, Easter Sunday, 107 p.m.
I have taken
four days to try to process the latest of seven major life-changing nos God has
said in my life (maybe caused and/or maybe allowed) in my life over the last
year or so. Each no has been highly painful. They have had a cumulative effect.
I'm not sure
if they're permanent nos or no for now, as far as three of them. But, I know
four are, in fact, permanent nos.
The truth of
the matter is I am four days into my latest round of grief and I am still not
sure what to think, how to feel, what to do, etc. I am rather lost and am
confused. I'm still grieving.
Day 14, Part 1 Verses to Cling to When in a Time God Says No or Wait
Day 14 Verses to Cling to When in a Time God Says No or Wait
Psalm 46:1-3 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
For the choir director. A song of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.
1 God is our refuge and strength,
a helper who is always found
in times of trouble.
2 Therefore we will not be afraid,
though the earth trembles
and the mountains topple
into the depths of the seas,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with its turmoil. Selah
-- HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Mark 10:27 / Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”
-- HCSB: Scripture quotations marked HCSB are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.
Philippians 4:4-13 / Expanded Bible (EXB)
4 ·Be full of joy [Rejoice] in the Lord always. I will say again, ·be full of joy [rejoice].
5 Let everyone see that you are ·gentle [kind; considerate; patient]. The Lord is ·coming soon [orclose at hand; L near]. 6 Do not ·worry [be anxious] about anything, but pray and ·ask God for everything you need [or make your requests known to God], always giving thanks. 7 And God’s peace, which ·is so great we cannot understand it [transcends/surpasses all comprehension], will ·keep [guard] your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8 [L Finally; In conclusion; or Now then] Brothers and sisters, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] things that are true and honorable and ·right [just] and pure and ·beautiful[lovely] and ·respected [commendable]. If there is anything that is ·good [morally excellent] and worthy of praise, ·think about [focus your thoughts on; fill your minds with] these things. 9 Do what you learned and received and heard ·from [L in] me, and what you saw ·me do [L in me]. And the God ·who gives [L of] peace will be with you.
10 I ·am very happy [L rejoiced greatly] in the Lord that you have ·shown [renewed; revived] your ·care [concern] for me again. You continued to ·care [be concerned] about me, but ·there was no way for you [you had no opportunity] to show it. 11 I am not telling you this because I need anything. [L For] I have learned to be ·satisfied [content] ·whatever the circumstances [or with whatever I have]. 12 I know how to live when I am ·poor [in humble circumstances], and I know how to live when I have plenty. I have learned the ·secret of being happy [L secret] ·at any time in everything that happens [or in any and all circumstances], when I have enough to eat and when I go hungry, when I have ·more than I need [plenty; an abundance] and when I do not have enough. 13 I can do all things through ·Christ, because he [L the one who] gives me strength.
-- EXB: Scripture taken from The Expanded Bible. Copyright © 2011 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Psalm 105:1-6 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)
1 Give thanks to the Lord.
Call on him.
Make known among the nations what he has done.
2 Sing to him.
Make music to praise him.
Meditate on all the miracles he has performed.
3 Brag about his holy name.
Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
4 Search for the Lord and his strength.
Always seek his presence.
5 Remember the miracles he performed,
the amazing things he did, and the judgments he pronounced,
6 you descendants of his servant Abraham,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
-- GW: Scripture is taken from GOD’S WORD®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.
Please Bear with Me
Please bear with me.
While I'm dealing with some " personal stuff" on my end, I may not be able to comment or respond to your emails or comments in a timely manner. I'm trying to devote myself to bible study and prayer. I will respond hopefully tomorrow or Wednesday. I also will not post as many "AYOAGT" themed posts, but will most likely share some of the things God leads me to during my prayer time and time in the Word.
(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Thursday, April 17, 2014
God Has a Perfect Plan
God has a perfect plan.
We do not need to see it or know it. It is still true regardless.
He has a perfect plan to bring glory to Himself, so His plan isn't faulty or less. It is perfect.
God knows what He is doing.
Faith comes to play when we follow Him and when He says no--or wait. His perfect plan brings hope and peace, even when we do not understand.
(Image credit: Microsoft images online 2008-2014.)
Day 10, Part 1 God Said No... Or is It Wait?
April 17, 2014, Thursday, 728 a.m.
God Said No... Or is It Wait?
God said no to B and I last night. It was a big no. Hence, it was quite the blow. It hurt and feels like a punch to the gut.
Of course, that left me reeling, wondering what now, worrying about the future, feeling clueless because it does not make sense whatsoever, etc. It made me and makes me question:
1 Why us? (And not someone else. It shows God has a perfect plan in this for allowing it.)
2 Why now? (And not another time. He wants this now for a reason.)
3 What's the lesson to learn here?
4 How can I/we bring Him glory throughout this?
5 What does this mean?
6 How does this fit into His plan?
7 What is His plan? (May never know. This is where faith comes in. But He has a plan from this for me to accomplish today because of this. Then tomorrow, this week, next week, etc.)
8 How can we/I cooperate with Him? (And not buck, grumble, question, etc.)
9 How does He want to use us/me?
Maybe this was a no because it was a not right now answer. Maybe it was a wait answer.
Maybe He wants us to wait in the waiting room for a bit. The time just isn't now.
That being the case, the possibility thereof, these questions seem to come to play in a powerful way right now.
In less than a year, we will know if it was a no, no--or a no for now, but there are other plans in the works answer. But, until then, we are going to wait and see if it's, I've got another plan or the timing just wasn't right in April 2014.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Day 9, Part 3 A Year of Always Giving Thanks (AYOAGT)
Day 9,
Part 3 A Year of Always Giving Thanks (AYOAGT)
April 16, 2014, Wednesday, 127 p.m.
Source of
Inspiration for this Writing: "ONE THOUSAND GIFTS: A DARE TO LIVE FULLY
RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE" BY ANN VOSKAMP, CHAPTER 1
SIN AND TEMPTATION
Wasn't one
of the causes of what happened in the Garden of Eden and Genesis 3 the lack of
gratitude?
Isn't this
the catalyst which caused Adam and Eve to sin and the fall?
Isn't this
what causes me to be tempted and then sometimes to sin?
Ann Voskamp
brought up this up in chapter one and I would have to agree. The lack of a
thanksgiving and gratitude for what God provided and what He did for them, and
for me, causes all of us to sin and do wrong.
Sin is anything
we do that is not part of the will of God. It's going against God, what He
wants, and has planned. It's it following Him or His Word, the Bible. A synonym
is wrongdoing.
Temptation
is what comes to mind, which goes against God, which we then decide to either
ignore or decide to follow through with (act on). Sin is when we put the
temptation to action.
I want think
if I were to lookout for blessings each day and night, and count them all day
and night long, then I would be far less likely to be tempted to sin, let alone
actually sin. If I were to look for and count my blessings all the time, then I
will live differently. I will have, and will live, a fuller life.
How and why?
Counting my
blessings means looking at different things, in a different way, and this new
perspective and point-of-view means living a different life. It means staying
in in tune with God and on track.
Moreover, if
I am not living a life, a day, a week, a month (etc.) of thanksgiving, then I
am ignoring God and what He's doing in my life, through my life, and around my
life. I am intentionally choosing to ignore God if I'm not always looking out
to God and seeing what He's doing, so then I won’t count my blessings and show
Him gratitude. This isn't good. It sets me up to get off track and fail. If I
do not thank God, I will. It's just a matter of time. I will be tempted and I
will then be likely to sin.
Part of the
reason why I feel empty at times is because I fail to look and see where, when,
and how God is working. Then, I fail to see my blessings, so counting them
seems futile. Oh, how this isn't true. If I were to actually give thanks, and
count my blessings, even when I don't feel like it, then my perspective would
change and I would feel a lot better. I would feel less empty.
And, if I
kept a list of my counted blessings with me everywhere I go, then if I ever
deal with a challenge, or need a pick-me-up, I can look at the list and then I
would feel a lot better. I would then turn to God not away from Him.
ETERNITY VS. THIS WORLD
There is
something we need to realize. When we die, we will have just as much contact
with God as we do now. God is always with us now, after all. Always. We just
don't acknowledge that or we have obstacles in our life which prevents us from
fully realizing and experiencing Him and His presence.
Eternity
illuminates the hindrances in our lives, which keep us from fully perceiving
and experiencing the presence of God. However, eternity does not mean God will
be more present than He is now. Giving thanks, and counting our blessings means
we perceive and experience more while we are living in this world and now.
In other
words, giving thanks makes us draw nearer to God. We live eternity now. In
fact, the more thanks we give, the more we can experience the fullness of
eternity now. For, we remove more of the obstacles keeping us from God, the
more we give thanks.
When we fail
to give thanks, we fail to see, know, and experience God. We fail to live for
eternity now. We, then, fail to live in His will.
Re-read this
section several times and let the words sink in more with each reading. Read
slowly. Absorb it.
GIVE CONSTANT THANKS
There is a
reason why 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to always give thanks in and for all
things. It's because if we don't, we draw further from God. We perceive and
experience Him less. As a matter of fact, the first time we forget to always
give thanks, we draw further from God, rather than nearer to Him.
Want to draw
nearer to God? Offer more thanks. Count more Blessings.
Want
answers? Give more thanks.
Want to hear
God? Show more gratitude.
Want a
higher quality of life? Count more blessings.
Want a better
marriage? Give thanks to God and to your spouse.
Want to
experience and offer more love, peace, joy, patience, kindness, goodness,
gentleness, faithfulness, and/or self-help (Galatians 5:22-23????)? Count more
of your blessings and give more thanks to God.
NOT A ONE-TIME THING
We are to
ALWAYS give thanks in and for all things. Without exception. Always, as per 1
Thessalonians 5:18.
Day 9, Part 2, Romans 1:1-6
Day 9, Part 2, Romans 1:1-6
My Personal Study
of the Book of Romans
April 15,
2014, Tuesday, 210 p.m.
I want to
study the Book of Romans in a deeper way than I ever have and want to absorb
it, think on it, pray on it, ponder it, and thank God for it and in a way I
have never done before with any Bible study. Also, this initial study is my
personal study.
THREE
ROMANS STUDIES
I will then
use this material in three different ways:
1 A Year of
Always Giving Thanks, my personal study as I go.
2 I will
divide #1 into my personal and separate study book, where I do more of a study
than #1 and add more material.
3 I will
then rewrite #2 into a study book for others. This will be another book and
blog series. I will add more Bible study material.
THE
BOOK OF ROMANS
The Book of
Romans is an epistle. An epistle is a letter, by the way. Paul wrote this
letter to the Roman Church. It was written for Gentiles.
ROMANS
1:1
A servant is
someone who is owned as property. Hence, their life is not their own. They
belong to the observant.
What Paul
said in Romans 1:1 was he was a servant of Jesus Christ. He didn't belong to
anyone else. His life belonged to Jesus alone. This is what Paul chose.
April 16, 2014, Wednesday, 818 a.m.
AN OVERVIEW OF ROMANS 1:1-6
Romans 1:1-4
shows how Paul is showing his qualifications, along with the qualifications
(and fulfilled prophecy) about Jesus Christ the Messiah. These verses also
define the Gospel or the Good News. The most important thing to note is that
Paul established how Jesus Christ fulfilled prophecy and is the Messiah. We
will look at some cross-references to help underscore this.
Romans 1:5-6
shows what Paul and the Church of Rome has and what they should do.
ROMANS 1:2 CROSS-REFERENCES
Look at this
link:
The
cross-references of Romans 1:2 are: Matthew 1:22; Luke 1:70; Acts 13:32; Romans
3:21; Romans 16:26; Galatians 3:8; Titus 1:2.
What
prophecies did Jesus Christ fulfill? Here’s a very small sampling: Genesis 3:15
(see Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-20; Hebrews 2:14; Galatians 4:4-5; and 1 John 3:8);
Genesis 5:24 (See Mark 6:19); Genesis 9:26-27 (See Luke 3:36); 2 Samuel 7:12
(See Matthew 1:1); Psalm 22:22 (See John 20:17); Psalm 109:4 (See Luke 23:34);
Isaiah 7:14 (See Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:18-23); Isiah 11:1 (See Matthew 2:23;
Luke 3:23; Luke 3:32); Isaiah 53:2 (See Luke 2:7; Philippians 2:7-8); etc.
See the
items in this list for more prophecies Jesus Christ fulfilled, proving He is
the Messiah:
RESOURCES AND TOOLS
Every now
and then, I will try to add additional resources and tools for you to look at
and study. After all, there is nothing more important than having as many tools
in your toolbox as we can to help us read, study, apply, and thank God about
regarding the Bible.
CROSS-REFERENCE OF ROMANS 1:2
One of the
cross-references for romans 1:2 is Romans 3:21. However, let’s look at 3:21-24.
We will look more at this passage later, but it’s important for us to note now
as well.
Romans 3:21-24 / New Century Version (NCV)
21 But God has a way to make people
right with him without the law, and he has now shown us that way which the law
and the prophets told us about. 22 God makes people right with himself
through their faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for all who believe in
Christ, because all people are the same: 23 Everyone has sinned and
fallen short of God’s glorious standard, 24 and all need to be made
right with God by his grace, which is a free gift. They need to be made free
from sin through Jesus Christ.
-- NCV:
Scripture taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
I do not
know about you, but I would sure say this answers the question as to what the
Good News or the Gospel are and helps define them. Moreover, we learn more
about the dangers of what we can become slaves to, if Jesus Christ isn’t our
master. So, this helps explain Romans 1:1 all the more.
THE WORD IS NOT A VOID. IT
ALSO ISN’T VOID.
This is what
I love about God’s Word, the Holy Bible, the Scripture. Everything goes
hand-in-hand. It never comes out empty or void:
Isaiah 55:11 / New King James Version (NKJV)
11 So shall My word be that goes
forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in
the thing for which I sent it.
-- NKJV:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The Word,
the Bible, supports itself and proves itself true. Moreover, it works in us.
Romans 1:1-4 are supported, in part, by Romans 3:21-24. And, those verses are
supported by other verses. Hence, they are cross-references.
SOMEWHAT OF A VERSE BY VERSE
STUDY
My personal
Bible study of the book of Romans will be somewhat of a verse by verse Bible
study. It easily could be. I could, frankly, spend the next several years
studying this Book of Romans. However, I will not. I may take a year, however.
As I
mentioned earlier, I will do this study in three stages. This is stage one.
Then, I will dive into it further. Then, I will dive into it even further and fuller.
ROMANS 1:3
Tells us how
Jesus was also human. Hence, he had a family tree.
Now, as a
woman who is dealing with, and has dealt with issues of infertility, let me
tell you how this stands out even more to me. I cannot help but think of
everyone who has been and will be adopted.
God Himself
claimed the family line of Joseph and Mary , even though He was not theirs in
the egg and sperm connection. Mary carried Him, sure. But, Jesus wasn’t brought
into the world through the meeting of the two. He was put into Mary’s belly
through the Holy Spirit.
Blood does
not matter.
Jesus is
still fully theirs from the human stance because they raised Him as theirs.
If blood
didn’t matter to God, but the chosen family did, how much more should this
matter to us? And, how much less should blood matter? As far as genetics, that
is.
Romans 1:3
reminds us Jesus Christ the Messiah, Redeemer, and Savior was flesh. He lived
and breathed. He walked this earth. He was here. He lived, died, and was
resurrected. This isn’t a myth. It really happened—and we have the historical
resources to prove it.
ROMANS 1:4
Romans 1:4 / New American Standard Bible (NASB)
4 who was declared the Son of God
with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of
holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
-- NASB:
Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright ©
1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975,1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation.
Used by permission.
CONTEXT: Romans 1:4
is jammed pack with all sorts of important things for us to stop and notice.
The problem is, we need to do precisely that. Sop and notice. Too often, we
hurry through reading a verse, we fail to stop and take every word and phrase
in fully and digest what they each mean individually, then together in smaller
chunks, then as a sentence, then as a paragraph, then as a chapter, then as a
book, then as a testament of the Bible. (This is called context. The pieces
make the whole and cannot be understood thoroughly without the other.)
Every word,
phrase, sentence, verse, paragraph, chapter, page, book, and testament of the
Bible are essential and go hand-in-hand. In other words, and for example, we
cannot understand one word without the entirety of the Bible.
THE
IMPORTANCE OF CONTEXT
And, isn’t this what we try to do? We try to not read the entire Bible—all the way
through, cover to cover, and we try to assign meaning to things when we do not
have the proper context?
Also, we
will quote a verse, but not know what the rest of that chapter or book says—and
in quoting the verse, we might not understand the context at all. Without
proper and full understanding of the context, we CANNOT understand the verse. In
fact, it’s impossible to do so.
PROPER CONTEXT: How can we avoid not understanding the proper context of
something? This is how: If we are going to quote one verse of the Bible, we
should read a minimum of five verses before and after that verse or
passage—even if we have to read the previous Book of the Bible or the chapter
after our verse or passage. Ideally, we will read all of the chapter before,
the one in which we are quoting, reading, or studying, and then the chapter
afterward as well. This helps most with understanding the proper context of a
verse or passage.
TO DO: 1 Re-read
Romans 1:4 at this point so you can remember what we’re talking about here.
2 Then, read
Romans 1:1-7.
3 Now, let’s
read and study Romans 1:4 in particular.
What do we
learn in Romans 1:4?
1 Jesus
Christ is powerful.
2 Jesus Christ
is the Son of God.
3 He was
resurrected from death.
4 He died.
5 It was
declared.
6 It was
according to the Spirit of Holiness.
(See NASB,
HCSB, and EXB—for example.)
I don’t know
about you, but all of this needs to sink in a little more—verses 1-4. So, I
want to stop and let them.
*~*~*~*~*
Without
proper and full understanding of the context, we CANNOT understand the verse.
*~*~*~*~*
MY PET-PEEVE: DROWNING IN BUSYNESS
Here is my
pet-peeve, which drives me a little crazy (okay—a lot crazy) about the way we
read the bible and study it today. We hurry through it. We are busy. We’re
treading water, just trying to survive, as we drown in our world of busyness.
So, add Bible reading and bible study, two things we know we should do, but
then it feels like it should be a weight and we start to go down because we’re
juggling so much.
Will we
drown?
No. Because all
of us seem to be experts at treading water. We keep ourselves afloat, somehow,
but just barely. So, we do this with bible study and bible reading as well. We
do just enough to try to keep ourselves afloat. Even those who write the
studies are doing the same thing.
We do just enough.
Or, so we
think. Is it really?
Is it no
wonder we don’t have millions becoming Christians every day in our world? We’ve
dumbed it all down through rushing through it. We have to check that off our to
do list.
So, that’s
why I say the best thing we can all do in our lives is SLOW DOWN do we do not
drown. We need to slow down so we can see the blessings all around. We need to
slow down so we can absorb what we’ve read, studied, learned, want to apply,
have applied, review what we’ve learned, and evaluate how if we have properly
applied what we’ve learned—and are living it now.
That’s why I
am not in a hurry to get through the Book of Romans. I would rather be in the Word
of God, every day, for the rest of my life, and truly absorb it, apply it, review,
and evaluate, than read the entirely of the bible and get nothing from it.
I am not in
a hurry to check off things.
I would
rather enjoy God and His Word, than rush through it so I can try to stay afloat
in the busyness of my life. His Word is my anchor, so I don’t get swept away by
the current. And, His Word is my life-preserver and keeps me from drowning.
Hence, that’s why I will try to give this the first attention in my life, not
the last breadcrumbs. I will try not to put His Word on the backburner. I will
try to do it first in my life. Then, everything else will follow suit.
*~*~*~*~*
The best
thing we can all do in our lives is SLOW DOWN do we do not drown.
*~*~*~*~*
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