Category Archives: Romans

2019, For What It's Worth To You, Questions, Romans

Hope

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In whatever Translation you read it, it’s good news, comfort and help for this day.

Romans 15:4 Good News Translation (GNT) 4 Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. source

GOD, our Father, is ever teaching us; and why? That we through patience and encouragement from the Scriptures, will have hope! And who of us does not need hope today?

The Scriptures are not given to us to condemn us (our sin has done that) but are given so we can have hope; hope for what GOD has for us and for what we can in Him become. What can we become? People of hope. People of Faith. People of joy. People of strength. People of wisdom, integrity, worth, value — you get it. The list is endless.

Today! Hope! Found in the Scriptures! Of all places – go figure! :)

2019, Questions, Revelation, Romans

My Book.

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A video I watched this morning has since occupied my thoughts. The maker of the video from the onset confessed she was venting. She had apparently been to a memorial type event, lots of church people there; she had a full plate that day and she had dressed for the larger portion of the day – jeans and what looked to be a clean modest fitting T-Shirt. When she walked in the room, she felt their ‘judgment’ and for the remainder of the video, she talked about the emotional wounds we inflict upon one another with our judging one another.

May I share an expanded thought on the matter?

I wonder if we say ‘don’t judge me’ without knowing what we are saying. I hope so. Because if we are saying don’t judge me as it has for centuries been defined, we are saying Do not tell me I am wrong. Can we the people never be wrong? If that is our position, we are a deceived and arrogant bunch – o that would be judging, wouldn’t it?

When did judgment get to be such a dirty, undesirable word (deed)?

Are we so full of ourselves that we think we can’t be wrong, about anything?! Are we so full of ourselves, so enamored with ourselves that we think even GOD HIMSELF has no right to tell us we are wrong, that our behavior is wrong?

Back to the woman and her video.
Could it be what she was feeling was their condemnation?  Which in my book is worse than judging – for what my book is worth to you.

Condemnation is one saying to another I have judged your behavior, your looks, your skin color, your dress, any number of conditions and because of that I have judged YOU unredeemable; condemned by me and perhaps with professing church people – condemned by GOD.

How many of us know condemnation is not our place?! And that doing so puts us in line for judgment by GOD ALMIGHTY HIMSELF?

To be sure HE has already judged all things, be they right or wrong; and HE does have the absolute authority to do so.
You don’t believe that?
You can make that choice. But you don’t get to decide what GOD does about your choice.

And then there is another scenario. That is the dear woman has been victimized by the meanest of all and it is he who is telling her they are judging her when in fact it is he who is accusing her (he is an accomplished ventriloquist); while those folks milling around her are so wrapped up in their own stuff they have not noticed her at all – much less what she is wearing.
And that, my friends, is a whole other set of ugly luggage that needs unpacking another time.

The whole of it boils down to obedience to GOD in our relationships with HIM and others. Sometimes, He says speak. Sometimes He says ‘not a word, Kathie, not a word”.  This I have learned: disobedience is too painful a place for me to stay long. So, whoever likes may judge me all they want, I’m okay with that as long as HE is pleased with me. And as to condemnation;  well, this is what GOD says about me:

Romans 8: (KJV) 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. source

Who do you think I am going to believe? Who do you believe?

1 Timothy, 2 Samuel, 2 Thessalonians, 2019, Genesis, Holy Soap Box, Political awareness, Romans

The Scratch

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At this juncture in my 67-year-old life, rights are important. One I highly treasure is LIFE. Beyond that, many of the rights I see extolled today may be best defined as social demands.

I watched a video today of homeless college students in California, actually living in their vehicles. I admire them so much! I saw them as intelligent, capable, determined, well-groomed, articulate, courteous, etc. Amazing young souls who in days or perhaps years to come will wow their worlds with their contributions!

A commentator asked if college housing should be made a right. What a tragedy that would be! Albeit, this is a phenomenal ministry opportunity for God’s people to come alongside with appropriate helps and comforts. I am convinced making it a right implemented and administered by our political system would hinder the building of grit, confidence, ingenuity, accomplishment, and more for many. Am I romanticizing what these particular young people are doing? Perhaps a tad, but would not it be grand if all our lives were lived as an earthly romance with a heavenly quest?

Can you imagine these young people when they finish this college adventure with little to no debt because of their own choices and sacrifices, how confident and strong they will be? A Psychologist told me he and his colleagues had discovered we only value those things into which we have invested ourselves (including our money) – what costs us little or nothing we deem of little or no value.

2 Samuel 24:24 New Living Translation (NLT)
24 But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on buying it, for I will not present burnt offerings to the LORD my God that have cost me nothing.” So David paid him fifty pieces of silver for the threshing floor and the oxen.

Each of us has the God-given right to life. Beyond that we are owed what we earn.

Romans 13:8 New Living Translation (NLT)
8 Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.

2 Thessalonians 3:10 New Living Translation (NLT)
10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.” 

Genesis 3:17-19 New Living Translation (NLT)
17 And to the man he said,
“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
and to dust you will return.”

It’s not love that motivates us (or Systems) to negate The Scratch!

Wait! A thousand times NO! This is NOT a license to neglect, abandon, abuse or in any wise cause harm to one another. GOD also tells us in

1 Timothy 5:8 King James Version (KJV)
8 But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. 

It is not Political Systems that should feed, clothe, shelter, provide medical coverage, or educate any of us.
Political Systems enslave the ones they ‘help’.
BUT GOD! Well, The Scratch is a holy gift to each of us – young and old.
What shall we do with it?!