Prayer Journaling of Romans 15:13: Hope, Joy, Peace, Trust, and Power

My love,
Do you want hope?
What about peace and joy?
Trust in me.
Trust is a simple five letter word with a simple definition: have faith in and believe. Trust also means to put confidence and reliance in something or someone. The complicated part of trust is not in the definition, but is in the application. People tend to make it far more difficult than they really need.
How do you trust me? You trust me by believing in my son, Jesus Christ.
You trust me by praying, being in my Word, by meditating on my Word and pondering it, and by giving thanks in and for all things. You trust me every time you think of me and my Word.
Trust in me and draw close to me and my Word. The more you pray and think on my Word, the more you trust me and the more you draw near to me. They naturally go together.
The more you trust me and my Word, the more you will find the true source of hope..Nothing and no one else can bring you eternal hope, other than me and my Word. If you trust in anything or anyone on earth, in this world, you will put your hope and trust in that which is temporary. For everything and everyone on earth will die. I am timeless, and exist outside of time, since I created time and my Word is eternal. So, where and in whom will you place your trust?

Romans 15:13 New Living Translation (NLT)

13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

If you trust in me and my Word, you will find that which is worthy of your trust, and I will fill you with peace and joy because of your trust. Again, I offer you real peace and joy that is lasting and depends on nothing but your trust, which is you turning to me and my Word. Note, that I will fill you entirely and completely with joy and peace, and will not fill you partially with them.
When you do trust in me and my Word alone, and then I fill you completely with peace and joy, you will then overflow with confident hope through the Holy Spirit's power.
How can you trust me or my Word?

Psalm 33:4 New Living Translation (NLT)

4 For the word of the Lord holds true,
and we can trust everything he does.

-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

My love, if my Word states something, I will never act to contradict it. I am consistent and do not change.
Trust in me and my Word, your source of true and absolute hope, because I never change. And my Word never changes.

James 1:17 New Living Translation (NLT)

17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.

--New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

My love, trust me and my Word always and without fail. You will then have hope, peace, and joy, because I will give them to you. You show your trust in me and by Word through spending time with me and my Word.
My Lord, I want to know the source of true hope, and have confident hope, true peace, and true joy. I realize the only way I can have overflowing and confident hope is through You, the power of the Holy Spirit, and trusting in You and Your Word. I show my trust by spending time with you and being in your Word and meditating on your Word.

Psalm 33:4 Expanded Bible (EXB)

4 God's word is ·true [upright; virtuous],
and everything he does is ·right [faithful].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Psalm 119:1-8 New Living Translation (NLT)

1 Joyful are people of integrity,
who follow the instructions of the Lord.
2 Joyful are those who obey his laws
and search for him with all their hearts.
3 They do not compromise with evil,
and they walk only in his paths.
4 You have charged us
to keep your commandments carefully.
5 Oh, that my actions would consistently
reflect your decrees!
6 Then I will not be ashamed
when I compare my life with your commands.
7 As I learn your righteous regulations,
I will thank you by living as I should!
8 I will obey your decrees.
Please don't give up on me!

-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Romans 12:12 Expanded Bible (EXB)

Romans 12:12 Expanded Bible (EXB)

12 ·Be joyful because you have hope [L Rejoice in hope]. ·Be patient [Endure] ·when trouble comes [L in suffering/tribulation], and pray ·at all times [faithfully; with persistence/perseverance].

Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Prayer journal, ponder, meditate on, think about, and contemplate day and night.

00005. Journaling Through Romans. Romans 1:5-6.

EVENING PRAYER JOURNALING

Written 04.25.2015, Saturday, 826 p.m.

Lord, thank You for this day and for helping me to go deeper and better grasp Romans 1:4.

Also, thank You for Mom's cat being okay.

Thank You for a beautiful, memorable day.

I feel like I am missing something, like You want me to do something and I am not hearing You. Tune my ears, Abba. Help me hear You and Your guidance.

First, I will read and pray these verses:

Romans 1:1-6 Expanded Bible (EXB)

1 From Paul, a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Christ Jesus. ·God called me [L …called] to be an ·apostle [messenger] and ·chose me [set me apart; appointed me] to tell the ·Good News [Gospel].

2 God promised this ·Good News [Gospel] ·long ago [beforehand; previously] through his prophets, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures. 

3 The Good News is about God's Son. ·As a man [or With reference to his earthly life; L According to the flesh], he was born ·from the family [a descendant; L of the seed] of David [2 Sam. 7:11–14]. 

4 But through the Spirit of holiness [C a Jewish way of referring to the Holy Spirit] he was ·declared [or designated; appointed] to be God's Son with great power by rising from the dead [C though eternally the Son of God, Jesus was appointed such "with power" at his resurrection; see Ps. 2:7; 110:1–2]. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 

5 Through ·Christ [L whom], ·God gave me the special work of an apostle [L we have received apostleship; C "we" could be a formal way of saying "I," or could refer to Paul and the other apostles], which was to lead ·people of all nations [the Gentiles] to ·believe and obey [or the obedience that comes from faith; or the obedience that is faith]. I do this work for ·him [L his name]. 

6 And you who are in Rome are also among those [C Gentiles] called to belong to Jesus Christ.

Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

~*~

Romans 1:1-10 Living Bible (TLB)

1 Dear friends in Rome: This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen to be a missionary, and sent out to preach God's Good News. 

2 This Good News was promised long ago by God's prophets in the Old Testament. 

3 It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came as a human baby, born into King David's royal family line; 

4 and by being raised from the dead he was proved to be the mighty Son of God, with the holy nature of God himself.

5 And now, through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us undeserving sinners; and now he is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done for them, so that they, too, will believe and obey him.

6-7 And you, dear friends in Rome, are among those he dearly loves; you, too, are invited by Jesus Christ to be God's very own—yes, his holy people. May all God's mercies and peace be yours from God our Father and from Jesus Christ our Lord.

8 Let me say first of all that wherever I go I hear you being talked about! For your faith in God is becoming known around the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for this good report, and for each one of you. 

9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to the one I serve with all my might, telling others the Good News about his Son.

10 And one of the things I keep on praying for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you and, if possible, that I will have a safe trip.

Living Bible (TLB). The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

~*~*~*~*~

04.26.2015. SUNDAY

ETC. AND MISC. 

Let me get a couple of housekeeping elements out of the way. Email. Check. Now, checking news for prayer points and to stay informed:

NEWS ARTICLES TO PRAY ABOUT

Not in any order, except as I found things to pray about, I copied then and pasted them to my online journal.

1

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/04/26/british-pop-stars-team-with-iraqi-clergy-to-condemn-isis-in-song/

2

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/04/26/bakers-must-pay-135000-for-refusing-to-make-cake-for-gay-wedding/

3

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2015/04/25/johns-hopkins-university-student-government-says-no-to-campus-chick-fil/

4

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/26/russian-hackers-obtained-obama-unclassified-emails-report-says/?intcmp=latestnews

The implications of this are major. How was our National Security put at risk, and is it still? Are they blackmailing him?

5

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/04/26/republican-stance-on-death-penalty-appears-to-be-shifting/?intcmp=latestnews

I take it these people have never dealt with rape or murder in their lives. I have dealt with both.

6

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2015/04/25/inquiry-claims-brian-williams-lied-half-dozen-times/?intcmp=features

7

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/240110-clinton-cash-author-you-see-a-pattern-of-benefit

8

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/240106-cruz-warns-of-liberal-fascism-targeting-christians

9

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/240115-gop-governor-clinton-book-shows-mistakes-not-quid-pro-quo

10

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/gop-primaries/240094-rubio-the-wrong-people-run-america

11

http://townhall.com/tipsheet/danieldoherty/2015/04/25/mitt-romney-it-sure-looks-like-hillary-was-bribed-at-state-n1990015?utm_source=thdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nl&newsletterad=

~*~

Thank You, Lord, for the rain! May we get a lot more of it, slow and steady, for several hours, please. We sure need it here.

~*~

MORNING PRAYER AND COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

Good morning, Lord! Thank you for such a beautiful and rainy day. The birds are singing. My dog and orange cat are sleeping in the room I am in, and I have a cup of warm coffee to my side on this cool day. The simple pleasures.

Thank you for how cats lick their paws and then wash their faces and heads. Orange cat, Sinan, just started doing that. It's so precious! And inventive.

Thank You for bird feeders and bird seed to feed Your creation, and to give our indoor cats something to watch.

Thank You for veterinarians.

Thank You, Lord, for...

Doctors.

Medicine.

The sound of the water filters in our turtle tanks, an indoor water fountain sound. So relaxing.

Doughnuts.

Protein and fiber shakes.

Water to drink and also to wash.

Frolicking squirrels in the yard and up and down the trenches.

Downey woodpeckers.

Flickers.

Doves.

Tulips.

Lilacs.

Trees and their leaves bursting forth after their winter sleep.

How rain makes a tree's bark turn darker colors.

Box finches.

Red wing blackbirds.

The Bible.

Being constantly in Your presence and for the Holy Spirit being in me.

For all these blessings and more I sure do not deserve.

For Your unconditional love.

For You are my Real, True Hope.

For my husband  and his generosity.

Baseball and the Colorado Rockies.

Making memories of watching baseball games with my husband and father.

For emailing with my mom.

Thank You for this day, an opportunity to be with You.

For Your guidance.

For Your way. For You are THE Way.

The weekends.

Listening to my beagle sleep. The sweet sounds he makes.

My online journal.

My tablet.

My laptop.

All of our stuff in storage.

Zack.

Sinan.

Shelly.

Harry.

Kara.

Swimming turtles.

Basking turtles.

A temporary place to love between jobs and houses.

New insights. A new vision. A new way to journal, pray, and read the Bible.

All these blessings.

LAST NIGHT

Father... Daddy. Friend. Lord. Rock. Way. Truth. Life. Creator. Sustainer. Counselor. Guide. Sure Foundation. My Strength. You are my all and everything.

Lord, last night You spoke to me. You reminded me of the spiritual disciplines. I realize, Lord, the word discipline here is not the negative connotation of the Word, but is discipline, as in exercises, practices, or methods.

You reminded me of different ways to read, pray, study, ponder Your Word, of different spiritual methods to use to get closer to You and Your Word. The methods are meant to deepen my time with You and my relationship with You.

You told me last night to put them into practice in my own Stacy way. So, I will. It will help make my time with You and the Word extra special, memorable, and something to cherish and treasure.


WORD OF THE DAY

1112 a.m.

Romans 1:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Wow! What incredible verses. They are what ALL Christ Followers are supposed to do. Including me. Tell what You, Lord, have done for me. Too easy.

SOMETIMES I WILL DO A LITTLE TEACHING IN MY JOURNALING, KNOWING OTHERS WILL READ THIS JOURNAL

I will then address you, the reader, along with myself. For, everything I write and teach you, I am looking in the mirror and making sure to apply it in my life as well. Therefore, regarding this next section of my journaling, I am addressing you, the reader.

WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME

God has become my everything. He is my absolute hope.

But, for me to get to this point, it has taken me several years. It has been a growing and maturing process. It's also taken experience for me to get to this point.

The truth of the matter is I am in the middle of what most would consider a crisis. We do not have a home, my husband and I. We are waiting for a job to come through, and get the paperwork for it, so we can buy a house. We moved across the country, from Virginia to here at the very end of February, sure we would only be in our temporary home for six weeks. Well, it will be at least six weeks longer (waiting to close on a house the moment we get that paperwork).

So far, we are okay financially. We will be until June. We do not want to start to have to rely on our down payment on a house to provide for us. The job will open up any day now. We just do not know when. It is a guaranteed job. We just need to wait for the company to get to the point where they can send us the official paperwork. They cannot until they are ready to slide my husband into the position. Red tape is what is holding it up. It is a fairly decent sized company. So... Ugh.

Do you see the stress that could happen here?

But, it isn't happening. I feel confident that things will work out without a doubt. I am at peace with it and am not feeling too impatient as I wait. I am doing everything I can to use this waiting room time for my benefit, not to my detriment. This is something that goes against my very nature. My old nature. You see, I used to be emotional. Highly emotional. Skin? I surely had little to skin, certainly not thick skin.

Now, don't get me wrong, I still ahve to fight that emotional side sometimes. Old natures still try to pop out every now and then. So, I fight it and remind myself of TRUTH, of REALity, not perceived circumstances. Not my own perceived, faulty truth, which is nowhere based on reality.

Not having a definite income past June would freak me out before. Not having a home would also freak me out. I use that ugly phrase, "Freak me out," because that is a very ugly side we have. Worry and anxiety are ugly. They do not do any good for us at all. They signal we are focusing on the bad and negative, not on the good and positive.

If we worry or are anxious, it signals we are trusting in false hope, not in real hope. False hope is fragile and does not last. Real hope is lasting.

Believing in Jesus Christ is Real Hope. It is True Hope. It is not imaginary, wishful thinking, imaginative hope.

Now, let me make a clarification here. A person can say that they believe in Jesus and still worry and have anxiety. I have been that way--and am that way from time to time, I cannot deny it and have to face reality. I worry and get anxious until I get right in my head and in my thoughts. I have to have intentional and controlled thought combined with Real Hope. It required me to think the thoughts I want to and not allow m thoughts or emotions to control me.

You see, emotions are fickle. They blow around like the wind and are never steady or true. They change quicker than the weather in Colorado. The old adage here in Colroado is how if you do not like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change. That is how emotions are.

Thoughts can be just as fickle. If we do not control our thoughts, they can blow with the wind and change like the weather as well. In fact, we can become obsessed in our thinking, for the bad and detrimental, not the good.

Controlled, disciplined thought is what is always needed, without fail. This is logic. It means thinking things all the way through, from every angle, and arriving with a thorough logic based decision.

How have I been able to get to this point? It is one thing to say I believe in the Real Hope Jesus Christ is and offers me and my life. It is another thing altogether to put the belief into practice, as I have already said. So, how have I gotten to this point?

The secret is a combination of knowing God and His Word plus (combined with) believing God and His Word, then applying this knowledge of Him and His Word. So, the full equation looks like this:

Lack of anxiety and worry = Knowing God + Knowing His Word, the Bible + Believing God + Believing the Word of God + application of the Word

Whenever I said God above, I mean God + Jesus Christ + the Holy Spirit.

Each part of the equation is far more simple than it seems, but also includes more than I just stated. I will explain.

Now, if you are not a Christian, I might have lost you with all of that. However, as I just shared, I will explain and break things down. In order for you to know what God has done to me, you need to know the simplest answer is this:

God has given me Real Hope, for Jesus Christ is my Real Hope.

Real Hope is eternal, everlasting hope, that continues after this life on earth, because it transcends this life on earth. Real Hope cannot be found in earthly things because everything and everyone on this earth will die and has died. It has a shelf life. Real Hope never expires.

I know for a fact God is infinite, all powerful, all knowing, always present, is sufficient, and is beyond time and space, for He created each. Also, He is and has unconditional love and grace (if you believe in Jesus Christ, that is, for that is the one and only condition). God is perfect and has no flaws and never changes.

Since I know all of that about God, I know He has perfect plans for each of our lives. For my life. He has perfect plans and perfect planning. He knows all, so He knows what He is doing.

I, however, an flawed. I am sinful and make errors. I am far from perfect. I am finite as well. So, I cannot see or know His perfect plan or His perfect timing. It is impossible. I have none of the perfection of God. I am flawed in every way in my earthly and fallen body. My vision for the future is one such example.

Not one time in my life have the things happened the way I wanted them to happen or when I wanted them to happen. Not once. My plans never turn out the way I want nor when I want. After all, I am finite and am in an earthly body with earthly, finite sight. Therefore, it is okay. Things always turn out for the better. Things make sense later as to why they turn out the way they do. This is my Real Hope. I can stand on it because I know it, believe it, apply it. I do not need to worry or be anxious. God's so got this (whatever it is--and this can be said about everything, without fail).

It has taken time and experience for me to get to this point.

How do I know God, Jesus, and the Word and believe them? Through lots of prayer (which involves 95% listening and 5% talking) and lots of reading the Bible so I can get to know God and Jesus.

Yep. That is the secret. It's a trillion plus a trillion dollar secret and tip.

There are a few verses which support this as well:

Psalm 1:2 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.

New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Being in the Word of God, the Bible (the law as they called it in the Old Testament), all the time--morning, noon, evening, and night--and all moments in-between is the key. Combined with:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

17 pray without ceasing;

New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Praying all the time, without stopping is the other key. and remember what I said prayer is: 95% listening to God and 5% using words to pray.

This is what God has done for me.

I do not need to worry or feel anxious. Ever. I can KNOW beyond any shadow of a doubt the perfect, infinite God has perfect plans and perfect timing. His vision is holy and perfect. Mine is not.

I can rest assured. Have peace. Not lose sleep--for I have Real Hope.

... To think, I got all of that out of Romans 1:5-6. (Wow. Wonder of Wonders.)

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease

Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journaltheword.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

00004. Journaling Through Romans. Romans 1:3-4, Part 2.

WORD OF THE DAY

Romans 1:3-4 on 04.25.2015

Romans 1:5-6 on 04.26.2015

~*~

Romans 1:3-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness. 5 We have received grace and apostleship through Him to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His name, 6 including yourselves who also belong to Jesus Christ by calling:

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

~*~

I am also going to share about life, the world, and the news in the middle of this study so we have context of these and the Bible reading. They go hand in hand.

~*~

Lord, help the bird that just ran into the window. 1015 a.m.

~*~

I just got sidetracked taking pictures of our cat Sinan, lounging on in a recliner.

~*~

My husband, B, and I just had a worship moment.

Me: "Have you seen the photo released by NASA for the 25th anniversary of Hubble?"

B: "No."

I showed it to him. We both stared at it in awe, then read the accompanying article about the picture.

Me: "Amazing. God's glory and all its splendor. Not created out of randomness or chance combinations. Not out of chaos. That screams order."

B: "And Creator."

He reached for his cell and opened a Bible app.

Read this link first:
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2015/04/24/nasa-unveils-spectacular-photo-for-hubble-telescope-25th-birthday/

He then quoted,

Genesis 1:1-9 New Century Version (NCV)

1 In the beginning God created the sky and the earth.2 The earth was empty and had no form. Darkness covered the ocean, and God's Spirit was moving over the water.
3 Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.4 God saw that the light was good, so he divided the light from the darkness. 5 God named the light "day" and the darkness "night." Evening passed, and morning came. This was the first day.
6 Then God said, "Let there be something to divide the water in two." 7 So God made the air and placed some of the water above the air and some below it. 8 God named the air "sky." Evening passed, and morning came. This was the second day.
9 Then God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered together so the dry land will appear." And it happened.

New Century Version (NCV). The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

Genesis 1:14-19 New Century Version (NCV)

14 Then God said, "Let there be lights in the sky to separate day from night. These lights will be used for signs, seasons, days, and years. 15 They will be in the sky to give light to the earth." And it happened.
16 So God made the two large lights. He made the brighter light to rule the day and made the smaller light to rule the night. He also made the stars. 17 God put all these in the sky to shine on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. God saw that all these things were good.19 Evening passed, and morning came. This was the fourth day.

New Century Version (NCV). The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.

B: "Note verse 6 and remember how at the end of the article it talked about the portions in the cluster of hydrogen and oxygen, which are the two parts of water. Verse 6 supports this and we see it in action in the universe, explained in the article. The universe proves God and the Bible.

"Then look at verse 14. God is screaming out and showing His glory and that He is God, if only we pay attention, listen, and believe. The proof of God is right there. He has given us the universe as a sign and to explore so we can have a reminder of the vastness of God and His creation."

Me: "Amen."

B: "Then, there are those who believe in aliens of the space variety. Need I mention how God created man and woman in His image, not aliens."

He then referred to this passage:

Genesis 1:26-27 New King James Version (NKJV)

26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

And, this was the article I found a few minutes later proving his point, here at this link:
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/04/25/100000-galaxies-what-quest-for-alien-supercivilizations-really-tells-us/

~*~

A CLOSER LOOK AT ROMANS 1:4 

Written 04.25.2015, Saturday, 622 p.m.

What exactly does this verse mean?:

Romans 1:4 New King James Version (NKJV)

4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

In order to gain as much understanding as possible, I start with cross-references:

2 Corinthians 13:4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

4 For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

Jesus lives because of God's power.

The next power phrase doesn't make sense to me. Lord, help me to FULLY grasp and understand Romans 1:4 and the previous verses and the following, including this next cross-reference:

Ephesians 1:15-23 Expanded Bible (EXB)

15 That is why ·since [or because] I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all ·God's people [T the saints], 16 I ·have not stopped [never cease] giving thanks to God for you. I always remember you in my prayers, 17 asking the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you ·a spirit of wisdom [or spiritual wisdom; or the Spirit of wisdom] and revelation so that you will know him better. 18 I pray also that ·you will have greater understanding in your heart [L the eyes of your heart may be enlightened] so you will ·know [comprehend] the hope to which he has called us and that you will know ·how rich and glorious are the blessings God has promised [the riches of his glorious inheritance for; or the glorious wealth of an inheritance that God possesses in] ·his holy people [T the saints].19 And you will know that God's power is ·very [exceedingly; overwhelmingly] great for us who believe. That power ·is the same as [or was demonstrated in] the great strength 20 God ·used [exerted] to raise Christ from the dead and ·put [L seat] him at his right ·side [L hand;Ps. 110:1; Acts 2:34] in the heavenly ·world [realm; places]. 21 God has put Christ ·over [far above] all rulers, authorities, powers, and ·kings [lords; dominion], and every other ·title given [L name that is named] not only in this ·world [age] but also in the ·next [coming one].22 God ·put [subjected] everything under his ·power [L feet; Ps. 8:6] and ·made him the head over everything for the church [or gave him to the church as head over all things], which is his body. 23 ·The church is filled with Christ [or The church completes Christ; L …the fullness of the one], who fills ·everything in every way [or all things everywhere; L all in all]. 

Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Side-Note: This is one of my favorite passages of the Bible. Huh. I should add Ephesians 1:15-20 a few times each week.

The power verses are 19-20.

Ephesians 1:18-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

18 I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.
20 He demonstrated this power in the Messiah by raising Him from the dead and seating Him at His right hand in the heavens—

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Amen!

Lord, now, looking back at Romans 1:4, I should have more understanding. Power. Resurrection power. Got it.

Romans 1:4 Expanded Bible (EXB)

4 But through the Spirit of holiness [C a Jewish way of referring to the Holy Spirit] he was ·declared [or designated; appointed] to be God's Son with great power by rising from the dead [C though eternally the Son of God, Jesus was appointed such "with power" at his resurrection; see Ps. 2:7; 110:1–2]. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

Thank You, Lord, for helping me grasp this verse with deep meaning.

I want to read and keep re-reading this prayer journal entry and allow it to keep sinking in.

~*~*~*~*~

00003. Journaling Through Romans. Romans 1:1-4. Word of the Day.

WORD OF THE DAY FOR 04.24.2015, ROMANS 1:1-2

Romans 1:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God 2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

New King James Version (NKJV). Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

~*~

LORD, WHAT IS YOUR WILL?

Written 04.24.2015, Friday, 610 p.m.

Today's reading is Romans1:1-2. I am still trying to listen and see what You want me to do... what Your calling is for me today... and thereafter... And, I am not hearing anything. Is it me? Are my ears plugged and I am not really listening? Or, are you being quiet? Or, am I too busy to hear? Please help me to listen and hear. Guide me, Father.

Lord, is this twenty-five year or so Journal the Word project what I am supposed to do? Or is it something more? What is Your will? Is this how I can bring You the most glory?

Please help me hear You clearly.

I also realize, Lord, that if this was it, I would be supremely honored. To be in Your Word day and night for twenty-five years. I am only forty. My family lives a long time. I could easily do this project twice. And, if I really aimed high, I could have it done every twenty years. I could do it another two and a half times to three times in my life. How delightful will, and would, that be? My life's work... How incredible. I get gleeful at the thought.

I think this is my grand writing project and way of life. A combination of journaling, reading and pondering the Bible, blogging, turning blog posts into a book... Yeah. I could do this and want to at least two times in forty years.

~*~

Romans 1:1 GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)

1 From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and appointed to spread the Good News of God.

GOD'S WORD Translation (GW). Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

~*~

Paul served, was called, and was to spread the Gospel and Good News. This makes me think of the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:18-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

18 Then Jesus came near and said to them, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

~*~

THE GOSPEL AND GOOD NEWS: HOPE

There are two types of hope: real hope and false hope. Most of us try to find hope and keep hope in all the wrong places. We want to find and keep hope... hope that things will get better... hope we will find a job... hope our money will last through retirement... hope that the sun will rise and set tomorrow... We want to have hope in the people in our lives. We want to be optimistic, but life forever reminds us how little control we have and how it seems things always go wrong. That's because we hope in false things that do not last or cannot stand. This is false hope.

False hope is when we put our hope, our faith, in that which will not last when we die.

Real, true hope is when we can put it in something unconditional and lasts forever, beyond this earthly life. There is absolutely no one and nothing unconditional and everlasting on this earth.

Real hope is found in God. It is found in Jesus Christ. This is the Good News.

Jesus Christ lived in order to die for us, so we could be forgiven for the things in our life that keeps us separated from God. And, in doing so, we will live eternally. This is our hope. Our one true hope.

~*~

Romans 1:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures—

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

~*~

There are prophecies we can look back on and check in the Old Testament. We can compare them to things that have happened in the New Testament. The New Testament events fulfill the Old Testament prophecies, therefore, proving the Gospel and Good News about Jesus Christ dying so we can live eternal life is true.

~*~

OFF TOPIC

Oh, wow. Sunday is the 20th anniversary celebration of Coor's Field... the place the Colorado Rockies baseball team plays.

~*~*~*~*~

WORD OF THE DAY FOR 04.25.2015, ROMANS 1:3-4

MORNING PRAYER

Written 730 a.m.

Good morning, Lord. The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day, in spite of the noise of life and the world, never mind the news. Your glory always shines through, even in the most wretched moments. Always.

Your glory is shown on earth and in the sky, in space, in the universe:

Psalm 19:1 Living Bible (TLB)

19 The heavens are telling the glory of God; they are a marvelous display of his craftsmanship.

Living Bible (TLB). The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Hubble Telescope is celebrating 25 years and has released an image that is out of this world (pun intended). Look at it at this link and see the visible hand, creation, and work of God:
http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-unveils-celestial-fireworks-as-official-image-for-hubble-25th-anniversary

Look at one picture of the cosmos, of space, and it proves there really is an awesome God. The universe was not formed out of chaos. It is ordered.

Your glory, Lord, is seen in space, particularly through NASA's Hubble Telescope. Your glory shines forth and does so abundantly. And, your glory still shines through tragedy... Terrible tragedy... Like the earthquake in Napal overnight. 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Nearly 800 perished so far. Link:
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/04/25/nepal-earthquake/

Psalm 139:7-12 Living Bible (TLB)

7 I can never be lost to your Spirit! I can never get away from my God! 8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the place of the dead, you are there. 9 If I ride the morning winds to the farthest oceans, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your strength will support me. 11 If I try to hide in the darkness, the night becomes light around me. 12 For even darkness cannot hide from God; to you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are both alike to you.

Living Bible (TLB). The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

This is the real Hope, Lord, You offer. Not a manufactured, wishful thinking, self-made hope. But, a real hope that is beyond ourselves, this world and everything and everyone in it.

Hope cannot be grounded in things that do not last after our earthly death. Hope lasts even after this present earthly life. You alone, Lord, are this hope and You alone offer this true, real hope.

Hope in spite.

Most of the people and things we put our hope in does not last past the first trial or challenge. This is false hope. You, however, Lord, offer hope in spite of every earthly thing. You are beyond all and above all.

For, You are Creator of a universe that has required millions of scientists, engineers, and astronomers to study, but the answers they find are so limited, small, incomplete in regard to the vastness of the universe. The universe, space, has far more questions than answers, and is far larger than we know. We are finding new stars, solar systems, galaxies, etc. every single day and will always do so because the universe is so large. You are above all, beyond all, and are the Creator. This is real hope. Fathomless. Infinite. Amazing. Beautiful.

You offer hope as an anchor through every circumstance.

Hebrews 6:19 Expanded Bible (EXB)

19 We have this hope as an anchor for ·the soul [our lives], ·sure [stable; secure] and ·strong [reliable; unshifting]. It enters behind the curtain in the ·Most Holy Place in heaven [L inner place/sanctuary],

Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

There is no person, place, thing, god, or religion that offers this apart from God Almighty... The Great I AM. Jehovah. You, Lord. You offer hope in spite. You offer hope in the beginning, middle, and end of every moment of every day. You are real hope.

~*~

WORD OF THE DAY

04.24.2015. = Romans 1:1-2.
04.25.2015. = Romans 1:3-4.

~*~

Psalm 19:14 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

New American Standard Bible (NASB). Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation.

PJ: I pray this over my Bible reading, contemplation, and over all of my life today.

~*~

Romans 1:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God's good news— 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures—3 concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh 4 and who has been declared to be the powerful Son of God by the resurrection from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

~*~

We learn several things through this passage of scripture, starting with (1) how Jesus Christ is God's Son (verses 1 and 4).

2 The Good News is about Jesus (verses 1 and 3).

3 King David was an ancestor of Jesus (verse 3).

4 Everything in verse 4. (More on that in the next journal entry or blog post.)

~*~

CONTEXT

Romans 1:1-7 The Message (MSG)

1 I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God's friends.
2-7 The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.

The Message (MSG). Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson.
~*~*~*~*~

00002. Journaling Through Romans. Romans 1:1-2. Word of the Day.

MORNING
{Written 04.24.2015. 0938 a.m.}

Good morning, Lord.

I have no idea on where to begin with words, forming a prayer to You right now, in the midst of this thing called life. My mom is taking her cat to an emergency vet appointment this morning. It is troublesome. Yesterday, we had a scare and a vet appointment with our old ferral cat who found us in September 2014, Kara, and we are waiting for test results on Monday. Thank You, Lord, for trusting us with your precious ones.

And, as we are in a new holocaust. A current holocaust. Even a Christian holocaust. And, Christians and the Church are silent. Beheadings and executions... women and girls being sold into sex slavery to fund terrorism... Christianity is being wiped out of the Middle East... and Christians are silent... and the Church is silent... and Christians authors and bloggers are silent... And, I am furious! Wake up, Christ Followers. Take a stand. Stop being silent. Speak! Contact your government officials and tell them to get serious about stopping this holocaust.

Then, I remember something. God, You have this. This is not a surprise to You. That helps.
But, nowhere do You say in Your Word not to stand up for and pray and give voice to the persecuted, Christians or not. All those terrorists want dead and annihilated because of differing beliefs.

Cats... Terrorism... Government scandals of Hillary Clinton...

Oops. That last part got me riled all the more.

There is one thing I have in spite of all this. Hope. Absolute, unfailing hope. My hope is found in You alone.

For example:

~*~

1 Peter 1:18-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

~*~

In spite of the tough moments and parts of life, there is great, perfect, never-ending hope. Life might falter and fail me at points, but You, Lord, never do. Never, ever. Have never. I have hope because of You. You are love (1 John 4:7-8) and You love. Your love, Lord, never ends. I have this promise in the following verses, Verse 8 in particular:

~*~

1 Corinthians 13:7-9 Expanded Bible (EXB)

7 Love ·patiently accepts all things [T bears all things; or always protects], ·always trusts [T believes all things], ·always hopes [T hopes all things], and ·always endures[T endures all things].
8 Love never ·ends [fails; falls short]. There are gifts of prophecy, but they will ·be ended [cease; pass away]. There are gifts of ·speaking in different languages [or ecstatic utterance; L tongues], but those gifts will ·stop [cease; fall silent]. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will ·come to an end [pass away; be set aside]. 9 ·The reason is that [For] ·our knowledge and our ability to prophesy are not perfect [L we know in part/imperfectly and we prophesy in part/incompletely].

Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

~*~

Lord, please help mom and her cat... and the vet and the veterinary team...

I pray about Kara's tests results consult on Monday...

Now, let me get to the hope of Your Word and being with You in Your Word.

~*~

Psalm 19:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to You,(A)
Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.(B)

Cross references:
19:14 : Ps 104:3419:14 : Ps 78:35

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Original source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps+19%3A14&version=HCSB

~*~

CROSS-REFERENCE OF PSALM 19:14

Psalm 104:34 New Living Translation (NLT)

34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
    for I rejoice in the Lord.
New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

~*~

WORD OF THE DAY
Today, I am focused, and am focusing, on these verses:

~*~

Romans 1:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

God's Good News for Rome

1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle [a](A)and singled out(B) for God's good news(C)— 2 which He promised long ago(D) through His prophets(E) in the Holy Scriptures—

Footnotes:
Romans 1:1 Or Jesus, a called apostle

Cross references:
1:1 : 1Co 1:1; 9:1; 2Co 1:11:1 : Ac 9:15; 13:2; Gl 1:151:1 : Mk 1:141:2 : Ti 1:21:2 : Lk 1:70; Rm 3:21; 16:26

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Original Source: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom+1%3A1-2&version=HCSB

~*~

EXPLANATION

I may or may not journal about everything right now. But, I want to get information here to journal more about later. I want to get it all on the page, so I can remember. I am limited on time to journal as much as I want or need, but I sure try to think on these things throughout my day and night.

The cross-references mentioned in this journaling entry, along with all of the Bible verses listed today and yesterday, are all things I want to interact with, but I am limited on time at the moment, but will return to this and will review each journal entry in the future and will journal about it, so I can go even deeper and remember.

~*~

BLOG TO BOOK

I will edit all of these entries, add to them, and will then publish them in book form. So, pardon if there are some errors, or if things do not make sense like they could or should. Also, this is my journaling. My grammar will be lousy. It is a journal, after all, and is meant to go deep, not grammar savvy. And, I will not edit that out. It is how I converse with the Lord and go deeper and seek meaning.

Now, back to the text.

~*~

ROMANS 1:1-2

1118 a.m.

Text: Paul... a slave of Jesus Christ.

My Prayer Journal (PJ): Lord, what does this really mean and look like in real life? Paul, if anyone, made this a way off life and lifestyle. Lord, He loved You this much He was able to think and act as Your servant.

I want to put You first in all I do, think, and feel. I want You and Your Word to be my priority.
Text: Paul was called...

PJ: Lord, You have a purpose for everyone and call everyone. That purpose is to bring You glory.

How do You want me to bring You glory? What is my calling today and in the future?
Have I found it?

Is it to Journal the Word and make it real to all... Christians and those who are not? To show the hope of Jesus Christ, which is something no other religion offers?

Journaling is my passion. And, so is pondering, contemplating, thinking on Your Word. And, so is figuring out what Your Word, the ancient text, means today. Put all of that together and it makes sense this is my calling.

But, is it really? Or is it just what I hope?

Guide me, Abba. Instruct me. Help me to hear You early about this.

~*~*~*~*~

00001. Journaling Through Romans, Romans 1: Word of the Day

04.23-24.2015.

MY HEART LONGS FOR SOMETHING MORE (IT)

I do not know about you, but I seem to have a constant thirst. I am always longing for, and searching for, more. I want more out of this life and know it wants more from me. But, what?

I have searched high and low, this way and that way, in this manner and in that, all around, and still have not found it. It, the thing I long for. I might find something that satisfies for a little while, but it is never permanent. It always shifts and I realize that was not it and I wanted more and something else all along. I tend to be all over the place, never fully commit to any one thing, because I realize whenever I find something, thinking it is it, I suddenly realize that was only temporary. I long for something longer lasting. Something deeper. Something mindblowingly (made up word) good. But, never find it.

It seems like there is nothing on this earth that will bring me this total happiness, sense of peace and joy. Nothing lasts here on this planet. Everything I have tried and sought fizzles out and dies. From food, to travel, to things, to people, to writing, to reading, to buying... It is all temporary and is fickle.

What is it? And what is the it that lasts?

Am I missing it somehow?

WHAT IS IT, THIS ILLUSIVE IT?

So, what is it?

What is it, truly, my heart longs for and desires?

What is this more?

What is it and is this more, that will totally, completely, deeply, entirely fulfill me and will last forever?

Is this just me? Sigh. I know it isn't. If you were to walk into one of those old-fashioned things called a library or bookstore, or look it up at a contemporary bookseller online, you will find thousands (hundreds of thousands really) of self-help books and memoirs of those who have struggled with this dilemma over the course of time.

So, do all of us search for an individualistic it or is it the same it we all try to find?

The reality of the situation is if someone were to really find this it, the entire earth would seek it. But, it has not been found. Right? Is this it illusive or have we just missed it, skipped it, overlooked it somehow?

Again... What is this it?

THE IT WE ALL SEEK

The it we all seek is one in the same. Every single human being longs for this. It is in our DNA to seek it out. We may deny it. We may ever scoff at it, deny it, ignore it, flatdab reject it, but it is still one in the same. We all seek the same it. It is our pursuit of it that might differ. We all look for answers in our own way, trying every possibility, but there is only one.

Our it we are so desperate to find is purpose. It isn't really happiness. It's purpose and to know we are relevant and our lives mean something and are full of meaning.

It is our search for meaning, for purpose.

What is our purpose and what brings us meaning? What is our true purpose and is not one of wishful thinking and is not one we fabricate. It is far deeper and far more meaningful than we think, but is far simpler.

Our purpose is found in Jesus Christ and spending eternity with Him and His Father in heaven.

The statement I just made might sound like a nice thought, or it might seem a little weird, depending on where you are in life. But, it is a true statement.

The only true, real, deep happiness, joy, purpose, and meaning we will ever find is in Jesus Christ. Period.

How can this be? Ephesians 1 explains this:

Ephesians 1 Living Bible (TLB)
1 Dear Christian friends at Ephesus, ever loyal to the Lord: This is Paul writing to you, chosen by God to be Jesus Christ's messenger. 2 May his blessings and peace be yours, sent to you from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
3 How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every blessing in heaven because we belong to Christ.
4 Long ago, even before he made the world, God chose us to be his very own through what Christ would do for us; he decided then to make us holy in his eyes, without a single fault—we who stand before him covered with his love. 5 His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!
6 Now all praise to God for his wonderful kindness to us and his favor that he has poured out upon us because we belong to his dearly loved Son. 7 So overflowing is his kindness toward us that he took away all our sins through the blood of his Son, by whom we are saved; 8 and he has showered down upon us the richness of his grace—for how well he understands us and knows what is best for us at all times.
9 God has told us his secret reason for sending Christ, a plan he decided on in mercy long ago; 10 and this was his purpose: that when the time is ripe he will gather us all together from wherever we are—in heaven or on earth—to be with him in Christ forever. 11 Moreover, because of what Christ has done, we have become gifts to God that he delights in, for as part of God's sovereign plan we were chosen from the beginning to be his, and all things happen just as he decided long ago. 12 God's purpose in this was that we should praise God and give glory to him for doing these mighty things for us, who were the first to trust in Christ.
13 And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians. 14 His presence within us is God's guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit's seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring us to himself. This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.
15 That is why, ever since I heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and of the love you have for Christians everywhere, 16-17 I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you wisdom to see clearly and really understand who Christ is and all that he has done for you. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can see something of the future he has called you to share. I want you to realize that God has been made rich because we who are Christ's have been given to him! 19 I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great his power is to help those who believe him. It is that same mighty power20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in heaven, 21 far, far above any other king or ruler or dictator or leader. Yes, his honor is far more glorious than that of anyone else either in this world or in the world to come. 22 And God has put all things under his feet and made him the supreme Head of the Church— 23 which is his body, filled with himself, the Author and Giver of everything everywhere.
-- Living Bible (TLB). The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

We also find meaning and purpose because of this:

Romans 1:20 New Living Translation (NLT)
20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
-- New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

And one final passage to explain things:

John 3:16-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB). Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

All of this will be explained in my journaling through the Book of Romans.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO JOURNALING THROUGH ROMANS

{Written 2015-04-22 15:37:51, Wednesday}

Welcome to a new chapter for this blog. I will share my journey as I walk through reading two verses of the Bible per day until I make my way through the Bible all the way through. It will take somewhere between 20 and 25 years or so. It could be more or it could be less. We shall see what happens.

I will start with the Book of Romans, as you might have guessed. It is my goal to journal my way through Romans as I try to figure out what it means to my life, the world, and the Church today. It's a book that was written by the Apostle Paul in the year A.D. 57. Therefore, is it really possible to apply this ancient text to my life today? And, how can Romans help me live a better life and grow a deeper faith?

I hope to make this book come alive in my life and that it will take on deep meaning to me. I look forward to seeing what I learn and how it impacts me and my life.

NOTE ABOUT THE CHURCH

By the way, I need to make something clear. Whenever I say "The Church" in my personal prayer journaling, I'm referring to the Christian Church as a whole, including all denominations, Catholicism, Orthodox, etc. I mean all of the churches in a world and all Christians, the body of believers. I will then differentiate between churches, including the overall American Church (of all churches in the U.S. combined).

JOURNALING NOTES AS I READ VERSES OF THE BIBLE

As I read the Bible, I will take notes. As I do, I will put a number inside brackets and will then put the numbered notes after the Bible verse or passage.

READING ROMANS 1

Today, I will read the entire chapter of Romans and familiarize myself with the chapter so as I go through two verses at a time, I will have the context as a whole.

Romans 1 Living Bible (TLB)
1 Dear friends in Rome: This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen to be a missionary, and sent out to preach God's Good News. 2 This Good News was promised long ago by God's prophets in the Old Testament. 3 It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who came as a human baby, born into King David's royal family line; 4 and by being raised from the dead he was proved to be the mighty Son of God, with the holy nature of God himself.
5 And now, through Christ, all the kindness of God has been poured out upon us undeserving sinners; and now he is sending us out around the world to tell all people everywhere the great things God has done for them, so that they, too, will believe and obey him.
6-7 And you, dear friends in Rome, are among those he dearly loves; you, too, are invited by Jesus Christ to be God's very own—yes, his holy people. May all God's mercies and peace be yours from God our Father and from Jesus Christ our Lord.
8 Let me say first of all that wherever I go I hear you being talked about! For your faith in God is becoming known around the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for this good report, and for each one of you. 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to the one I serve with all my might, telling others the Good News about his Son.
10 And one of the things I keep on praying for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you and, if possible, that I will have a safe trip.* 11-12 For I long to visit you so that I can impart to you the faith that will help your church grow strong in the Lord. Then, too, I need your help, for I want not only to share my faith with you but to be encouraged by yours: Each of us will be a blessing to the other.
13 I want you to know, dear brothers, that I planned to come many times before (but was prevented) so that I could work among you and see good results, just as I have among the other Gentile churches. 14 For I owe a great debt to you and to everyone else, both to civilized people and uncivilized alike; yes, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So, to the fullest extent of my ability, I am ready to come also to you in Rome to preach God's Good News.
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God's powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way. 17 This Good News tells us that God makes us ready for heaven—makes us right in God's sight—when we put our faith and trust in Christ to save us. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture says it, "The man who finds life will find it through trusting God."*
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, evil men who push away the truth from them. 19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively; God has put this knowledge in their hearts. 20 Since earliest times men have seen the earth and sky and all God made, and have known of his existence and great eternal power. So they will have no excuse when they stand before God at Judgment Day.
21 Yes, they knew about him all right, but they wouldn't admit it or worship him or even thank him for all his daily care. And after a while they began to think up silly ideas of what God was like and what he wanted them to do. The result was that their foolish minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming themselves to be wise without God, they became utter fools instead. 23 And then, instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they took wood and stone and made idols for themselves, carving them to look like mere birds and animals and snakes and puny men.
24 So God let them go ahead into every sort of sex sin, and do whatever they wanted to—yes, vile and sinful things with each other's bodies. 25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they prayed to the things God made, but wouldn't obey the blessed God who made these things.
26 That is why God let go of them and let them do all these evil things, so that even their women turned against God's natural plan for them and indulged in sex sin with each other. 27 And the men, instead of having normal sex relationships with women, burned with lust for each other, men doing shameful things with other men and, as a result, getting paid within their own souls with the penalty they so richly deserved.
28 So it was that when they gave God up and would not even acknowledge him, God gave them up to doing everything their evil minds could think of. 29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness and sin, of greed and hate, envy, murder, fighting, lying, bitterness, and gossip.
30 They were backbiters, haters of God, insolent, proud, braggarts, always thinking of new ways of sinning and continually being disobedient to their parents. 31 They tried to misunderstand, broke their promises, and were heartless—without pity. 32 They were fully aware of God's death penalty for these crimes, yet they went right ahead and did them anyway and encouraged others to do them, too.
-- Living Bible (TLB)
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Romans 1:1-2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle and singled out for God's good news— 2 which He promised long ago through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures—
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.

Romans 1:1-2 Expanded Bible (EXB)
1 From Paul, a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Christ Jesus. ·God called me [L …called] to be an ·apostle[messenger] and ·chose me [set me apart; appointed me] to tell the ·Good News [Gospel].
2 God promised this ·Good News [Gospel] ·long ago[beforehand; previously] through his prophets, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures.
-- Expanded Bible (EXB). The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.

I will write more about this tomorrow.

Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
Email:
agodlyvision@gmail.com
rememberingyourpresent@gmail.com
Blogs:
http://journaltheword.blogspot.com
http://rypstories.blogspot.com
Sent from my Amazon Kindle Fire HDX Tablet

Change is in the Air

I am changing how I am doing this blog. It's too technical, too fast, and isn't as deep as I want it to be or go. Tomorrow, you will see the changes.

I will start over with the reading of the Book of Romans, like I haven't done anything to this point.

Also, I had the math figured out wrong. I have no idea what I was thinking when I said doing a total of 13,107 verses, four per day, would take 25 years or so. I added a little to give me extra room for vacation days, sick days, emergencies, etc. I have no idea.

So, let's try this again, as far as the math:
13,107 total verses in the Bible
Divided by 2 verses per day
Equals 6553.5 days
Divided by 365 days per year
Equals 17.96 years
Give extra room for the extra days, review days, introduction days, reading the chapter days, reading the book days, etc. I see it taking 25 years or so.
Hence, this study is now 2 verses per day for 25 years or so.

Here is the new blog description and plan:

"My personal walk through the Bible, 2 verses at a time, for the next 20 years or so. How can an ancient text, over 2,000 years old mean anything to my life today? How can reading this text help me live a better life?" 

Word of the Day, Days 6-7, Romans 1:13-20

OUR OPENING OF HEART AND MIND PRAYER FOR THE WORD
Psalm 19:14 New Living Translation (NLT)
14 May the words of my mouth
    and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
    O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
--New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
~*~
CONTEXT OF DAYS 1-5
Written 04.21.2015.
Romans 1:1-16 New Century Version (NCV)
1 From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus. God called me to be an apostle and chose me to tell the Good News.
2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures. 3-4 The Good News is about God's Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. As a man, he was born from the family of David. But through the Spirit of holiness he was declared to be God's Son with great power by rising from the dead. 5 Through Christ, God gave me the special work of an apostle, which was to lead people of all nations to believe and obey. I do this work for him. 6 And you who are in Rome are also called to belong to Jesus Christ.
7 To all of you in Rome whom God loves and has called to be his holy people:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First I want to say that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because people everywhere in the world are talking about your faith. 9 God, whom I serve with my whole heart by telling the Good News about his Son, knows that I always mention you 10 every time I pray. I pray that I will be allowed to come to you, and this will happen if God wants it. 11 I want very much to see you, to give you some spiritual gift to make you strong. 12 I mean that I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you. 13 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that I planned many times to come to you, but this has not been possible. I wanted to come so that I could help you grow spiritually as I have helped the other non-Jewish people.
14 I have a duty to all people—Greeks and those who are not Greeks, the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I want so much to preach the Good News to you in Rome.
16 I am not ashamed of the Good News, because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and then to save non-Jews.
-- New Century Version (NCV)
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
~*~
JOURNAL THE WORD QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Take out your prayer journal and answer thoroughly and do the following:
Prayer journal your thoughts (Journal the Word). Take a few minutes to do so.
How has the reading of these verses blessed you?
What jumped out at you in this reading? It is okay to write out same or similar answers since we have covered this text already. {Hints and Tips: Just make sure to write it out and not, "Repeat" or "Same as before." Your answer will be slightly different each time you answer it, believe it or not. A word or two might change. The differences and the similarities are important. Take note.}
What do we learn about Paul?
What do we learn about God, Jesus, and/or the Holy Spirit?
What was this saying at the time?
What did it mean back in the Bible times?
What does this mean to us today?
To you?
What were your key verses?
List all of the ways you can apply this passage to your life. Then, start to do so.
What does God say to you about these verses?
Journal your prayer about this passage, what God said to you, etc.
List at least five blessings in your life.
Answer several more of the Daily Questions (found here at this link: http://journaltheword.blogspot.com/2015/04/daily-questions-for-journal-word.html).
~*~
WEARING ORANGE FOR SOLIDARITY
Written 04.21.2015., Tuesday
Last night, my husband and I went to buy cheap orange t-shirts.
We are huge Denver Broncos fans, but that is not why.
We plan on wearing them every other day or so. Granted, we will wear them out faster, and people might think we are a little strange to wear them so much, but that is fine with us. As a matter of fact, we hope people will ask us why. Some will know, though, without even asking.
We are wearing orange to show solidarity with the Christians, and their families (and those whether Christian or not) who have been in the orange jumpsuits and executed because they do not believe what the terrorists want them to believe.
Orange shows solidarity with those executed and their families and friends.
So, go out. Fast. Today. Get an orange t-shirt. Wear it so much you wear it out and need to buy a new one. Show where and how you stand.
~*~
TODAY'S TEXT
Romans 1:13-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 Now I want you to know, brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry among you, just as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the good news to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
-- Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
~*~
JOURNAL THE WORD QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Take out your prayer journal and answer/do the following:
Prayer journal your thoughts (Journal the Word). Take a few minutes to do so.
What jumped out at you? Why?
What do we learn?
Ask several different questions, and answer them, of each of the following questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how? For instance, who is referred to in this passage of Romans 1:13-16? Ask as many of these questions, and answer them, as you can. Be thorough. Take some time to do so.
What is your key verse?
What did God say to you?
What did you you say to God?
What do you want to apply to your life from this passage? Why? How? Make a plan.
How were you blessed by the reading of this passage? Try to answer and do not say, "No idea" or "I wasn't." I guarantee every time you read the Word of God, you are blessed. You have heard the Lord speak. Ask Him to reveal the blessing to you. It might be a verse to ponder, something to remember, or a reminder, for example. Or, it could be encouragement or something to correct you.
Answer more of the Daily Questions.
Write a prayer about all of this and anything else you desire.
~*~
Romans 1:13-16 New King James Version (NKJV)
13 Now I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that I often planned to come to you (but was hindered until now), that I might have some fruit among you also, just as among the other Gentiles. 14 I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise. 15 So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
-- New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
~*~
Prayer journal your thoughts.
What new information did you gain from this version or translation? What new insight?
What jumped out at you and caught your attention? Why?
What questions do you have?
What doesn't make sense?
What do you not fully grasp or understand?
What did you notice again, that repeated from before?
~*~
Romans 1:13-16 Expanded Bible (EXB)
13 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know that I ·planned [intended] many times to come to you, but ·this has not been possible [L have been hindered/ unsuccessful until now]. I wanted to come so that I could ·help you grow spiritually [L harvest some fruit among you] as I have ·helped the other [L among the rest of the] Gentiles.
14 I have a ·duty [obligation; debt] to all people—Greeks and ·those who are not Greeks [or barbarians; C this pairing could mean (1) ethnic Greeks and other Gentiles; (2) Greek speakers (people in the Roman empire) and non-Greek speakers (those outside the Roman empire); or (3) cultured people and uncultured people], the wise and the foolish [C perhaps contrasting educated with uneducated, or philosophically sophisticated (1 Cor. 1:18–31) with simple-minded]. 15 That is why I ·want so much [am so eager] to preach the ·Good News [Gospel] to you in Rome.
16 [L For] I am not ashamed of the ·Good News [Gospel], because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and then to save ·Gentiles [L the Greeks; C here meaning anyone who is not Jewish; contrast v. 14].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
~*~
ROMANS 1:1-16 AND THE GOSPEL OR THE GOOD NEWS
Let's Journal the Word:
What have we learned from this passage about the Gospel or the Good News?
List the verses that talk about the Gospel or the Good News. Then, write them out in your prayer journal.
*****~*~*****
Word of the Day, Day 7, Romans 1:17-20
~*~ Psalm 19:14 New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
-- New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
~*~
HINTS AND TIPS
I just wanted to share a hint and tip about something that is working for me as we read slowly through the Book of Romans. I sure hope this might help give you an idea and help deepen your time pondering the Word of God and Journal the Word.
I do everything electronically.
I use https://www.biblegateway.com/ for my Bible reading. After all, it has every English version of the Bible.
Also, I use http://penzu.com/r/34f16257%C2%A0 for all of my journaling and have since November 2012 (so that tells you how much I like it). I also send emails I want to keep, news articles, blog posts, all of my writing, etc there to my account via email. It is my catch-all. If I read something on BibleGateway.com, I send the link there as well. On Penzu.com, there is unlimited storage. So, save everything I can. To help me remember.
What has really enriched my reading and journaling of the Bible is I copy and paste a different version each day of Romans 1 into a journal entry. (You could do this into a document as well.)
I focus on my four verse passage of the Day and make sure to interact with those verses in my journal. I do the Daily Questions and so on.
I also keep reading the verses we have studied so far and the four coming up the next day.
Also, once a day at least, I read all of Romans 1.
This has been so rewarding. Reading the verses repeatedly, all we have studied to this point in particular, has been very rewarding. It's made me come to treasure the text as it grows its roots deeper and deeper into my heart and mind.
So, give this method a try. Again, it will bless your socks off. I promise.
~*~
THE GOSPEL OR GOOD NEWS VERSES IN ROMANS 1:1-16 SO FAR
Written 04.22.2015. 958 a.m.
Romans 1:1-3 Expanded Bible (EXB)
1 From Paul, a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of Christ Jesus. ·God called me [L …called] to be an ·apostle [messenger] and ·chose me [set me apart; appointed me] to tell the ·Good News [Gospel].
2 God promised this ·Good News [Gospel] ·long ago [beforehand; previously] through his prophets, as it is written in the Holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about God's Son. ·As a man [orWith reference to his earthly life; L According to the flesh], he was born ·from the family [a descendant; L of the seed] of David [2 Sam. 7:11–14].
-- Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
~*~
Romans 1:9 Expanded Bible (EXB)
9 God, whom I serve ·with my whole heart [in/with my spirit] ·by telling [or for the sake of; L in] the ·Good News [Gospel] about his Son, ·knows [L is my witness] that I ·always [continually; never cease to] mention you
--Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
~*~
Romans 1:15-16 Expanded Bible (EXB)
15 That is why I ·want so much [am so eager] to preach the ·Good News [Gospel] to you in Rome.
16 [L For] I am not ashamed of the ·Good News [Gospel], because it is the power God uses to save everyone who believes—to save the Jews first, and then to save ·Gentiles [L the Greeks; C here meaning anyone who is not Jewish; contrast v. 14].
--Expanded Bible (EXB)
The Expanded Bible, Copyright © 2011 Thomas Nelson Inc. All rights reserved.
~*~
WHAT IS THE "GOSPEL" OR THE "GOOD NEWS"
It's been mentioned several times in Romans so far and I want more information. Consequently, I want to do more research. Here is a link to do precisely that:
http://biblehub.com/greek/2098.htm
Take a look and prayer journal your thoughts, what you learned, things that jumped out you, what God said to you, what you Saud to God, answer the Daily Questions, etc. Be thorough. Spend some time familiarizing yourself even more about the Gospel.
~*~
Re-read all of Romans 1 now.
Prayer journal your thoughts.
​~*~
TODAY'S PASSAGE
Today's passage is really Romans 1:17-20. However, I am going to go back a verse and add it to this as well to offer more context:
~*~
Romans 1:16-20 New Living Translation (NLT)
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
-- New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
~*~
JOURNAL THE WORD QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS TO PONDER
Take out your prayer journal and answer/do the following:
Prayer journal your thoughts (Journal the Word). Take a few minutes to do so.
What caught your attention? Why and how?
Answer who, what, where, when, why, and how questions regarding this passage. Be thorough and ask several of each. For instance: Who was mentioned? Where was mentioned? What happened? What was taught? What was said? When, what period of time, was mentioned in this passage? Etc.
What do we learn about Paul?
What do we learn about God, Jesus, and/or the Holy Spirit?
What was this saying at the time?
What did it mean back in the Bible times?
What does this mean to us today?
To you?
What is your key verse?
List all of the ways you can apply this passage to your life. Then, start to do so.
What does God say to you about these verses?
Journal your prayer about this passage, what God said to you, etc.
Answer several more of the Daily Questions (found here at this link: http://journaltheword.blogspot.com/2015/04/daily-questions-for-journal-word.html).
~*~*~
MY PERSONAL PRAYER JOURNALING THE WORD OF GOD AND ROMANS 1:1-20
Written 04.22.2015. 1030 a.m. and 2:05 p.m.
My Interaction with Romans 1:1-20 New Living Translation (NLT):
~*~
TEXT: 1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.
PJ (My personal prayer journaling): How have I been chosen by God?
How am I to share the Good News and Gospel?
How have I acted as a slave to Christ this week?
~*~
TEXT: 2 God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 The Good News is about his Son. In his earthly life he was born into King David's family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.
6 And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.
May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.
8 Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son.
10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can bring you some spiritual gift that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.
PJ: We are to be encouraged by one another's faith, not condemn, criticize, or judge another's faith. We are to gain courage from the faith of fellow Christians.
***
TEXT: 13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see spiritual fruit, just as I have seen among other Gentiles.
PJ: What is spiritual fruit?
Answer:
http://biblehub.com/greek/2590.htm
What is done in my life as a, and in, partnership with Jesus. This is fruit.
It is working with Jesus and allowing Him to work in me, through me, and around me, as I do and am what He asks of me.
It is Him to live through me, realizing my life is His anyway.
Spiritual fruit is when through union with Him I yield what is eternal and yield to eternity.
~*~
TEXT: 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world, to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News.
16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.
PJ: I would like to think I am not ashamed. However, how do I live it in the open and not just in my heart and mind? Do others know I believe? How has my writing reflected I am a Christ Follower? Do I realize my salvation is God's power in me, around me, and through me? What do I really think of salvation? Of my salvation? What does the Gospel mean to me and my life? What does it mean in the lives of those in my life? How do I think of the Gospel? Do I? How do I act on the Gospel? How do I act because of the Gospel? When do I think of the Gospel?
All of the previous questions, and more than those lisited, I need to ponder and answer.
How can I reach nonbelievers through my writing?
Pause.
How can I share the Gospel to unbelievers through my writing and this blog and blog book? Can I? I think these might be the most important questions I can ask and answer.
Lord, guide me, please.
What, Lord, do You want me to write? Your will be done. I need to get out of the way and allow You, Lord, to use me as Your vessel.
Pause. Pondering. Praying about this.
Am I to write three different aspects regarding each session of four verses?:
1) My walk through the four verses, reading, studying, praying, pondering, applying, reviewing, and remembering. 1st blog post.
2) Bible reading and study material for others.
3) Application of the material and what it means in life today. How does an ancient text apply today? Living the Word through journaling the Word.
Or... is this just supposed to be my walk through Romans?
Lord, please guide me.
I think through this.. I am starting to see I need to how I need ot take unbelievers into consideration and figure out how to make Romans a book they would want to read. And, today's Christians who are not in the Word every day, all day and night.
Or, am I?
Am I supposed to just share my walk through the text? And what I see it means for my life--and people can take it from there and learn through me.
Maybe through me sharing my walk through Romans and living it, others might believe and actually live it.
~*~
TEXT: 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
-- New Living Translation (NLT). Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Blessings,
--Stacy Duplease
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