Romans 10

 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”(that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”

   14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: 

“ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

      Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “LORD, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
18 But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
 “ Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
      And their words to the ends of the world.”
19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says:
      “ I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation,
      I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.”
20 But Isaiah is very bold and says:
      “ I was found by those who did not seek Me;
      I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.”
21 But to Israel he says:
“ All day long I have stretched out My hands
       To a disobedient and contrary people.”

I really love this chapter in the fact that so many take vs 9 so far out of context, this is the verse that these false converts come to church and clam to be christians by saying a little pray. Because some how they got a prayer out of that verse. I had been convicted once I had thought the same thing. I even tools people this same thing. I have repented for being nieve and not reading the rest of his word. I later understood the true meaning of salvation. Because as it reads in vs13-14 they can call on him, but how can they if they don’t believe?  but even in vs 9 if they believe (accept something as true; feel sure of the truth) and if you truly believe you will truly follow. Which means a whole life change. Not just a prayer. Then to end that chapter off vs 21ALL DAY LONG I have stretched my hands to a disobedient people. my word! If that doesn’t show Gods grace and mercy and passion for us to know him. Thank you Jesus for bringing conviction in my life to get to know you more and more each day. I love you Lord

Romans 9

Romans 9

 1I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!Amen. 6It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham’s offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”

 10Not only that, but Rebekah’s children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.14What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! 15For he says to Moses,  ”I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”16It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. 19One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” 20But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ ” 21Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use? 22What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25As he says in Hosea:  ”I will call them ‘my people’ who are not my people; and I will call her ‘my loved one’ who is not my loved one,” 26and, ”It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ they will be called ’sons of the living God.’ “27Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ”Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea,only the remnant will be saved. 28For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality. 29It is just as Isaiah said previously:”Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.” 30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the “stumbling stone.” 33As it is written: ”See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall,and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”

 

Man there is some parts in this chapter that hit me like a ton of bricks. vs 3 what the… he is saying he would rather be cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of his brothers. It was crazy cause last night we were in prayer at the church and God convicted me big time on my passion for the lost and how I have put that on the back burners, I know I have been through a lot the last 4 months but even before that I was slacking, probably because Jesus was pruning me to make me a better evangelist now that I am walking closer to him that I ever had in my life. Crazy doesn’t explain this. Its just nutz as he continues about the blessed ones and they don’t even see it, how sad. vs 18–20 Gods mercy and choice on our life. And until we understand we are at his mercy not our own life I don’t think we are really living.vs 26-27 only the remnant will be saved is so heart breaking and leaves a deep pain in me knowing people will spend eternity with out Jesus is so horrifying it makes me cry just think of all the lost people. vs 30-33 God places the Law there as a stone for a test almost? to see if they will try to act righteous in themselves rather then depend on The almighty Living God. Are you kidding me, I never looked at the law that way before. wow This Chapter has rocked me pretty Hard!!! I love Romans. Jesus you are my one and only God, Love and please burn a passion for the lost and a passion to follow your heart everyday of my life. Thank you 

Verse of the day

Romans 12:3 

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you

This verse is so close and dear to me, because truly understand the grace that has been given to me. I can never look at someone and not extend the grace that has been given to me. I understand maybe being hurt or upset with a decision they choose when they are wrong. But to not extend  grace and to think highly of my own self. Would make me complete hypocrite. I just see this verse so many times get left out. My prayers are that people keep this verse close to heart and not forget Gods Amazing Grace. Thanks Jesus

Ecclesiastes 12 last chapter

Ecclesiastes 12

1 Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,

      Before the difficult days come, 
      And the years draw near when you say, 

      “ I have no pleasure in them”: 
       2 While the sun and the light, 
      The moon and the stars, 
      Are not darkened, 
      And the clouds do not return after the rain; 
       3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, 
      And the strong men bow down; 
      When the grinders cease because they are few, 
      And those that look through the windows grow dim; 
       4 When the doors are shut in the streets, 
      And the sound of grinding is low; 
      When one rises up at the sound of a bird, 
      And all the daughters of music are brought low. 
       5 Also they are afraid of height, 
      And of terrors in the way; 
      When the almond tree blossoms, 
      The grasshopper is a burden, 
      And desire fails. 
      For man goes to his eternal home, 
      And the mourners go about the streets. 
       6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,
      Or the golden bowl is broken, 
      Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, 
      Or the wheel broken at the well. 
       7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, 
      And the spirit will return to God who gave it. 
       8 “ Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, 

      “ All is vanity.”

9 And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Preacher sought to find acceptable words; and what was written was upright—words of truth. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, and the words of scholars are like well-driven nails, given by one Shepherd. 12 And further, my son, be admonished by these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh.

 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
      Fear God and keep His commandments, 
      For this is man’s all. 
       14 For God will bring every work into judgment, 
      Including every secret thing, 
      Whether good or evil.

 

I guess vs 1 says it all “Before the difficult days come, And the years draw near when you say” but then to vs 13 fear God and keep his commandments. I guess I feel the same about a lot of stuff that blows my mind. THe things people do in the world is so crazy and even the people in church and the things they say. My jaw drops quite a bit but all that is meaningless. I just need to not let that make me loose focus on him and his plan for me. Because vs 14 he will bring ever work into judgement, including every secret thing. Which has to views on this. First I get like… good you will get what is coming to you far the evil and lies people did to me and calling themselves christians. But then the other part of me is…. oh crap I better check my heart because every thing secret whether good OR EVIL will come to light. So my thoughts and anger towards someone who stabbed my back can bight me right back if I hold hatred towards them. So Lord let me examine myself and see were I need correction and follow your Grace. Thanks Jesus I love you

Ecclesiastes 11

Ecclesiastes 11

   Cast your bread upon the waters,

      For you will find it after many days. 
    2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight, 
      For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. 
       3 If the clouds are full of rain, 
      They empty themselves upon the earth; 
      And if a tree falls to the south or the north, 
      In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. 
       4 He who observes the wind will not sow, 
      And he who regards the clouds will not reap. 
       5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind,
      Orhow the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child, 
      So you do not know the works of God who makes everything. 
       6 In the morning sow your seed, 
      And in the evening do not withhold your hand; 
      For you do not know which will prosper, 
      Either this or that, 
      Or whether both alike will be good. 
       7 Truly the light is sweet, 
      And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun; 
       8 But if a man lives many years 
      And rejoices in them all, 
      Yet let him remember the days of darkness, 
      For they will be many. 
      All that is coming is vanity.

      9 Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, 
      And let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; 
      Walk in the ways of your heart, 
      And in the sight of your eyes; 
      But know that for all these 
      God will bring you into judgment. 
       10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, 
      And put away evil from your flesh, 
      For childhood and youth are vanity.

Man I really need this today. I just woke up in one of those moods of frustration that my business isn’t take off somewhere. Wanting to get out of this hole I have been in for around 5 months now. With not much going on.(Lord I do Thank you for the little that I DO HAVE!!) Then reading this is real encouraging, knowing I can’t be anxious. But in everything prayer and supplication. If I want to do it myself then I would keep pushing. But if I want the Lords will I know I want to wait, be in prayer, and get ready for the plants to grow. Because it WILL if all I do is stay focused on him and not my business. Now that doesn’t mean I just sit on my buns and hope for something. But to prepare my garden, keep it fresh, keep it watered, keep my eyes on it but waiting for direction from Jesus. Because I know he is stirring up something huge and the hardest thing about it, is waiting. But I know Jesus is showing me patients. So I just better sit and learn it. So Lord teach me patients, I want it and I need it. Thank you Lord

Ecclesiastes 10

1 Dead flies putrefy^[a] the perfumer’s ointment,
      And cause it to give off a foul odor; 
      So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 
       2 A wise man’s heart is at his right hand, 
      But a fool’s heart at his left. 
       3 Even when a fool walks along the way, 
      He lacks wisdom, 
      And he shows everyone that he is a fool. 
       4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, 
      Do not leave your post; 
      For conciliation pacifies great offenses. 
       5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, 
      As an error proceeding from the ruler: 
       6 Folly is set in great dignity, 
      While the rich sit in a lowly place. 
       7 I have seen servants on horses, 
      While princes walk on the ground like servants. 
       8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, 
      And whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 
       9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, 
      And he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 
       10 If the ax is dull, 
      And one does not sharpen the edge, 
      Then he must use more strength; 
      But wisdom brings success. 
       11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; 
      The babbler is no different. 
       12 The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious, 
      But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 
       13 The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, 
      And the end of his talk is raving madness. 
       14 A fool also multiplies words. 
      No man knows what is to be; 
      Who can tell him what will be after him? 
       15 The labor of fools wearies them, 
      For they do not even know how to go to the city! 
       16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, 
      And your princes feast in the morning! 
       17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, 
      And your princes feast at the proper time— 
      For strength and not for drunkenness! 
       18 Because of laziness the building decays, 
      And through idleness of hands the house leaks. 
       19 A feast is made for laughter, 
      And wine makes merry; 
      But money answers everything. 
       20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; 
      Do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; 
      For a bird of the air may carry your voice, 
      And a bird in flight may tell the matter.

 

I guess all I can really say is. I want to be wise. Because there is a reason they call being a fool, is being a fool. Because you look and sound like a fool. And I guess laziness builds decay, wow. So Lord please I ask for wisdom from you. Just like James. I stand strong and firm on your word, you will give it liberally. Thanks Jesus 

Ecclesiastes 10

I read this chapter three times today and I need to read it out of my bible with footnotes because I was like this is a bit deeper than what I am understanding. So I will post it tomorrow. And if you have anymore thoughts please post them. Thanks

Ecclesiastes 9

 1 So I reflected on all this and concluded that the righteous and the wise and what they do are in God’s hands, but no man knows whether love or hate awaits him. 2 All share a common destiny—the righteous and the wicked, the good and the bad, the clean and the unclean, those who offer sacrifices and those who do not. 
       As it is with the good man, 
       so with the sinner; 
       as it is with those who take oaths, 
       so with those who are afraid to take them. 3 This is the evil in everything that happens under the sun: The same destiny overtakes all. The hearts of men, moreover, are full of evil and there is madness in their hearts while they live, and afterward they join the dead. 4 Anyone who is among the living has hope even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

 5 For the living know that they will die, 
       but the dead know nothing; 
       they have no further reward, 
       and even the memory of them is forgotten.

 6 Their love, their hate 
       and their jealousy have long since vanished; 
       never again will they have a part 
       in anything that happens under the sun.

 7 Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do. 8 Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. 9 Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun— all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. 10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

 11 I have seen something else under the sun: 
       The race is not to the swift 
       or the battle to the strong, 
       nor does food come to the wise 
       or wealth to the brilliant 
       or favor to the learned; 
       but time and chance happen to them all.

 12 Moreover, no man knows when his hour will come: 
       As fish are caught in a cruel net, 
       or birds are taken in a snare, 
       so men are trapped by evil times 
       that fall unexpectedly upon them.

 13 I also saw under the sun this example of wisdom that greatly impressed me: 14There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it. 15 Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man. 16 So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded. 17 The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded 
       than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

 18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war, 
       but one sinner destroys much good.

 

There is so much good stuff in this chapter. I really like vs 7 God favors what we do, what we do with our time. being wise in the decisions we make are important to him, and continuing on to enjoy life love my wife and even thought they are meaningless days. I still need them. I guess for sanity sake. Then down to vs 11 the race isn’t for the swift or the strong but time and chance happens in time. That really hit me. Then continue on about not knowing when I will be finished and when I will die or even Christ come back so I need to really make the most of eery minute I have to my family and to spreading the gospel. Jesus give me strength to stay focused on what you want me to do. I love you.

Ecclesiastes 8 slowly but shirley

Ecclesiastes 8

 1 Who is like the wise man? 
       Who knows the explanation of things? 
       Wisdom brightens a man’s face 
       and changes its hard appearance.

Obey the King

 2 Obey the king’s command, I say, because you took an oath before God. 3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the king’s presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for he will do whatever he pleases. 4Since a king’s word is supreme, who can say to him, “What are you doing?” 5 Whoever obeys his command will come to no harm, 
       and the wise heart will know the proper time and procedure.

 6 For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter, 
       though a man’s misery weighs heavily upon him.

 7 Since no man knows the future, 
       who can tell him what is to come?

 8 No man has power over the wind to contain it ; 
       so no one has power over the day of his death. 
       As no one is discharged in time of war, 
       so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

 9 All this I saw, as I applied my mind to everything done under the sun. There is a time when a man lords it over others to his own hurt. 10 Then too, I saw the wicked buried—those who used to come and go from the holy place and receive praise in the city where they did this. This too is meaningless.

 11 When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong. 12 Although a wicked man commits a hundred crimes and still lives a long time, I know that it will go better with God-fearing men, who are reverent before God. 13 Yet because the wicked do not fear God, it will not go well with them, and their days will not lengthen like a shadow.

 14 There is something else meaningless that occurs on earth: righteous men who get what the wicked deserve, and wicked men who get what the righteous deserve. This too, I say, is meaningless. 15 So I commend the enjoyment of life, because nothing is better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany him in his work all the days of the life God has given him under the sun.

 16 When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to observe man’s labor on earth—his eyes not seeing sleep day or night- 17 then I saw all that God has done. No one can comprehend what goes on under the sun. Despite all his efforts to search it out, man cannot discover its meaning. Even if a wise man claims he knows, he cannot really comprehend it.

 

Slowly moving through this book. But it is a whole new outlook on life. Its just so interesting how much Solomon rips on people who go out for there own selfish ambitions, self gain. I just truly like the fact that he goes after the heart. Integrity and not being selfish is what life is about. Crazy vs 11 people are filled with schemes to do wrong. So much of what this world was then and is today, wow. Amazing. Then if someone call’s themselves Christians, not living the life and giving good God fearing believers a bad name. But the only thing I can do is keep pressing on and keep walking in the light of Christ regardless of the world’s mess. I just have to raise my family with a God fearing worship life. Thank you Jesus for your grace and what you are showing me. I love you

Ecclesiastes 6

1 I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: 2God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil.

 3 A man may have a hundred children and live many years; yet no matter how long he lives, if he cannot enjoy his prosperity and does not receive proper burial, I say that a stillborn child is better off than he. 4 It comes without meaning, it departs in darkness, and in darkness its name is shrouded. 5 Though it never saw the sun or knew anything, it has more rest than does that man- 6 even if he lives a thousand years twice over but fails to enjoy his prosperity. Do not all go to the same place?

 7 All man’s efforts are for his mouth, 
       yet his appetite is never satisfied.

 8 What advantage has a wise man 
       over a fool? 
       What does a poor man gain 
       by knowing how to conduct himself before others?

 9 Better what the eye sees 
       than the roving of the appetite. 
       This too is meaningless, 
       a chasing after the wind.

 10 Whatever exists has already been named, 
       and what man is has been known; 
       no man can contend 
       with one who is stronger than he.

 11 The more the words, 
       the less the meaning, 
       and how does that profit anyone?

 12 For who knows what is good for a man in life, during the few and meaningless days he passes through like a shadow? Who can tell him what will happen under the sun after he is gone?

 

This is very interesting chapter. Basically understanding it is the money that is bad but the love of it and disregarding everything else is bad. I guess the verse that comes to mind is you can’t serve to masters. That would make a lot of since in this chapter. I mean vs 3 a stillborn is better off, wow. It just plain and clear that If I don’t serve God and serve my family and friends then what is life about. This is awesome because all through vbs this week the theme is serving friends, family, neighbors, community, and Jesus. What is life about if we don’t. God counts us off like dead if not, because our hearts are selfish. It is really hitting me being there and just refreshing me to become a better servant. Thanks Jesus