Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy (Saint) Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Yesterday James gave me this homemade Mother's Day card:



I hugged him and told him I loved him, and then we laughed, and I asked him, "Why did you call it Saint Mother's Day?" and he told me "...because moms are saints!" So sweet!

And I loved how he used a different color ink to highlight "App St.", (Appalachian State University) which just happens to be one of his favorite football teams. That boy is a mess, but I love him so.

Happy (Saint) Mother's Day y'all!

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Memory Verse - May 1st

I loved memorizing scripture as part of the LPM blog scripture memory challenge last year, and I've continued with memorizing verses this year. But this will be the first time I have posted one here on my blog.

These were the key verses from the message at church last week, and they really resonated with me:

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.  2 Peter 1: 3-4  NIV

First, verse 3 tells me I have everything I need for life and godliness. This means no excuses for being ungodly! I am equipped to be godly.

Second - I get this "everything I need" through God's divine power; in bringing me to the knowledge of himself, through Christ, He supplies everything I need.

Third - Through his glory and goodness, he gives me his very great and precious promises. My Zondervan NT Commentary (see reference below) states that these "promises" are referring to salvation, as mediated through Christ.
Fourth - So that I may participate in the divine nature! How do I do this? My commentary stated it like this: "This happens in at least two ways: 1) the promises themselves have a purifying effect on the believer's life and 2) conversion entails a break with the corruption caused by evil desires." So that in coming to know God through Christ, believers (that's me) escape the corruption of sin and Christ renews and restores the image of God in them. Hallelujah!

I also liked the version of these verses from the Message:

"Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust. "

Participation in the life of God.... what an amazing invitation.




Reference: Zondervan NIV Bible Commentary, Vol 2: New Testament 1994