Day 65: 1 Corinthians 15 "The Resurrection of the Dead"

I love this logic. It's like trying to listen to a theologian or something.

If there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ has not been raised, and all preaching and faith is useless, as we are still living in our sins.
We are also false witnesses of God, testifying that Christ has been raised. 

BUT, Christ has been raised!  Adam brought death, Jesus conquered death.

And everything will be put under his feet.  Well, except for God, who put everything under Jesus' feet.  Jesus submits to God and God is all in all.

Day 64: 1 Corinthians 15 "The Resurrection of Christ"

We have taken our stand on the gospel.  If we do not, we believe in vain.

The gospel: "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve, After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of who are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born."

First: Christ died
Second: He was buried
Third: He was raised
Fourth: He appeared to a lot of people

BUT BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM!
not by my works, but only by Him can I be who I am.  can I get where I need to go.  Only by His grace.  And as a result,
I WORKED HARDER THAN ALL OF THEM
and to remind everyone it's not me,
YET NOT I, BUT THE GRACE OF GOD THAT WAS WITH ME

<3

Day 63: 1 Corinthians 14 "Orderly Worship"

But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.  For God is not a God of disorder, but of peace.

Interestingly enough, it says that women are to stay silent.  If they have something to say, they should ask at home.  why?  cause women talk too much? (yes I do as well) cause women were the first to fall?  cause women are made of man?  why?

Also, I love how it is not one person teaching.  We should learn from EACH OTHER.  And if one has a revelation, we should listen to that person.  There is no "rabbi" anymore. Well, there's Jesus, but I'm talking about the church we are in now...that doesn't make sense.  Hmmmm...no one person within the church to change our lives to become exactly alike.  Only Jesus.

Yup.  God loves order.  Just imagine the order He put into our DNA, our genes, genome, chromosomes, cells, body, community, world, and universe.  The complexity and order of it all.  Amazing.  Truly truly amazing.  I seriously can't believe that scientists can think that there is no God.  how? 

Day 62: 1 Corinthians 14 "Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues"

Gifts again :)
God, you're awesome.


Okay...let's look at this...prophesying vs. speaking in tongues.  it is better to make a prophecy than to speak in tongues because it helps the church while speaking in tongues is confusing and not helpful at all.  makes sense.

"For this reason, anyone who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret what he says."

then there is something about the spirit and the mind. and how both need to be fruitful. ohhhh is it something along the lines that if you are really worshiping, singing, speaking out of the spirit, how can you not know through your mind?  but then how does the Holy Spirit "work" through you and some people claim they had no idea what they were saying?

"Brothers, stop thinking like children.  In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults."

This was brought up to me lately and it's been on my mind.  We are to be like children to enter the kingdom of God: humble.  However, we are to think like adults.  Reasoning, thinking, obeying as adults.

Unbelievers.  OHHHHH tongues show unbelievers God's power.  prophecy shows BELIEVERS God's way.  so everyone has different gifts, to cover all the bases.  I think...
cause then the last verses goes "if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand come sin while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare.  So he will fall down and worship god, exclaiming, "God is really among you!""  So does that mean it's still better to prophesy? hmmm

Day 61: 1 Corinthians 13 "Love"

If I have everything but not love, I am nothing.

Love.  the focus of my life this year.  to love others and how to do so.

LOVE:
Patient: answer nicely to my brother, don't be annoyed at him, don't lose my temper
Kind: to my brother play with him, give him the attention he longs for
Does not Envy: don't want what others have; God has so much more for me
Does not Boast: watch yourself, especially as you are graduating
Is not Proud: watch yourself, marks and such (ATTITUDE)
Is not Rude: answer when spoken to (emails too)
Is not Self-seeking: my plans are not for me but for God (and others)
Not easily Angered: don't lose my temper, especially with my brother and when I'm trying to get something done
Keeps no record of Wrongs: forgive and forget (forget as in don't bring it up again to harp)
Does not delight in Evil, but Rejoices with the Truth: oh. open my heart.  don't hide the darkness.  I really need help on this one...
Always Protects: instinct tells me this too.
Always Trusts: my trust does not waver.
Always Hopes: my hope is in God
Always Perseveres: I will not give up on this faith.  EVER.
Never Fails: thats God.  God never fails.

When I was a child, I reasoned, thought, acted like a child.  Now I am a man. [woman].  I will reason, think and act like one.

faith, hope and love.  but the greatest is love.

Day 60: 1 Corinthians 12 "One Body, Many Parts"

God is really trying to tell me something here.  You see, it has been brought up over and over in my life this past little while about who am I? What does God want me to do?  What is His plans for me?  What plans should I make for my future?  (grad time :P)

And this keeps coming up: spiritual gifts, differences in the body (as in not everyone will be doing the same thing), His direction through opportunities, skills, interests.

If the entire body were an eye, where would the sense of smell be?  If everyone was a doctor, where are those who teach?  where are those who write? entertain?  Now to find out what God wants me to be. 

And just thinking about the body itself, (even though it is a metaphor, chew on this a bit) think about how complex the body is.  I'm currently studying about DNA and protein synthesis.  The detail of each gene, which goes down to codons, separated into nucleotides, nitrogenous bases.  Just imagine, God says that He placed each of the body parts where He wanted it so it would work.  Well that would be coding it all just in the right way so it would work.  We can barely decipher what He has made, let alone try making something of the like.  So He has a place for me. Somewhere that nothing else can work.  He will shape me and form me (like a protein) and I'll only be able to work in His body in the shape He makes me to be.  My part?  Don't withhold the nucleotides and make mutations.  Don't go against His perfect plan. 

So, still, thats the passage, but what does this mean for me realistically?  I believe I know.  You've seen my interest.  You've heard my concerns.  You've seen my faith.  That is where I'm going.  If I'm thinking wrong, I pray God stops me.  NOW. PLEASE.

Day 59: 1 Corinthians 11-12 " The Lord's Supper" "Spiritual Gifts"

Sorry I missed yesterday.  I kinda fell asleep after dinner and didn't wake up until the next morning.  I did read the passage in the morning though (not that thats any excuse...)

"The Lord's Supper"

Remember, remember, remember what Jesus has done for us.  Remember the extent of his pain.  Remember the extent of his love.  And if anyone eats this drink and eats this bread in an unworthy manner is guilty of sinning.  SO examine yourself first.  Take care of your sins and your attitude before you come before God.  This is important.  A reminder but a solemn and meaningful one nonetheless. 

"Spiritual Gifts"

I love God's timing.  I read this passage after we had our first Grad Trans class and basically just after all the questions were raised: what am I going to be doing in the future? what does God want me to do in the future?  what are my gifts? talents?

And here's what the Bible says about spiritual gifts.  It all comes from the Spirit.  And there are different manifestations of the Spirit.  Not everyone is to do the same thing, we're all different.  It goes on to talk about healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing between spirits, speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues.  Then I asked myself this: what is my spiritual gifts?

Well the answer God gave me was: well, what have you done?  (your actions generally reflect who you are, your gifts, interests, etc...) I went, kids, I love them.  I love the teach them, take care of them.  Relationships.  I love to build them and encourage others.  Then came the one thing I get from everyone, in my heart jar, on my encouragement notes, I'm cheerful, joyful.  I can spread joy and happiness because I have it from God. 

Yup.  Thank you sooo very much God.  Thank you.

Day 58: 1 Corinthians 11 "Propriety in Worship"

Always found this to be a very interesting passage.

The idea that woman have to cover their head while praying or prophesying while men are not supposed to. 

Here's what I think of the ideas:
1) I agree that men are made in the glory of God and that woman are made in the glory of man.  however it also says that all things come from God.  Even though woman came from man and man was born of woman.
2) It says "because of the angles, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head." Really?  I give in that we have authority over us.  But really???
3) I like this part: "Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?"  This part kinda leaves it for people to choose themselves but then the next verses kinda suggests otherwise.  They talk about what is proper, men are not supposed to have long hair and women do for a crown of glory on their head. 

So what's the conclusion?  Ummmm....?  For now I'm continuing what I've been doing: not covering my head when I pray.  But it is something to think about woman's place on earth.

Day 57: 1 Corinthians 10 "The Believer's Freedom"

We are free.  There is no debating that.

Everything is allowed but not everything is good for you.

If I said eat as much candy as you want.  It's all for you, but it's your choice to eat it or not.  It's not good for you.

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. 
Do it for Him.  The focus.  EVERYTHING is about Him.  Not about us. But about him.


"It's all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and Your fame
It's not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways"
Jesus Lover of my Soul

Day 56: 1 Corinthians 10 "Warnings from Israel's History" "Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper"

Sorry again for missing a day.  I did read it on time (which is better than before), I just didn't post.  sorrrry

"Warnings from Israel's History"

The Israelites sinned as examples for us not to sin.  They received the consequences in hopes that we will not have to. 

Just saying, this section also have my favorite verse:
"No temptation has ever seized you except for what is common to man.  And God is faithful, He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

Learned it in baptismal class, have never forgotten it since.  It's a really good reminder when I get tempted.  Really good.

"Idol Feasts and the Lord's Supper"

Just slightly confused...
do not arouse God's jealously.  we are not stronger than Him.
sacrifices offered to idols are offered to demons.
you cannot partake both of God and demons (sounds like you cannot serve both God and money)
and we are one body in Christ.  ONE.

Day 55: 1 Corinthians 8+9 "Food Sacrificed to Idols" "The Rights of an Apostle"

I would like to make an excuse as to why I haven't posted for 4 days (5 if you consider after midnight another day, though I take it by the "days" I'm awake and asleep).  But that doesn't help anything so I'll just tell you the facts.

For Monday to Wednesday I was gone on a retreat.  Therefore I had asked my bffaeaeae to take over for a few days.  But, I did keep up the devos.  However, I found wi-fi at my retreat so I should have continued posting, or at the very least comment on what my bff had posted.  But I didn't check at all. 

So I came back on Wednesday and found that nothing had been posted.  Then got too lazy to post Wednesday night and Thursday night.  Laziness will be the death of my spiritual life.  It's like I'm too lazy to talk to the boy I like.  I'm killing myself here.  SO WHY DO I DO IT?!?!?!?!? no logical sense and yet it happens....I'm not logical?

Anyways.  On to the actual passage:
"Food Sacrificed to Idols"
Main Point: Don't restrain yourself from eating food offered to idols because it is now "unholy" (since it was offered to idols) (as what you eat does not bring you closer or farther away from God) BUT because it can cause the fall of others from their faith when they see you eating something "unholy".  For their sake.  Not Yours.

"The Rights of an Apostle"
the right: to harvest what they have sown (aka the support and belief of the believers)
slave to everyone to win as many as possible
"(though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law)"
"I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."
It takes hard work.  Discipline.  It's not easy.

Day 54: 1 Corinthians 4-5 "Apostles of Christ" "Expel the Immoral Brother!"

I did it again... missed a day.  If I do this, I should be doing it ahead, not behind...

By the way, Vivi will be taking over for the next three days as I have no access to internet :)

(I HAVE MY BIBLE WITH ME THOUGH!!)

"Apostles of Christ"

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts.  At that time each will receive his praise from God."
Just picture it: a light shinning into our hearts, either revealing monsters, darkness, fear, shame or a clean home, loving, warm and cozy.  It also brings up a really good point of judging.  We are not to judge because we are imperfect.  God is perfect and therefore will judge everyone not fair in our sense, but just.  To expand, it's like we think that two kids should have the same amount of play time, that is fair.  But God may say that one child has been given more by Him and therefore needs to produce/do more.  God is entirely just.  We are stupid...actually thats a bad way of saying it.  We make mistakes.

"What do you prefer? Shall I com to you with a whip, or in love and with a gentle spirit?"
 See the answer to these questions can be quite interesting.  If you think about it, the first inclination is to say in love and with a gentle spirit.  But then let me ask you: "Which one will make you change faster?"  One is encouraging, the other punishing.  Learn to learn through love.  Learn to teach through love.  IT'S SO HARD.
(but entirely worth it)

"Expel the Immoral Brother!"

1) Hand this man over to Satan:  This is not so the man can be punished for eternity but the verse follows up with the exact opposite.  "so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his SPIRIT SAVED on the day of the Lord."  Not only is God trying to protect His people from further sin, but He is also trying to save each and every lost sheep. Wow....

2) DO NOT ASSOCIATE with sexually immoral people THAT CALL THEMSELVES BROTHERS:  Do you see that condition? "What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church?"  We only distance ourselves from those who say they are following Christ but their actions say the exact opposite.  Now that this is clear, how about if there is a brother that is struggling with a sin?  Struggling with sexual immorality?  If that person has gone out, committed the sin, but acknowledges the sin, repents and asks for forgiveness?  The sinner is forgiven, but what if the sinner commits it again? and again and again?  and sincerely repents and asks for forgiveness each and every time?  Where does it end? Thorn in the side.