What did you learn today??....add yours to the list!
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R
I learned that stealing goes beyond simply taking an item that isn't yours. My church is doing a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments, looking at the deeper message behind them. My pastor brought up how stealing is really falsely claiming stewardship over something that was never meant to be yours. For instance, he brought up the Norman Rockwell picture in which a woman is at the butcher's. The butcher is trying to increase the price by putting his finger on the scale, while the woman is trying to decrease it by placing her finger under it.
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/wp-content/uploads/satevepost/93610031.jpg
The pastor pointed out that, while these people would probably not think of themselves as thieves, each would be angry at the other if he/she realized what he/she was doing and think of the other as a thief. Likewise, we do similar things by denying people what is rightfully theirs. Such as fathers who don't bring their children up in the Lord, despite the command saying that that is a father's doing (Ephesians 6:4). Or when we spend the time and resources God has given us on building our own kingdoms instead of His.
It really brought home how tangled up we get in worrying more about the exact word God's commands use instead of looking at the broader meaning. It was also a very humbling reminder about why we need Jesus, because it's impossible for a human to even go a day without trying to build up his/her own kingdom and letting his/her focus slip off of building God's. Without Jesus we would truly have no hope.
http://www.saturdayeveningpost.com/wp-content/uploads/satevepost/93610031.jpg
The pastor pointed out that, while these people would probably not think of themselves as thieves, each would be angry at the other if he/she realized what he/she was doing and think of the other as a thief. Likewise, we do similar things by denying people what is rightfully theirs. Such as fathers who don't bring their children up in the Lord, despite the command saying that that is a father's doing (Ephesians 6:4). Or when we spend the time and resources God has given us on building our own kingdoms instead of His.
It really brought home how tangled up we get in worrying more about the exact word God's commands use instead of looking at the broader meaning. It was also a very humbling reminder about why we need Jesus, because it's impossible for a human to even go a day without trying to build up his/her own kingdom and letting his/her focus slip off of building God's. Without Jesus we would truly have no hope.
R
Oh, I just learned a few minutes ago that today, when I thought my pastor was saying the "Imago Day," he was actually saying the "Imago Dei"!
I either never heard that term or don't remember hearing it. I figured when my pastor said humans were created in the "imago day", it had to be referring to one of the days of creation and figured, hmmm, I'll have to look that phrase up. Found out "imago dei" is Latin for "image of God." Gotta love homophones and Latin! Actually, are they still homophones if they're in different languages?
I either never heard that term or don't remember hearing it. I figured when my pastor said humans were created in the "imago day", it had to be referring to one of the days of creation and figured, hmmm, I'll have to look that phrase up. Found out "imago dei" is Latin for "image of God." Gotta love homophones and Latin! Actually, are they still homophones if they're in different languages?
Oh, I just learned a few minutes ago that today, when I thought my pastor was saying the "Imago Day," he was actually saying the "Imago Dei"! I either never heard that term or don't remember hearing it. I figured when my pastor said humans were created in the "imago day", it had to be referring to one of the days of creation and figured, hmmm, I'll have to look that phrase up. Found out "imago dei" is Latin for "image of God." Gotta love homophones and Latin! Actually, are they still homophones if they're in different languages?
I either never heard that term or don't remember hearing it. I figured when my pastor said humans were created in the "imago day", it had to be referring to one of the days of creation and figured, hmmm, I'll have to look that phrase up. Found out "imago dei" is Latin for "image of God." Gotta love homophones and Latin! Actually, are they still homophones if they're in different languages?
Money is one of the most influential powers in life.
I was musing today about how some people approach it, paying the least amount as possible on everything like taxes or talking others down in price on everything and anything.
Some want to make sure they pay the most for everything because everything quality bears a hefty price tag and they have enough to pay their taxes so they don't worry if there's a deduction they missed and would never dream of asking for a lower price on something.
Some pay everything they should, maybe paying more on taxes just to make sure they've paid enough.
Then that made me think of people I know who are stingy, some are generous and some would never dream of cheating anyone, not even the IRS and definitely not God.
Then a scripture came to mind.
Romans 13:8-10
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Each and everyone of you, I owe you love if you're my brother and sister in Christ. So I asked myself, am I cheating my brothers and sisters of what I owe them; in what ways am I not loving my brethren?
Am I cheating God? He's the one who said to owe nothing but to love one another. Gosh that seems so simple. But is it? So in what way am I not loving God?
I was musing today about how some people approach it, paying the least amount as possible on everything like taxes or talking others down in price on everything and anything.
Some want to make sure they pay the most for everything because everything quality bears a hefty price tag and they have enough to pay their taxes so they don't worry if there's a deduction they missed and would never dream of asking for a lower price on something.
Some pay everything they should, maybe paying more on taxes just to make sure they've paid enough.
Then that made me think of people I know who are stingy, some are generous and some would never dream of cheating anyone, not even the IRS and definitely not God.
Then a scripture came to mind.
Romans 13:8-10
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Each and everyone of you, I owe you love if you're my brother and sister in Christ. So I asked myself, am I cheating my brothers and sisters of what I owe them; in what ways am I not loving my brethren?
Am I cheating God? He's the one who said to owe nothing but to love one another. Gosh that seems so simple. But is it? So in what way am I not loving God?
And then, because I'm a context person, I read before vs 8-10.
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
As I/we resist authority we're resisting God. I have to ask myself - who am I resisting by my words..... in what I say?
There's really a lot that could be said in these first 7 verses, but my musing was on money so stick to that.
There's something we owe to everyone. We owe taxes and we should pay them joyfully. Taxes pay for a lot of stuff we don't like, but it also pays for a lot we do. Paved roads, police, fireman and military are a few that we probably can all say we're happy to pay what's due them.
But governing authorities, whether we like them are not are due their pay. We owe custom, we owe fear and we owe honor.
What would custom be? I'm not sure on that one. I guess I've got some research to do.
The fear is an easy one and so is the honor. I'm asking myself if I fear and honor the governing authorities? That means my mayor, my representatives, my governor all the way up to the POTUS no matter who they are.
Am I honoring them with my speech, my thoughts and my actions.
I can disagree with them and I don't have to like them, but I do have to honor, fear and give custom as it applies to each position of authority or each rule of governing.
So that's something I'm learning on today.
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience’ sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Render to all what is due them: tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
As I/we resist authority we're resisting God. I have to ask myself - who am I resisting by my words..... in what I say?
There's really a lot that could be said in these first 7 verses, but my musing was on money so stick to that.
There's something we owe to everyone. We owe taxes and we should pay them joyfully. Taxes pay for a lot of stuff we don't like, but it also pays for a lot we do. Paved roads, police, fireman and military are a few that we probably can all say we're happy to pay what's due them.
But governing authorities, whether we like them are not are due their pay. We owe custom, we owe fear and we owe honor.
What would custom be? I'm not sure on that one. I guess I've got some research to do.
The fear is an easy one and so is the honor. I'm asking myself if I fear and honor the governing authorities? That means my mayor, my representatives, my governor all the way up to the POTUS no matter who they are.
Am I honoring them with my speech, my thoughts and my actions.
I can disagree with them and I don't have to like them, but I do have to honor, fear and give custom as it applies to each position of authority or each rule of governing.
So that's something I'm learning on today.
A certain amount of fear is healthy - the kind that makes you stop and think things through, consider the consequences before doing something. But any fear beyond that is your enemy. Thats the fear that drives you to doubt the people you should trust, the fear that sends you into a panic, takes away you're ability to think clearly, and compels you to make decisions on impulse.
D
I learned that big box of lost suncatchers I saw on the front porch last summer was really a very thin box with only a few suncatchers over a big boxes of old stamp collection books. (And I had to move a bunch of things out of the way to get to it, too. lol) On the good side, I don't remember making any of the suncatcher I did find, except for one. I can't use that one. My first big project years ago. Figures. lol
I learned of a new spot in the area to read more.
I learned about the canonization process, again.
I learned that my cousin is pretty amazing, that God has gifted my cousin's craft to a whole town.
I learned a verse, more or less, from Psalm 28: "My heart trusts in Him"
I learned I can still juggle, maybe better than I ever could.
I learned the importance of joining a group of team members for a bite to eat.
(Pray that God guards my heart, and that I will be a quiet witness to the teens and younger adults.)
I learned about the canonization process, again.
I learned that my cousin is pretty amazing, that God has gifted my cousin's craft to a whole town.
I learned a verse, more or less, from Psalm 28: "My heart trusts in Him"
I learned I can still juggle, maybe better than I ever could.
I learned the importance of joining a group of team members for a bite to eat.
(Pray that God guards my heart, and that I will be a quiet witness to the teens and younger adults.)