Love: Gratitude Documented Mini Album

During the month of November, I enjoy doing thankfulness activities with my kids. A couple years ago I realized I wanted to do something to anticipate Thanksgiving the way we do Advent for Christmas. So I went to Pinterest for ideas! Isn't Pinterest so addicting?! I found a beautiful thankful tree with real branches and paper leaves. But after using it for decor at church my branches appeared to have a bug so I had to toss them. And really that wasn't very kid friendly. But I knew I could tweak that idea to be the perfect fit for us. I drew a tree on poster board and cut a bunch of leaves with my Cricut Expression. (I have a Silhouette Cameo now and can do the same thing.) This tree is perfect to pull out every November and add more leaves each year as we remember what we're thankful for. And it's fun to look back at last year and see silly things like marshmallows!

I have often done an informal thankful project for myself this time of year too. I usually make a few journal entries and post a few pictures on Instagram without making it through the whole month. This year I was so excited to learn about the #GratitudeDocumented project from Illustrated Faith. They posted this list of things to focus your attitude of gratitude on for the next 30 days and also send weekly email updates with corresponding verses.

My ability to be thankful is completely wrapped up in my faith in Jesus! Without Him I wouldn't know true love and my thankfulness for the little things in life flow out of my gratefulness for His sacrifice.

I knew I wanted to create a mini album with this theme. I had this cute Insta sized teal album that I'd won in a giveaway a few months ago and when I saw all the colors in the October 'Woodlands' Take 10 Kit, I knew it was the perfect fit. The colors are a match and so many of the cards and pieces reflect thankful sentiments!

This page is about LOVE from day 8. I put down a thin layer of gesso on watercolor paper so I could get a nice creamy look with my gelatos. I combined 3 different shades and used water with my finger to get this gorgeous background color. I used pieces from the Woodlands glam bag and washi to embellish. The alphas are from a previous Take 10 kit. After adding the verse from Romans 12:9 I one bare corner that I filled with some hand drawn hearts. I had planned to use a heart stencil for a slightly different looking background but technical difficulties interfered. Now I'm glad because I really like how this turned out!

On the back side, I water colored a heart and some splatters with my gelatos. Then I used the 'love you' tag, label and leaf stamps to both cover and add interest to a space that I mostly filled with my personal reflections about love.

Thanks for letting me share this unique page with you! I will be working on this all month and look forward to sharing more with you! I'm so thankful for this scrappy community I can be apart of with you and hope you can find gratitude in today's big and small moments!

Baby Girl Millie: 9 months

In these 2 pages, I used the Dear Lizzy Neapolitan core kit and the Baby Edition for Her core kits. This layout records quite the variety of stories in our lives! In this 2 week time frame, we celebrated birthdays, enjoyed the fall weather and said goodbye to loved ones. It was emotional time and the hidden journaling on the rose card took me a while to complete.

1 Peter 1:3-9 says:

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

⁶ In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

When I focus on these verses, that whole week is more hopeful and comes into focus. The focus is eternity, not here and now! If I were to focus on only here, I'd drown in my sorrows and worries. Each day has plenty of troubles of it's own, not to mention reliving past ones. But I am so grateful that Jesus' promises believers, there is more. I have an inheritance, a future that is 'incorruptible, undefiled and does not fade away'! 

Recording even the sad stories is important because it reminds me of the hope that Jesus gives and bring all of life into focus! It gives me strength to be thankful for the hard times and gives me even more joy in the good times.

Thursday Thoughts on Romans

Today I started reading through Romans via a reading plan on my YouVersion Bible app. It's supposed to be a 8 day plan. I am sure I won't finish in that short of a time frame but I intend to do at least a chapter a day.
I've always loved the book of Romans. There are so many bold verses! Paul speaks so strongly about Christ and what being a Christian is all about. He doesn't mince words.. my kinda guy. :) I was blessed to study Romans at Bible college and it only deepened my convictions. And I haven't read entirely through this book since then.
After only the first day and the first two chapters, I am encouraged and convicted. Here are a couple verses that jumped out at me...

Romans 1:24-25 NKJV, especially verse 25.
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
   I always have heard that line about worshipping the Creator rather than the creation and didn't know it was actually a verse.

Romans 2:29 NKJV
but  he is  a Jew who  is one  inwardly; and circumcision  is that  of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise  is not from men but from God.
   Beautiful picture and such a convincing reminder.

Wow. I love how any time I read the Word, I'm moved and encouraged. What have you been reading and learning?

SSMT

Proverbs 31:17-18 NKJV
She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.  She perceives that her merchandise  is  good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.

I am sad because I'm falling behind. I'm still picking my verses every couple weeks but I haven't memorized them as well as when I started. And I know I need to move forward and be committed! The verses I have committed to memory are sticking with me. They pop into my head when I need an encouraging reminder.

How do you re-energize yourself when you've fallen behind on a personal commitment?
What verses stick with you?

SSMT

Today my verse is Proverbs 31:10-12 NKJV.
Who can find a virtuous wife?
For her worth  is  far above rubies.  The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.  She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
This chapter always encourages me or convicts me. So many of the verses are personal goals for my life. It's about time I start memorizing them!

SSMT

I forgot to post it for the 15th of January...

Cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. Psalm 143:8

Today...

Daniel answered and said, 'Blessed be the name of God forever and ever.  For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. Daniel 2:20-21 NKJV

This is getting challenging but it's the good kind! Sorta like when you working out and you feel the burn but you push ahead. I know this is good exercise for my mind and heart!

SSMT

I'm excited! I just committed to the Siesta Scripture Memory Team! 
Today I caught up on my Google Reader. I read Beth's original surprise post and thought it sounded good but I couldn't do it. I don't have time. I'm bad at memorization. I'm too forgetful already, how could I add to my brain list! I would fail anyhow.
I read on. The directions seemed easy and she sounded so excited. Maybe I should at least try this. January 1st post... Day 1 SSMT... I missed it. Surely I was too late so why bother. But as I read down through the comments to see what verses the women were memorizing, I saw a bunch of women just posted yesterday! And then I remembered this encouragement from Beth's first post...
one of the things we prioritize and love to do around here is memorize Scripture. It is a huge part of calling the mind captive to Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-5) and most of us know from experience that our battles are won or lost in our MINDS. I have been actively memorizing Scripture as a primary Spiritual discipline since my early 30′s. I am thoroughly convinced that God used it to bring immeasurable healing to my mind, my memories, and my thought life. I tend toward obsessive thoughts and fears and unrelenting replays of bad memories and, when I fall away from actively hiding God’s Word in my heart, they come back with a vengeance. Anybody else? There are no words big enough to express the difference Scripture memory has made in my life. God also showed me along the way how much accountability and partnership can enhance the success of the discipline. (bold mine)
I know I need to make my mind captive to the Lord!! This new year has started out with me taking on a load of worry, particularly about Olivia. So my first verse is...
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) 
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
So thank you Lord! Thank you for using Beth Moore's excitement and passion about scripture memorization to strike a chord in my heart and convince me to commit to memorizing Your Word this year. Here I come 2011!

Living Hope

These verses have been on my mind. We used them for Grandpa's memorial service.
1 Peter 1:3-9
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

I'm thankful for friends who send me verses to remind me that they're praying for me and thinking of me. The Word of Truth is the best kind of encouragement!

Wish you were here!

On Tuesday mornings, I attend Bible Study. We're doing a Beth Moore study of Esther. I am so excited to go every week! And each week, I wish every woman I know could be there with me! 

This week's study was focused on meanness. It was a surprising topic for Esther. I wasn't expecting it but it still rang true. The key points were...
It's tough being a woman in a mean world.
1. meanness always has a history.
2. meanness perceives a threat.
3. meanness catches like a virus.
4. meanness is curable.
I love how every week I am so encouraged and convicted! Each week I also think of all my sisters in Christ that aren't sitting with me and wish they were. I'm so excited about what I'm learning and I wish all my girlfriends were with me! 

Motivation & Men

This article has me thinking...

Mind The Gap by Lauren F. Winner
Teaser (read the whole thing at the above link):
Gender roles — the concept of how men and women differ (beyond the obvious biology, that is) and, concomitantly, what their roles in church life, the office, and the home should be — have been debated for decades by Christians and non-Christians alike. But when we talk about gender and leadership, we may have been leaving out one crucial fact of contemporary life: Regardless of what we say we think about women and leadership, when it comes to college-aged and 20-somethings, women are leading in all sorts of areas. Let me offer two examples — one anecdotal and one backed up by hard research....
What should the church's response to this be? Well, I hope it's two-fold: First, women should get some applause for the wise way they're stewarding time and all the contributions they make to church and civic life. At the same time, we all need to encourage even young boys to devote more time to civic engagement and less to computer gaming. What we should not do is buy into a discourse that pits men against women, takes competition for granted, and tacitly assumes that only one group — men or women, but never both — can excel in college or take responsibility in church life. All too often, discussions of any kind of "gender gap" polarize conversation. That is, people respond to the news that women outnumber men in college classrooms with panic and decide they need to devote all their attention to helping men out. I'm not sure that any strategies cobbled together in the heat of anxiety, though, will get us very far. Perhaps the church needs to pause and notice the gendered leadership dynamics in colleges and in young adult ministries, and — rather than panic — prayerfully consider how we can affirm and encourage the contributions, leadership and gifts of both men and women. This isn't, after all, a debate about what's good for men versus what's good for women. Instead, it ought to be a conversation about how to create communities, and opportunities for leadership and learning that are life-giving to all of us.

I first ran across this article at the Boundless blog where they are having a discussion about it. Here are some of their thoughts (read the full discussion here):
Ted: ...In all honestly, if you found Winner's article to be offensive, I'd understand why. It tends to make sweeping generalizations about men and about women. The tone is a bit on the cynical side. It offers few legitimate solutions. Why did I publish it, then? Because the facts remain that percentage-wise, women are more involved than men in community leadership roles, at least in university and church. I think that's a real problem. And I'd like to see us discuss this.
Mike speaks a lot about the parent's responsibility: ...As to the solution? The author unfortunately is vague on this point but don't knock her; coming up with viable, concrete solutions is difficult. She criticizes guys spending too much time playing video games, but I don't think video games are the core problem. The core problem is controlling what young men do with their free time. Girls may be naturally more inclined to use it productively, but most boys it seems are not. I believe the most practical and simple solution, at least for the academic realm, is for a parent to exert more of their God-given responsibility to manage their kids' time. That means making rules limiting TV, Internet, video game use, and so on. That also means making rules (e.g., homework done before play) and consequences for not following those rules...

My thoughts: Well, I'm still mulling but I can echo the point of this comment:
Jammy had the following to say on Apr 20 at 5:22 PM:
I don't think Winner is writing about a surprising problem and it isn't new. Movements like Promise Keepers and Muscular Christianity (1900's) have tried to encourage men to purse the ideals of engaged manhood. Honestly though, if I were a man, I would hope that given the resources available to me as a child of God and empowered by His Spirit I'd be able to overcome cultural norms and expectations. I mean, I understand things are tough, but I grew up with out a mother and I refuse to let that keep me from becoming a Godly woman. At what point, will men "man up" and not be conformed to the pattern of this world? Society and the media tell me what I should be everyday, and frankly I fail, but I've another standard for living and being and I know it's more lasting than anything this world has to offer. Shouldn't this be something men are capable of doing too? Collectively and individually?

A couple things that I think I can articulate clearly...
It is hard to live as a godly woman in a world that constantly screams that you are better then men. It's hard to think on 'whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy' (Philippians 4:8) when the world via TV and a million other sources says that men are failures and not worthy of our respect. Our culture does not encourage women to submit to or follow their husbands. It does not teach us to be respectful to our fellow human beings. It is hard to find a balance between being an 'independent woman' and a woman who is dependent on the Lord.
I'm still thinking about what I want to say and how. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this issue - How does it affect you? Do you see this problem in your life? In your church?

Regulate Freedom?

I recently read this interesting article from BreakPoint Commentaries.

Degrading Lyrics, Degraded Behavior
By Chuck Colson, 4/7/2009
Music and Kids
Young men, dressed as animals, follow several attractive women down the street. As they close in, the men shoot darts into women’s bodies—as if the women were animals and the men big game hunters. Moments later, all the women are lying on the ground. This scene is from a music video by a band called the Bloodhound Gang. The lyrics include such gems as: “You and me baby ain’t nothin’ but mammals. Let’s do it like they do on the Discovery Channel.” That’s about as explicit as I’m allowed to get—or want to get. The song, like many others, not only contains offensive language; it also describes men treating women in degrading ways. And now there’s evidence that listening to this music leads teens to engage in the same kind of behavior the songs describe. According to published reports, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh evaluated the sexual aggressiveness of popular song lyrics from least degrading to most degrading. And then they asked 771 teenagers about both their taste in music and their sexual behavior. It turned out that 44.6 percent of the teens who listened to the most degrading music had engaged in sex. But of those who had not listened to sexually-degrading music, only 20.6 percent had sex. There’s more bad news, according to Brian Primack, the study’s lead author. He said the lyrics, which “frequently portray aggressive males subduing submissive females . . . may lead adolescents to incorporate this ‘script’ for” sex “into their worldview.” They may make both male and female adolescents “feel compelled to play out” the roles the lyrics assign to them, Primack added. No wonder three-quarters of a million American teenagers get pregnant each year; or that nearly a fourth of all teenage girls contract a sexually-transmitted disease, or that so many women are sexually abused by men. What can parents do about this on their own? Not much, I’m afraid. Sure, you can snap those nasty CDs in two if you catch your kids with them. But as Helen Ward, president of the Kids First Parents Association of Canada told the French news service, modern technology means it’s almost impossible for parents to monitor what their kids are listening to. “Government,” she says, “needs to help parents regulate the industry.” Well, she’s right, and we ought to join with other parents to find ways to do that. It won’t be easy. There are some people who, no matter how much evidence you give them, simply refuse to accept the truth—magical thinking, I believe it’s called. They like degrading music, they don’t think it harms anyone, and therefore—in their minds, it doesn’t harm anyone. Until the day—if it ever comes—degrading music is banished from public life, we need to gently explain to our kids how music can affect them—just as violent video games and television do. We are obliquely warned of this possible damage in Philippians 4:8: We are told to dwell on whatever is true, right, pure, lovely, excellent, and worthy of praise. Once again, modern science is proving the truth of Bible teachings. That Pittsburgh study reveals that if we choose instead to dwell on what is evil, false, and degrading, we end up harming, not only ourselves, but our society as a whole. And that’s not something to sing about.
For Further Reading and Information
"Explicit Lyrics Linked To Sex Among Teens: Scientists," Breitbart.com, 4 March 2009.
"The Kids Are Alright," BreakPoint Commentary, 8 December 2008.
“The Offensive Truth: Relativism and Our Kids,” BreakPoint Commentary, 20 June 2007.
"Beyond the Music (Video)," BreakPoint Commentary, 10 August 2004.
Kevin Twit, "What's In a Song," BreakPoint.org, 10 July 2006.

This article brings up two points of discussion for me...
1. The obvious being how we (definitely I) don't usually pause to realize how music affects us and our thoughts. How many times have I heard or used the excuse that 'it's just a song' or 'it's just a movie'? I know it's not real and I sure wouldn't do that. But in spite of knowing that, if I'm honest, I do come out of a movie feeling affected. I do hear songs and am moved. Can I really enjoy something that is not in line with God's Word and not let it affect me in any way?

2. It’s almost impossible for parents to monitor what their kids are listening to. “Government,” she says, “needs to help parents regulate the industry.”
Really? Should we expect the government to help with this? Why? This is not a theocracy. This isn't a nation of Christians. Why should we expect the government to rule by the rules of the Bible that we follow in our own lives. Do you expect the non-Christians in your life to live by the same standards that you do? The freedom that our government gives us to worship and live however we please also gives others that same freedom. As soon as you start asking the government to make laws in following your personal beliefs and practices, you're also opening the door for others who disagree with you to do the same.
For example, there is a smoking ban in Lincoln. I really like the fact that I don't have to be exposed to cigarette smoke in local establishments. It's nice. It's comfortable - for me. But this is regulating a freedom. How do I know that the next regulation on the table might not be taking away a freedom that I enjoy? I'm just saying this type of regulation could lead down a slippery slope.

Still reading and found this article. My point exactly.
Silencing Free Speech and Religious Liberty
Posted by Jim_Daly on Mar 13, 2009 4:03:24 PM
Picture this.
You operate a family-owned photography business which, among other services, creatively captures weddings on film. Further, imagine that you’re a Christian photographer and due to your religious convictions, decide to turn down certain photo shoots including “commitment ceremonies” for same-sex couples. Now, imagine your shock when a judge orders you to pay $6,637.94 to settle a lawsuit brought by an individual who complained about this alleged act of “discrimination.” That’s what happened last year to Jon and Elaine Huguenin, owners of Elaine Photography LLC when Vanessa Willock filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission. Willock argued that she was discriminated against due to her sexual orientation. The Huguenin’s maintain that they passed on the opportunity to photograph the ceremony because their Christian beliefs were in conflict with Willock’s request. Simply put, Jon and Elaine had no obligation or desire to surrender their religious integrity for a buck. What happened to this husband and wife duo is yet another example of what I mentioned earlier: political activists and so-called “progressives” on the left are using “discrimination” and “hate speech” laws to silence freedom of religious expression. Senior counsel Jordan Lorence, from the Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), is appealing the decision on behalf of the Huguenins. He believes, and I concur, that if these precedents aren’t quickly overturned, “Christians could be forced to advocate for viewpoints with which they disagree or to participate in events that violate their conscience.” There are twenty states with non-discrimination acts on the books. Left unchecked, homosexual activists could strong-arm churches into permitting civil union ceremonies in their sanctuary, force pastors to officiate such unions against their will, and fine photographers, catering services, florists, bakers, wedding planners, musicians or other businesses who, due to their religious convictions, elect not to service certain cliental. Lorence argues that “The government cannot make people choose between their faith and their livelihood. Could the government force a vegetarian videographer to create a commercial for the new butcher shop in town? American business owners do not surrender their constitutional rights at the marketplace gate.” Ironically, as ADF points out, at the time of this judgment the state of New Mexico didn’t recognize either same-sex marriage or homosexual civil unions. Which begs the question: Why, then were the Huguenin’s fined? I submit that this is the tip of the iceberg. The next step by activists on the left is to shut down the exercise of religious speech starting with those who oppose same-sex marriage and the redefinition of a family. That’s what happened when Boston Catholic Charities who, on March 10, 2006, stopped serving as an adoption agency because they couldn’t comply with a Massachusetts law forbidding discrimination against placing children with same-sex couples. I could site dozens of such examples where the message is the same: change your business model, pay a fine, or close your doors. Using the courts to force private businesses into violating their own convictions is nothing short of coercion. I’d say that’s politically correctness gone wild. Such speech control minimizes the free exchange of ideas and, in turn, permits only one side of the debate a voice. If this trend continues, we, as a nation, will take a giant step toward the fascist speech and thought control prevalent in totalitarian nations. Whether in the classroom, in business, or in the public square, using “discrimination” and “hate speech” laws to ban religious thought and expression is wrong. It’s un-American. And it’s why we should stand with ADF as they fight this battle to preserve our religious freedoms.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Similar to my thoughts in chapter 1 - Paul's humility and claim to all his words and wisdom being the Spirit is something I want to emulate.

Christ Crucified

¹ And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. ² For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ³ I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

Spiritual Wisdom
⁶ However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
⁹ But as it is written:
“ Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. ¹¹ For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. ¹⁶ For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

In flock we've been studying James 2 and had some serious discussions on the chapter and a MacArthur sermon about it. Verse 14 is another evidence of fruit. -Without the Spirit we can't know God and can't understand what He has to say. The Bible is His words to us so I think it stands to say that without the Spirit we would be hard pressed to understand the Word. Richard, Jnet - right?

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

This sections is totally summed up by what I have highlighted.
We are nothing without Christ! - I have no words, no wisdom, no life, no glory, no anything without Christ. AMEN.

Glory Only in the Lord
²⁶ For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. ²⁷ But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; ²⁸ and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, ²⁹ that no flesh should glory in His presence. ³⁰ But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— ³¹ that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

1 Corinthians 1:10-25

Notice "For"s. All of 1 Corinthians is connected by them even though there are breaks.

Sectarianism Is Sin
¹⁰ Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. ¹¹ For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you. ¹² Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?
¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵ lest anyone should say that I had baptized in my own name. ¹⁶ Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Besides, I do not know whether I baptized any other. ¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.

Christ the Power and Wisdom of God

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:
“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”
²⁰ Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹ For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. ²² For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; ²³ but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, ²⁴ but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

I love the reminder that the message of the gospel isn't my words. Even Paul, a great father in the faith claims to have no wisdom without Christ. I far too often take pride in my own knowledge of Him. He has blessed me with opportunities to learn about Him but in spite of feeling intellectually prepared to speak about my faith, I need to rely more on His power of the message. The last thing speaks for itself.
It's hard to comment because I feel like it's all right there and what else can I say. :)

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

I've been reading 1 Corinthians and I'd like to share what I've been learning. And putting it down on "paper" will help me remember it too!

Greeting

¹ Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,
² To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:
³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Gifts at Corinth
⁴ I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, ⁵ that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, ⁶ even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, ⁷ so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸ who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

I am always so thankful and reassured every time I read the words 'God is faithful' in the Bible. This is one of His greatest promises.