Romans 11:7-16

Because of God's mercy and Kevin watching Chloe this morning (early riser that she has become) I was able to memorize the following verses:

What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it but the rest were hardened. As it is written, "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day." And David says, "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a retribution for them; let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see, and bend their backs forever." So I ask, did they stumble in order that they might fall? By no means! Rather through their trespass salvation has come to the Gentiles, so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world, and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean! Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead? If the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, so is the whole lump, and if the root is holy, so are the branches.

(I don't know what happened to the font on this post and I can't seem to fix it.  Weird.)

Romans 11:1-6

This has been a very difficult week as far as memory work goes. I have had a hard time falling asleep and Chloe has been waking me up early.  So I'm finding myself exhausted during the day and having difficulty concentrating.  This morning, however, I woke up (on my own) at 5:45. I was able to stay focused and get 6 verses memorized!  Praise God!

I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descent of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life." But what is God's reply to him? "I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Romans 10:18-21

I memorized 2 of these verses yesterday and two this morning. These are the last 4 verses of chapter 10.  Only 6 chapters to go!

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for "Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world." But I ask, did Israel not understand? First Moses says, "I will make you jealous of those who are not a nation; with a foolish nation I will make you angry." Then Isaiah is so bold as to say, "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me." But of Israel he says, "All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people."

Romans 10:14-17

Today's memory work:

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless being sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!" But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?" So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Romans 10:5-13

Today I was able to memorize 9 verses!  Praise God!  It is by his strength alone!

For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is to bring Christ down) or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Romans 10:1-4

Today I began Chapter 10!

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Something you probably don't know about me...

Sometimes in my mind I'm a country singer. Right now I'm doing the dishes with the local country station blasting.  Occasionally I have to stop so I can play air-guitar.

I suppose my North Carolina roots find their expression in music.

Just thought you would enjoy a little glimpse into my life when no one is looking.

Maybe later I'll regret sharing this bit of information.  We'll see!  For now, I'm under the influence of music that makes me want to dance and sing into a pretend microphone.

Romans 9:30-33

Praise God! Another chapter finished:

What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have obtained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; and that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."

Romans 9:25-29

By his help in my weakness:

As indeed he says in Hosea, "Those who were not my people I will call 'my people', and her who was not beloved I will call 'beloved.'" "And in the very place where it was said to them, 'You are not my people,' there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'" And Isaiah cries out concerning Israel, "Though the number of the sons of Israel be as the sand of the sea, only a remnant of them will be saved, for the Lord will carry out his sentence upon the earth fully and without delay." And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah."

So far it is going well this week. I've got 11 verses down with 7 more to go. Prayerfully, I will reach my goal of 18 verses! I will certainly only be able to do it with God's help and mercy. This morning I woke up at 5:45 - not on purpose. The same thing happened yesterday, but I went back to sleep for 30 minutes. Today I decided to get up and I have reaped the benefit! I spent a lot of time reviewing this morning and still had time to take on new verses. It was a sweet, uninterrupted time that I look forward to having more often. I just hope that I will choose to stay awake on those days!

Thank you!

Thank you to everyone who prayed for me Friday. I was aware of grace for the remainder of the day and felt a peace that passes understanding. Thank you, Tali, for taking my call in the midst of your busyness at the moment and for speaking truth to me. The Lord used you to reveal that I was craving ease. I was fighting for it and believing I deserved it. Amy, your encouragement proved true for me. Amy pointed out Proverbs 28:13 - Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy. God was merciful as I revealed my sin and I felt the difference very quickly.

You cannot know, nor can I, the extent to which your prayers helped me. By God's mercy he answered your prayers and I was able to depend on him for strength. Thank you for praying and for following up with me.  It is a blessing to know others are interceding on my behalf before the Father. Much more, it is a blessing to know that Jesus is interceding for us! Romans 8:34 says, "Christ Jesus is the one who died - more than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us."

Romans 9:19-24

Today I memorized the following verses:

You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make know his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory - even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?

Romans 9:14-18

By God's grace and just before midnight!

What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.

For the first time in many weeks I got all 18 verses!  Praise God!

Please Pray

Today, right now, is one of  those days. I am losing the battle against sin. I am giving into to my anger and speaking harshly to Chloe. We started out this way from first light. She disobeyed as soon as she woke up and has continued to disobey. I, sinful woman that I am, respond in anger rather than love and patience. I relate to the verse, "Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" 

So this is a request for prayer! Please, pray for me today. Ask God to strengthen me, to help me to trust in His sovereign plan for my day. Ask for more of his Spirit for me. Ask that God would be near to me! And pray anything else the Lord lays on your heart. I feel my need and appreciate the support.

The verse that follows the one above is, "But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 7:24-25

Thanks be to God! He has forgiven my sin - my anger this morning, this afternoon, and this evening - through Jesus Christ. It is covered!

The very next verse is Romans 8:1 - "There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." I am not condemned! Why? Why should I be forgiven? Because it pleased God to send Jesus, his Son, to earth to live a sinless life, to be crucified on a Roman cross for MY sin, and to be raised again having defeated sin and death! I am forgiven because Jesus took God's just wrath for my sin.

Isn't that good news? I am moved to praise him! This grace truly is amazing.

Isn't kind of God to allow immense temptation in order to sanctify us? Thank you, Father, for ordaining this day exactly as you have. You have provided much opportunity to depend on you and to be freshly aware of the gospel. Thank you for bringing the cross into view. Help me to walk in dependence on you today.