Romans 15:1-3

Today begins chapter 15! Praise God!

We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."

Romans 14:20-23

Praise God! Today I completed chapter 14!! Only two chapters left! I am so aware of God's grace and help to keep moving forward.

Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats. It is good not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that causes your brother to stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who has no reason to pass judgment on himself for what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

Birthday Fun - Part 1

This is Chloe's introduction to Jake's birthday. She was SO excited to celebrate! The video I took in Jake's room when we got him up is extremely dark, so this picture, though poor, will have to do!

He was very excited about the balloons! What a way to wake up! He knew it was going to be a different kind of day! Here he is at breakfast. We made pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes - with a smiley face.

We love our little man! He is such a big boy now! At his doctor's appointment yesterday he weighed in at 28 lbs and is a whopping 36 3/4 inches tall. That puts him in the 50th% for weight and 97th% for height!! Chloe is taller than he is by only 1 1/4 inch. He knows all of his colors, can sing several songs, and is speaking in sentences. He does not like doors or drawers or anything with a lid to be left open - if it is, he will close it whether or not you are ready for it to be closed! He is crazy about his big sister and wants to do whatever she is doing. He loves his blankie and carries it around with him much like Linus from Charlie Brown. He is a good eater and just today astonished me by eating raw carrots, green peppers, cucumbers, and celery (though he did not swallow the celery - I think it took too long to chew!). He regularly wakes up and immediately requests something specific for breakfast: oatmeal, pancakes, or a smoothie are the most common requests. His favorite video is Jonah, which he asks to watch several times a day.

I will post more about his birthday celebration later. This post is getting too long and there is much more to say! Stay tuned for another installment of Birthday Fun!

Romans 14:18-19

Today's memory work:

Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.

Two short verses that completed a paragraph. One paragraph remains in chapter 14; 4 longish verses. Then, on to 15!

Romans 14:10-17

Once again I have slacked off in posting my Scripture memory! Last week I memorized Romans 14:10-15. Today, I did 14:16-17. Here they are:

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despite your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

Therefore, let us not pass judgement on one another any longer, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or hinderance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean. For if your brother is grieved by what you eat, you are no longer walking in love. By what you eat, do not destroy the one for whom Christ died. So do not let what you regard as good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

2 years old!

Today, Jakey-boy turned 2. It is hard to believe! We have had quite the day and I can't wait to post about it. For now, you will have settle for just a few pics - though I took a ton!

Our big boy today, October 19, 2009

Baby boy, October 19, 2007

He sure has changed! He was about 10 minutes old in that picture. Wow. He is such a joy to us! We love you, buddy-boy!

Romans 14:7-9

What wonderful verses to put to memory this morning! Praise God for his precious word!

For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Romans 14:5-6

Today's memory work:

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Thank you, Lord!

Romans 14:1-4

I began chapter 14 this morning! I am very aware that I am in the home stretch and am finding myself newly motivated to press on. Only 3 chapters remain! Praise God!

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Romans 13:8-10 and 11-14

I have slacked off in posting my memory work! I memorized chapter 13:8-10 a few days ago and 11-12 yesterday and 13-14 this morning. Here they are:

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet, " and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does not wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone, the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.