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.