Romans & My Sin

Over the last few months I have been thinking about sin and the depths of it in my life and all of human nature.

It is so easy for me, having been reared in a Christian home and being a "good" girl my entire life, to rest on the laurels of that "goodness" and not really consider the depths of sin actually present in my life.  Any "goodness" in my life, or anyone else's life, is only the Holy Spirit holding back the effects of sin.  It is not due to any inherent righteousness within me.

Paul makes that so clear in Romans.  After narrowing to his thesis in chapter 1, verse 17, he lets us know that vile sin separates us from God.

In chapter 2, he then makes it clear that no one is exempt, not even those whose sins may not be so "vile."

In the third chapter he lets the Jews know that they are not exempt either unless they are walking by faith in Jesus Christ.

In the fourth chapter, he lets us know that Abraham was not justified by being the father of Israel, but only by his faith.

The only way I can truly understand the huge sacrifice that Christ made for me is by first seeing the depths of my human depravity and the totality of my inability to come to him.  And then I can start to see just how much His gift did to rescue me.

Friday's Fave Five, 8/12/16

LINK to Friday's Fave Five host blog

--Tuesday, the last day of summer vacation, I was out shopping and went near our local Kohl's store.  Since two students had given me a gift card for Kohl's last spring, and since I did need a couple of new tops to start the school year, it seemed like the right time to stop in there.  Well - they have a wonderful clearance rack.  I found NINE pieces (for all seasons, not all to wear now), and after using the money on the gift card, which was not a particularly huge amount, the final tally was $63.00.  What made it even nicer was, when after the clerk gave me the total, she then looked around to see if anyone was close by, and then whispered, "Get out your iPhone and go to Kohls.com - there's a 15% off coupon on there you can use."  Now that is a great sales clerk.

--My daughter, who knows I love birds, gave me this lovely cup to take to school this year!

--Not sure how I found out about this - I think just by googling "The Hawaiians," but I found the address of someone who sells these long-out-of-production CDs by this couple whose music I really loved during early college days.  The gentleman took Paypal, so after ordering, in three days this CD was in my hand.  It really brought back memories.

--Yesterday was a long day of getting ready for school.  Mike knew that, and by the time I got home, he was making BLTs for supper - and insisted on cleaning up also.  He is such a good man--

--School is getting underway.  I have a good schedule, a good homeroom, and my last class of the day will only have nine students.  Nice!!

Last Day of Summer

This poem, titled "When I Am Old" (the basis for the Red Hat Clubs), tells how a woman, now that she is old, is going to do what she is going to do no matter what anyone thinks.

Well, I have no intentions of being in a red hat club, and though I'm definitely headed in the "older" direction, this isn't about that.  But this afternoon fits in the category of "no matter what anyone thinks."

It's the last day before I have to go back to school.  I spent the morning grocery shopping, getting a few items of clothing and school supplies, going to the gym, doing laundry, and in general finishing up a lot of odds and ends.

So, this afternoon, I will sit in my lazy-boy, reading the paper and my book in progress, playing on the computer, crocheting, watching "Chopped" and the Olympics, eating something I shouldn't be eating, and forgetting about the time.

Happy last day of vacation.

Monday Misc. 8/8/16

--I've been doing a lot of selling on eBay this summer, and am amazed at how some people want you to sell them something for nothing.  I put several auctions on "Make an offer" in addition to the price that was listed, and had more than one person want to offer about (can't remember exactly about the various auctions) $5 for a book that was listed for $15.  That's more than a low offer - it's an insult.  Needless to say, I turned down offers that low.  That kind of offer doesn't even begin to cover the costs involved.  What are people thinking?

--And from the other side:  Yesterday I ventured out to a couple of sales (not many due to back issues) - there was a big estate sale at a home near me.  I noticed people coming and going - but not buying a whole lot.  And when I went inside, it was clear why.  Things were overpriced.  $10 for a set of kitchen glasses.  $5 for each pair of shoes (some of which were nice, but some were not even worth giving to charity stores).  $100 for a chair.  Etc.  The premise of yard sales is to get rid of things.  A seller doesn't have to give stuff away, but if things are priced too high, he/she will still have their stuff at the end of the day.  

--My house is clean.  Nice to go back to work next week knowing that it is clean.

True Faith

I love the John MacArthur commentary series.  It's work to use it, but at the same time its truths are accessible even to a common mind like mine.

This is a paraphrase from his Romans 1-8 book, pp. 221-226:

THINGS THAT NEITHER PROVE NOR DISPROVE TRUE FAITH:

1. Visible morality
2. Intellectual knowledge of God's word
3. Religious involvement
4. Active ministry in Christ's name
5. Conviction of sin and sense of guilt
6. Assurance of salvation (because that depends on what the "assurance" is in)
7. Experience of a past decision (if there is no evidence of Godly living since then)

RELIABLE PROOFS OF SAVING FAITH:

1. Love for God
2. Repentance of, and hatred for, sin
3. Genuine humility
4. Devotion to God's glory
5. Prayer
6. Selfless love
7. Separation from the world
8. Spiritual growth
9. Obedient living

Monday Misc.

--I found this to be an interesting read:
https://lastchanceamerica.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/to-the-never-trumper-a-biblical-case-for-trump/

--We went to watch Hillary's America on Friday.  Spread the word.  It needs to be widely watched!

--Although many needs are genuine, I think that GoFundMe requests for money have gotten out of hand.  And no one should be able to forward a GoFundMe page unless they themselves have donated to the cause.  (No, there's no way to regulate that.  But it would be nice.)

--Our son and his wife let themselves into our house (they have a key), got some DVDs they wanted, and left, while we were asleep in the back bedroom.  We never knew they had been here.  (They had called, but my phone was deep in my purse and I didn't hear it.)  Not sure if I should be a little mad or a little scared.

And finally:

--Lately I've heard of several people who have gotten "fishy pedicures" (they go by different names), in which little fish are added to the water that the person soaks his or her feet in.  YOU COULD NOT PAY ME ENOUGH to have that done.