A good meeting with McDill

For quite some time I have headed over to my mentor, Dr. Budrow McDill’s home early every Friday morning and spent time with him in God’s word and having some time for accountability.  This morning was especially good and I wanted to share a couple of the items we discussed:

1.  Be free from the power of wealth.  1 Timothy 6:17-19 is a good place to start in understanding this concept.  I believe that God has given me a desire and passion to be a giver and I really want to understand and live by this truth.

2. Do not covet or compare yourself to others.  Acts 20: 33-35, Paul’s message here is one of contentment and simplicity, realizing that we are more blessed when we give than when we receive, when we live the life that God has intended and gifted us for.

More will come on this later, my goal is to spend some significant time on these two verses, digging out the truths within.  I’ll keep you posted.

Thoughts on Pawpaw

I know that pawpaw is gone but it is hard for me to accept.  I know he is in heaven, I know that maybe I should be happy for him, but, in all truth I really miss him and my heart hurts for mamaw.  I know time will help but that’s in time. 

I will miss pawpaws smile and his laughter and songs.  I will miss him reading to my kids and holding them on his lap.  I will miss him giving Fran a back rub, and her telling me that I should learn how to do it just like pawpaw.  I’ll miss his presence.

I’ll see pawpaw again but it hurts now.

Romans 7 and 8

It seems as though for the last little while I have been cruising in my times with the Lord.  To catch you up I just finished the book of Acts and plowed right into Romans andas I figured it would my cruising came to a stand-still.  I think that’sgood though, so here please find a few thoughts on what I’m learning…

1. We are very privileged to have a view into the world of the Romans.  Remember that the Apostle Paul was righting to a certain people (in this case the church at Rome) for a specific purpose.  We can look into this letter and see how it applies to our lives today.  This thought makes me read slower with the intent on application.

2. I have found it interesting that the early church (1st, 2nd, and 3rd century) was dealing with the same things we deal with today.  We are linked with our ancestors in the faith by the struggles we share.  Paul addressed them then and addresses them today through his inspired words.

3.  It seems that the apex of the book centers around Romans 8:1 – There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  More on this later as I’m still trying to get my head around it all.  And any thoughts on this would be most appreciated!

4. Finally, in that same vein I leave your with verse 2 of chapter 8, For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  I’m trying to understand exactly what the “law of the Spirit of life” is and how this has set me free from the “law of sin and death.” 

So, this is what has been rolling around in my head, more to come later.