Out of the Spin Cycle

It took me quite awhile to get through these devotions, but they were so great.  And I'd recommend it for any mom. 

Romans

·         Paul goes to share the Good News to the Romans who God seeks too

·         All people are sinful, don’t give thanks or glory to God

·         God judges all the same; when we judge, we judge ourselves guilty too because we are also sinful

·         A true Jew is a Jew on the inside too, not just outside (circumcision)

·         God trusted Jews with His laws, but having the law isn’t enough, following it is, but we cannot be made right with the law, the law shows us our sin

·         We are made right by faith in Jesus

·         Abraham’s FAITH made him right with God not works or deeds

·         Abraham is father of all believers, circumcised and not

·         Faith in God through Jesus is enough

·         Because of Jesus: faith = peace, grace, hope, joy

·         Trouble produce patience; patience produces character; character products hope; hope = no disappointment

·         Jesus made us God’s friends again (not anger enemies)

·         Adam’s 1^st act = sin; Jesus 1^st act = salvation

·         We shared Jesus death in our baptism – new life, old life dead so sin doesn’t have power over us

·         Not under law (sin); under God’s grace

·         Not slaves to sin; slaves to goodness

·         Law showed us what sin is; sin used something good (law) to bring death

·         Sin & goodness in each of us warring for our time and attention (mind=slave to God’s law; sinful self = slave to the law of sin)

·         Follow the spirit, not sin; Spirit helps you avoid sinful ways

·         God will finish making us His children in glory = freedom

·         Hope is what we cannot see

·         We don’t know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit speaks for us

·         The law cannot make you right with God

·         Believe in our hearts and proclaim with our mouths so we are saved

·         God calls people to share the Good News

·         God of mercy

·         Pray; love; use your gifts; be humble; work for God; don’t punish others; help others

·         Obey the law and rules put there by God

·         Owe others nothing but love

·         Loving your neighbor is following all other rules; love doesn’t hurt a neighbor

·         Don’t’ criticize other’s methods for following God

·         Do not cause other to sin

·         Paul wants to reach those who haven’t heard the Good News, not build on someone else’s start

·         Paul needs prayer support from others in his work

Acts

• Luke writes another book about what Jesus tells the followers after the resurrection
• Jesus was lifted up to heaven, hidden by a cloud
• Apostles chose Mathias as their 12th to replace Judas
• Pentecost: the Holy Spirit came and they all spoke different languages, many people were there from many areas and languages but they all head them in their native tongue
• Peter talks about all this fulfilling prophecy
• Believers are together, sharing everything and adding new believers daily
• Peter heals a ma begging at the temple gate who begins walking and praising God
• Peter asks why people are surprised at the healing for they just sent Jesus to die, but they did not know and the prophecy must come true
• Peter and John are arrested for their teaching; the Holy Spirit guided their words; isn't it good a man was healed?  all because of Jesus
• Only Jesus saves
• Jewish leaders didn't want message of Peter and John to spread and told them not to speak, but they refused, obeyed God and continued to speak
• When released Peter and John went to their group of believers who prayed for the situation
• Believers lived in community and shared everything
• A couple lied about the amount of money they sold their land for and both died
• Apostles heal many
• Apostles were arrested and angels let them out during the night to continue teaching at the temple
• A teacher warned the leaders to no fight them; for they may be fighting God Himself and if not, human plans will fail
• Apostles were joyful they could suffer for Jesus
• Leaders are selected in the group of believers so the apostles can keep teaching
• Stephen, one of the leaders, is accused but he spoke with the Spirit
• Stephen gave a speech about Abraham and Moses and the Old Testament prophecy coming true and the people were still stubborn and un-listening
• The people became mad and stoned Steven to death as he asked God to take his spirit and not hold sins against those throwing stones at him
• Trouble came from the believers and they were scattered around, but they kept teaching and sharing the Good News
• Philip (not apostle) was teaching in Samaria and a magician, Simon, believed, but tried to buy the power to heal and give the Holy Spirit; Philip told him to change his ways because it cannot be bought
• Simon goes on to teach an important Ethiopian on the road who was reading Isaiah; Simon baptizes him
• Saul persecuted believers and was arresting them and taking them to Jerusalem, but walking one day saw a bright light, heard Jesus and was blinded
• Saul's group led him to Damascus where as Jesus said, Ananias came and gave sight when fish scale like somethings fell from his eyes
• Saul stays with the followers and begins preaching, growing number of believers
• Peter heals a paralyzed Aeneas
• Peter heals Tabitha who was always kind and did good deeds and gave her life
• Cornelius, a good man, sees an angel that tells him to find Simon Peter so he does and brings him back
• Angela appear to Simon Peter and tell him God was made things clean and go with them without hesitation
• They all learn anyone can believe and be saved, not just Jews
• Peter goes back and shared that message about all countries able to be saved
• Barnabas and Saul taught at Antioch for 1 year where we were first called Christians
• Herod ordered James killed by sword; the Jews liked it so he arrested Peter too; the church prayed for Peter
• The night before the trial, an angel came and walked Peter out of jail; Peter went to Mary's house where people were gathered praying then left for somewhere else
• Herod couldn't find Peter and ordered the guards who were watching him killed
• Herod made a speech the people said came from the voice of God; Herod didn't give glory to God and got sick, ate by worms, and died
• Believers fasted and prayed and Barnabas and Saul are selected for special work and sent out
• Barnabas and Saul encountered a magician who wanted to hear God's message, but he was against them and struck blind
• Paul gives a speech about God, history and Jesus
• Jews were against Christians
• Paul and Barnabas continue teaching
• God shows His love for all nations with rain and crops
• To God, non-Jews and Jews are the same with a clean heart when they believe (ex: no circumcision needed)
• Continued teaching and revisited the churches and those who had become believers to encourage them with strength and news of more believers
• Timothy, who traveled with Paul, had parents of different countries/faiths - Jewish turned believer and Greek, he was also circumcised as an adult
• Paul sees a vision and knows where to travel next to tell the Good News
• Lydia's mind is opened and she believed
• Paul and Silas sent a demon from an enslaved girl and her owners then knew she wouldn't make money for them so they had Paul and Silas arrested
• During the night an earthquake broke open the jail and cells and the guard was going to kill himself when they stopped him because they were all still there
• The guard believed and took them to his house
• Paul was preaching Old Testament scriptures, those of prophecy
• Jews were angry about growing believers and made Jason (housing Paul and Silas) pay a sum of money for believers to go free
• Some town and people were more willing to hear the Good News than others
• Paul taught in Corinth for 1.5 years and was a tentmaker with Aquilla and Priscilla
• There were lots of believers who didn't travel around sharing Good News (i.e. it's okay to do work where you are here and not travel as a missionary too)
• Apollos believed and was teaching about God, but Aquilla and Priscilla helped him to know more and teach a better way
• Apollos taught the baptism of John (changed hears and lives for what is to come (Jesus)) until Aquilla and Priscilla taught him
• On his late night in town, Paul stayed up late talking with people
• Paul hurried and chose routes to not be late to Pentecost in Jerusalem
• Paul was committed to follow Holy Spirit and share the Good News at the cost of his own life
• People tried to stop Paul from going because he was wanted dead, but Paul was ready to give everything for the Good News
• Paul is attacked by the angry mob and arrested because of the trouble he is causing
• The commander thought he was someone else who had done something wrong because hw wasn't the arresting commander, he let Paul speak to the Jews
• Paul tells his tory as a Jew who persecuted believers, was struck blind, believed, could see and taught non-Jews the Good News
• The Jewish leaders want to know why people hate him so, because he believers people rise from the dead
• 40+ Jews plot to kill Paul and fast until it is done, but Paul's nephew learns of this plan and warns him
• Commander is protecting Paul because he was born a Roman citizen and only broke Jewish laws, not Roman law
• Jews saw Paul as a troublemaker, but Jews and Paul and Christians believe in the same God
• Felix the governor was curious and learning from Paul's speaking, but didn't judge him innocent, kept him guarded but with some freedoms and spent time talking and sharing together
• Felix left Paul in prison to please the Jews then he was replaced as governor
• Festus, new governor, sees Paul and his accusers and at Paul's request agree to sent him to Cesar since they can't find fault with Paul
• Before Paul went to Cesar, King Agrippa wanted to hear what Paul had to say
• Festus doesn't know what to write to Cesar since he found nothing against Paul (He didn't break Roman law.) but the Jews want him dead
• Paul tells his story and King and Festus know he could go free, but Paul wanted to see Cesar
• Paul sails for Rom, a big storm came, carrying them for 2 weeks and an angel told Paul they would be safe but the ship would not be
• Paul's journey to Rome was several moths and lots of healing happened in Malta on the way
• In Rome, Paul met with the Jewish leaders and some believed, some did not
• The Jewish leaders in Rome had heard of his group of believers but nothing to take him to trial
• Paul stayed and preaching in Rome in a rented house for 2 years