3 Things I Have Learned

This week has been a blur.

It's consisted of incredibly long not-so-secret handshakes, awkward small talk sessions, completely legal fireworks, delicious s'mores, smokey fires (As opposed to non-smokey fires? I don't even know.), deep conversations with friends, materialistic conversations too, going to the mall and only using gift cards (A real success.), watching movies that are stupidly hilarious, and a plethora of other shenanigans and food related things.

All in all, it has been a pretty great week.

Throughout this random week I have learned about myself, about God, and about other Jeopardy worthy topics. I like to share knowledge and theories and ideas so here you go...

Something I learned through experience...

Some people are unintentionally rude. Being slighted by another person may have been a complete accident. If it wasn't an accident on their part then don't let it get to you. Treat their words and actions as insignificant. They are not a testament of who you are, but of who they are. Try not to dislike them for it. That's the hard part. But forgiveness and love never come easily.

Something I learned from a random book...

Puerto Rico is the location of the first permanent European colony in what is now US territory, not Jamestown. Actually, Puerto Rico was founded more than one hundred years before Jamestown (Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, Our America).

Something I learned from the Biblia...

Romans 8:28 is truth! "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love HIm, who have been called according to His purpose." I have been enjoying the impactful words of Romans 8 a lot lately.

The chapter talks about peace and the fear that opposes peace. When we are submitting to our sinful nature, instead of submitting to the Spirit, we live a life leading to death (Rom. 8:6). And the life we live is one full of fear. In fact, we become slaves to fear (Rom. 8:15).

But God has not given us a Spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7)!

That same Spirit is one of sonship (Rom. 8:15). When we heed the Spirit we have life and peace (Rom. 8:6). We are able, by the grace of God, to put to death the sinful nature and to live in victory. But we cannot do this on our own accord.

Only through the Spirit that lives in us will we have the power to withstand the sinful nature and to become pleasing in His sight. We do not become righteous because of our works or our faith. It is only because of His grace and the Helper He has sent us that we are able to live free from sin and alive in Christ. 

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast." -Ephesians 2:8-9

I have heard words similar to these countless times, but in the last couple of weeks I have beheld their beauty anew. God's grace is amazing, humbling, and difficult for humans to deal with. Firstly, because we have such an inclination to stray from His commands. Secondly, because we are so proud. Admitting that our salvation has little to do with our own faith or actions and a lot to do with God's love is challenging. But that is one of the reasons grace is indescribable; it is undeserved yet freely given; it is free, yet powerful and valuable, instead of powerless and worthless.

These are the thoughts that roam through my brain on this humid day.

I pray that they will be worthwhile to you.