Romans 8 musings

I've been enjoying The Message translation of the Bible more and more lately. Today I decided to read Romans 8 which has been my favorite chapter since I was a teen. Back then, I was obsessed with Bible study. We would literally pore over every word, have discussions, challenge each other's thinking...I miss those days.

Here's the passage that really struck me today:

5-8Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God's action in them find that God's Spirit is in them—living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking more about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn't pleased at being ignored.

9-11But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than of him. Anyone, of course, who has not welcomed this invisible but clearly present God, the Spirit of Christ, won't know what we're talking about. But for you who welcome him, in whom he dwells—even though you still experience all the limitations of sin—you yourself experience life on God's terms. It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!

12-14So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go!

I adore the ending image; have a funeral for the old you then move on. No, old me, you're not getting any red cents, not even one! Hear, hear!

be happy

Today, I am reminded of the Sheryl Crow song 'A change...would do you good.'

Embracing change is not something I excel at. Unpredictability scares me. But in this season of my life, I am learning through my relationship with God and others, that change is necessary and healthy.

I have a book called 'be happy' by Monica Sheehan - 'A little book to help you live a happy life.' Each directive is accompanied by a cute sketch.

Here is what is contained within:

Show up.
Follow your heart.
Stay inspired.
Stop being a victim.
Do things you're good at.
Love your work.
Get a new perspective.
Have a sense of wonder.
Don't isolate.
Find people you love.
Set goals.
Finish what you started.
Help others.
Do a one day news fast.
Dance.
Pamper yourself.
Face your fears.
Go to a museum.
Any decision is better than no decision.
Exercise.
Limit television.
Listen to music.
Get in touch with nature.
Lighten up.
Have a moral compass.
Get a good night's sleep.
Read books.
Buy yourself flowers.
Reach out.
Set up a realistic schedule.
Don't compare yourself with others.
Live in the moment.
Don't beat yourself up.
Accept that life has its ups and downs.
Every night reflect on the 'good' things about your day.
Be open to new ideas.
Believe in yourself.
Be kind.
Let people know how special they are.
Be honest with yourself.
Don't focus on negative thoughts.
Focus on creating what you desire.
Make time just to have fun.
Say thank you to the people who teach you, support you, encourage you, and get you a cup of coffee.
Don't forget...money doesn't buy happiness.
Give away what you don't need, to someone who does.
Value who you are right now.
Be part of a community.
Find a common ground.
Keep the romance in your life.
Make a gratitude list.
Love your Mother Earth.
Do your best.
Don't lose hope. (You never know what tomorrow will bring.)
Keep learning.
Want what you have.
Believe in something bigger than yourself.
Stay close to friends and family.
Be true to yourself.

Then the book concludes with a page that says 'gratitude list' and has lines for you to write on.

Even though they are simple, these are hard orders to follow, but important ones for our spiritual and mental wellbeing.

Considering which to focus on for today, I chose 'Do your best'.

And I intend to.

How about you?