Romans 12 Poetic Paraphrase

LIVING FOR GOD

Romans 12

 

I beg of you, my brothers,

By grace through Jesus Christ,

Present to God your bodies,

A living sacrifice,

A reasonable service

And pleasing unto God;

Reject the world’s perspective

That views your faith as odd.

 

Instead of worldly thinking,

Let God renew your mind,

Conform it to the purpose

His perfect will designed.

Don’t think of self more highly

Than what you really should,

But using sober judgment,

Acknowledge what is good.

 

Just as the human being

Has parts that are distinct, 

In Christ we are one body

With all the members linked.

We each have gifts that differ,

But all partake of grace.

Some prophecy with wisdom

In their God-given place.

 

In service or in teaching,

Some give and some exhort.

Let each one do it simply,

In faith and good report.

Let those whose gift is leading

Be fervently employed,

And those who offer mercy

In hope be overjoyed.

 

Let love not be pretended,

Abhor each evil thing,

But what is good and righteous,

To that in earnest cling.

Be kind to those around you,

And love to the extreme,

Outdoing one another

In giving of esteem.

 

Don’t let your zeal be lagging,

But let your spirits burn,

And serve the Lord with fervor

However fortunes turn.

In hope keep on rejoicing,

Be patient in your cares,

Through every tribulation,

Be diligent in prayers. 

 

When needy saints have troubles,

Contribute generously.

With open arms and houses

Show hospitality.

On those who try to harm you,

A blessing you should heap,

Rejoice with those rejoicing,

And weep with those who weep.

 

Seek unity together

In everything you do,

Not only with the mighty,

But with the lowly too.

Don’t trust in your own wisdom,

When wronged, don’t pay it back,

But do what’s good and noble,

Stay on the honest track.

 

Let people see your courage,

And live with them in peace.

As far as you are able,

Let harmony increase.

Don’t give yourself to vengeance,

For that belongs to God.

He says that He’ll repay it,

When something needs His rod.

 

So if your foe is hungry,

Don’t worry, give him bread,

And give him drink when thirsty---

It’s coals upon his head.

The evil that surrounds us

May tempt you to submit,

Don’t let it overcome you,

You have to conquer it.

Nita Brainard 

The Baptism of Jesus

Children's Book

While visiting my son and his family in Brazil, I read the same book over and over again to my four year old grandson. He loved The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge. So did I. I didn't get tired of it. Children's books don't have to be only for children. Deep thoughts can be couched in simple language and be suitable for thinking people of any age. Inspired, I decided to try my hand at writing a children's book myself.

Dangers in the Amazon

Knit Stuffies

 Seven done; ten to go:

 

Made from stash yarn and free patterns. Some of the free patterns aren't the easiest to follow, but they ARE FREE. 

 

 

Pig from The Big Red Barn 

 

Greyhound

 

Dainty Dolly 

 

Mr. Bean Bear

Dinosaur Jr.  

Liam's Beaver 

 

Andy the Llama

 

 

 

Newest Book

 My newest project is available for purchase either as an

EBOOK

or a

PAPERBACK 

Here's what readers are saying about it:

R McGuire: 

This book tells the amazing story of God's grace in a harrowing situation.

It tells the story of Derek and Alex Henry when they are unjustly accused in the death of their 1 year old child. Their oldest son is taken from them, their next baby is ripped from their arms hours after birth, and they are both put in jail. The book tells how their faith carried them, how they cared for and encouraged each other even when separated by jail/prison bars, the love and support they received from family and friends, how their focus remained on God and His glory, how they cared for and ministered to others in jail, and how their fight for justice and their family ultimately prevailed.

While a heartbreaking story, overall the book underscores the hope we have when we trust in God and His grace, even in the hardest circumstances.

 

CC Fan:

This book was a terrifying look at our corrupt justice system, yet Derek and Alex were able to influence countless lives for the gospel during their incarceration. It’s heartbreaking to think of what this family went through, but what Satan meant for evil, God made for good!

Thinking and Conservatism

True wisdom enables a person to incorporate new information into previous understanding. When you know a subject well, you are able to modify your views as new information becomes available. When you have a superficial understanding, you are not able to do so. I have recently seen people ignorantly discard the time-honored wisdom of the ages because of some little piece of data. The data may have been true enough and may have appropriately caused a modification in their understanding of the subject--but that would require deep, independent thinking, a rare commodity in our day. Willingness to embrace new opinions is no more an indicator of thought than stubbornly clinging to old ones.

Traditionalists tenaciously hold to their old beliefs even in the face of new information.

Conservatives carefully incorporate new information into their theories.

Liberals use new data to throw out old theories and completely replace them.

Progressives want change whether there is any data to support their agenda or not.

The only one of these positions that requires thinking is the conservative one.

If you call yourself a conservative and don’t think, you are actually a traditionalist.

If you are liberal or progressive and do think, you will become more and more conservative as you get older. 

Jael

Photo courtesy of Akn on Unsplash

                    Judges 4-5

 With Heber, severed from my kin,
        In wild and distant lands,
My husband’s friends I welcome in
        And serve with willing hands.

Content to lead a peaceful life,
        Though far from all I’ve known—
Til from the men I heard of strife
        That chilled me to the bone.

For Israel, with whom we dwell,
        Is turning to the Lord,
But Sisera, their faith to quell,
        Was taking up his sword.

Conflicted, inner war I waged
        With all that’s dear to me;
While soldiers in the battle raged,
        I chose my loyalty.

Though with the armies of the land,
        I don’t expect a part,
With Moses and his God to stand
        Was settled in my heart.

As Sisera from battle fled,
        I bid him be my guest;
With milk and butter richly fed,
        He wearily took rest.

He didn’t know my quiet soul
        Hid rugged strength of mind,
Or that my God-appointed role
        Was of a lethal kind.

The unsuspecting general slept
        And bid me watch the door,
But with my tools I softly crept
        And nailed him to the floor.

His wicked ways I couldn’t brook;
        I used what chance I had
To slay the terrifying crook
        And make God’s people glad.

Now some may think my methods wrong;
        My deed they can’t applaud,
But blessed am I in Deborah’s song—
        And honored of my God.