1 Timothy Chapters 1-6

Today's reading was really good. What Paul wrote to Timothy is something I like to read because it gives me encouragement. Paul's letters were to a young man named Timothy who is very shy but is also a leader of a church. These two letters to Timothy are good for leaders of church today and shy people like myself.

First, Paul's writes to be warned against false teachers. He wrote about then before but he is telling Timothy specifically to stop those false teachings. The people who want to be known for following the laws of Moses and that's it. I've heard some people say that the laws are meant to show us how sinful we are because we are supposed to do those laws and we don't. Not all of them all the time and honestly.

Oh, this part is good. Paul write for Timothy to have a clear conscious. This is one way to know if your spirit is alive in you, I believe. Every time I'm purposely having conversations with God on a regular day-to-day basis and I do or think something wrong, I feel that 'guilty concious'. It's not the type that I sit and worry about though, I go and talk to God about the things I've done or thought about doing. For example: say that I was just chilling around the house and did all the things I needed to do for the day. I then decide that since I haven't watched a show in a long while then I'll just watch one today. Just as I'm about to press play (with my food ready ∩__∩) I feel like I shouldn't watch it. Not that there is anything wrong the show because it's quite cute and innocent, but right then I just shouldn't be watching. That's a true story for me and I turned it off then found a really cute craft that I plan on doing. For me, doing arts and crafts is a better use of time than watching a show. So I liked what Paul wrote to Timothy about his conscious.

There was a lot of stress in false teachers in this letter. It makes since because Timothy is a teachers and a young one. I've always wondered if I'd be some kind of teacher like this. I wouldn't be head of a church or anything like through but a small group of a church. My mother is planning one and I'm going to help her since I can explain her teachings through a younger perspective in the world today. But I still wonder about that. From what I know, I'm more of a person who works in the 'background' so if the husband God had for me needs me to do something for him then I'm sure I could do it. Hmmm, I wonder...? I'm just going on now, but I've never thought about that.

So, these letters are perfect for leaders of churches to lead people in the right way. Not in strange and sinful ways because that just would not be good. Also for shy people like myself. Something good comes from being out going and of shyness, which gives all of us a certain advantage in what God wants us to do. If you are a more outgoing person then it will be very easy to speak to others for God's purpose. The same can he said for shy people in an opposite way, we can use our quietness and reserve to work for God's purpose. I find encouragement in both of those thoughts and from my reading.

2 Thessalonians Chapters 1-3

Oh my, I just finished writing this but accidentally pressed the back button on my phone without saving it. p(´⌒｀｡q) So I've got to do it again. But it should be easier to do it this time because I already wrote it.
（⌒_⌒）

The first thing I talked about was Paul writing to Thessalonica about when Jesus would return. They were being told that he was coming at a certain time but Paul said not to be fooled by false teachers/prophets. I took this as him saying to not worry about when he's coming and just do we were told to do by Jesus. We won't have to worry about when he comes because when he does we will be prepared.

The truth that we don't know when he's going to come should be a great motivator for many. It wouldn't be a great idea to disobey God now thinking that you can get it together later because you think you have enough time. It's best to always be doing what Jesus says we should be doing so we won't be surprised when he comes 'like a thief in the night,' as Paul wrote in one of his other letters.

Another encouraging thing that Paul wrote is that God will give us rest from those that persecute us when Jesus arrives. That may happen soon or not until a long while but we have to endure.

(*Side story: last night me and my mother were actually talking about how some people call God cruel because of the flood and seemingly horrible things that were done. In actuality, the flood isn't as harsh as keeping everyone alive to live in sin. Well, at least to a believe and follower of Christ. Or just to us...that's what I think.)

The last thing Paul wrote was something I knew myself to be. It was about laziness and being 'idol'. I was like this in a few ways. I didn't want to go out too much and would rather stay home to listen to music and play games or watch a drama. It wasn't until last week when I started writing tasks to be accomplished in my phone that I realized I have less time for the things I liked to do than I thought. (Of course now I like reading the Bible and conversing with God, which lessened my need to want to do other things.) Before, I didn't have a purpose but now I do and see all the things that I need to be doing to replace what I want to do. I need to be in my be in my Bible every day. Need to have an ongoing conversation with God, and who can do that when you're distracted by other things.

I'm 'walking out my faith', as I hear my mother say all the time. What I know now is that it's encouraging that Jesus can come anytime and that when he does we will have rest from the ones who persecute us. A verse that's in my head now is, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

Ephesians Chapter 6

I had not noticed that Ephesians was so short. If I had known then I would have finished off the last and short chapter yesterday. Well, I'll only have a little bit to reflect on today. At least I'll be able to go back and review what I reflected on all day yesterday along with today's.

This last chapter of Ephesians was about obeying our 'earth' authorities. Children obeying their parents and workers doing as their boss asks of them. As a daughter I've had little rebellions against my parents. Most times I would do as I'm told even if I didn't really want to. There were the few times where I was set on not doing something, but in the end I ended up doing it. Now that I am older and have thought through a lot of things I don't even see rebellion in myself. I may not necessarily agree, but luckily for me, I do have that trust and relationship with my parents to take their words for it.

As far as obeying work authority I don't know too much. The times I worked, whether it was volunteer or a job, I never questioned authority. Especially since the people who were above me knew more about the work than I did. It's my natural instinct to do as I'm told, but at those times I did not have Jesus in my mind. I wasn't thinking that I should work for my boss as if he/she were Jesus. Now, with Jesus in mind, I can honestly say that it should not be to hard to work for my boss as they were Jesus. When I hear from my parents of their experiences in work it's kind of discouraging, but my mother is a good roll model for me in that area. I'll always have to remember about authority and that Jesus is my reason.

The absolute last of this book is guarding ourselves with God's armor. There are seven of them and I know of them quite well because my talks about them often. There is the belt of truth: knowing that God is the truth. Body armor of righteousness: protect our hearts from sin. Shoes of peace: this makes me think of the disciples Jesus sent to go and spread the Good News to others. Those disciples had to walk to get those people and tell them. The shield of faith: this protects us from the things we are up against in this world that can tear us down. Helmet of salvation: protecting our mind from things that can cause us to doubt God or turn away from Him. Then there is the sword: the only weapon of offense, to use the word of God when tempted by sin. I hear followers and believers of Christ say that this is the strongest weapon we've got. That's because it's the truth.

As each day goes on I get happier and happier. I always know that even when/if I get sad or down that I can go to God. I already know that I'm in God's will and I believe it. After reading this book of Ephesians I'm just feeling happy and ready to do anything. As I go on about my day with God in my life and what I've read I know the rest of my day is going to be good. It already started off amazing.

My Reason

Reading the Bible every day and reflecting on it is something I really want to do. There is no way I will know God without knowing His words. There is no use in reading and knowing His word if we don't express meaning in them. The way for me to know and His word and for them to have meaning is writing/reflecting on them.

I want to read books and chapters and write everything on my mind that relates to it. In the process of doing that I also want to show others what I get from certain readings. 

My reason for writing my Bible notes is to express what I hear from God, how I act on them, and become open to others expressions on the exact same thing I expressed on.

(The set up for this notebook to search up my notes is the tag will be the name of the book in the Bible.)