Every morning when I wake up, I grab my Bible and my little “Our Daily Bread” devotional book. Yesterday morning’s devotion was about how people are always wanting to add or subtract from the Bible. “In every era there has been a spirit of the age that challenges our acceptance of the Scripture” (ODB, 2005).

It surprises me how controversial the Bible can be. Many people want to add extra things to the Bible because they think there are important things that aren’t in it. The biggest example of this that I can think of is The Book of Mormon. To the Mormons, this book is just as important and special as the Bible. Other people feel that they have to take certain things out of the Bible because they don’t agree with them. “Christians” who have premarital sex may feel that the parts of the Bible that rebuke that action and call it sin should be removed.

There are huge consequences for adding or subtracting certain parts of the Bible. Revelation 22:18-19 says, “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.”

2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” Instead of adding or taking away from Scripture, we should pray that the Lord would show us where we are wrong. Every part of Scripture is important.

Our Daily Bread. (2005). No alteration needed. United States of America: Radio Bible Class Ministries.

I love to read, and right now I’m reading a book titled One Child by Torey L. Hayden. This is truly an amazing book. It’s the story of how a teacher changed the life of a child who was wild, unreachable, and abused. I already love working with children, but this story is really inspiring. Also, while reading this book, I am realizing that it is practical for everyday life as well. Many times we will have people in our lives who need patience, attention, and most of all, a good friend. Although we as humans can’t change the lives of others, we can use the love of Jesus to reach them. Through us, He can change their lives.

It’s amazing how much the culture in America has changed over the years. Women used to always know how to cook, clean, sew, and care for children, and girls were taught those things at a young age. But today it is not rare to find a woman who can’t do at least one of those things.

Before this summer, I didn’t know how to cook, and I’m still not very good at it. It really is important for a woman to know how to cook, especially when she gets married and has a family of her own. John videotapes weddings and makes DVDs of them, and recently I was watching one with him that he made to make sure it turned out okay. He mentioned that the bride didn’t know how to cook, but the groom did, and he was going to teach her. That is sweet that he is going to teach her, but it still seems a little strange for the wife not to know how to cook. I’m very glad that I’m learning now before I meet my future husband so that I will already be a good cook by then (at least I hope so!).

Probably a big reason for so many women not knowing how to cook is fast food restaurants. It’s so easy to just run by somewhere on your way home to pick up food. There are also so many pre-made dinners that you can fix quickly (which are not a bad thing, by the way). Sometimes I wish that I could live back in the old days when women did so much work at home. Even though I do want to be a teacher, once I start my family I just want to be a stay at home mom like my mom.

I don’t know, it just seems like women were stronger back then. They knew all about caring for their family the way I think that women should. I know women think they have more power today because they are getting higher into business and politics and stuff, but I like the way women were in the pioneer days. Becca and I used to always pretend we were pioneers, and I still often think about how life was back then.

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
~Romans 10:14-15

“How beautiful the hands that served
The wine and the bread and the sons of the earth.
How beautiful, the feet that walked
The long, dusty roads and the hill to the cross.
How beautiful, how beautiful,
How beautiful is the body of Christ.”
~How Beautiful Words and music by Twila Paris

I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually think much about feet except that they’re stinky. But when you really think about it, feet are a very important part of our body. We wouldn’t get far without them.

Whenever I read this verse in Romans, I always think of Twila Paris’ song. Even though the verse and the song aren’t talking about exactly the same thing, they do have something in common–the mission that is accomplished using the feet. How beautiful are the feet that walked to the cross, where our Savior then suffered and died for our sins. How beautiful are the feet that share Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him.

Our feet may be stinky, but they are beautiful when we use them to accomplish great things for God.

If you know me very well at all, you know that I love roses, especially red ones. All roses are symbolic of love, but red roses are symbolic of romance, beauty, respect, courage, passionate love and unity. Red roses also stand for the true love stronger than thorns. When roses are in full bloom, they say “I love you” or “I love you still.” (Collvins, 2005)

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
~John 15:13

A long time ago, a man suffered and died, not for his friends, but for sinners that He didn’t even know. That man was Jesus, and He is the greatest example of true love. The blood red color of this rose reminds me of the One who shed His blood for me. He is the One who created all the roses, and when they are in full bloom, He is saying “I love you” to us.

Collvins, L. L. (2005). The meaning of roses. Retrieved June 21, 2005, from http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art11761.asp