1 Corinthians 5-6, Psalm 143
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT)
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
In 1 Corinthians 6:19–20, Paul tells the church in Corinth that their bodies are filled with the Holy Spirit. Their bodies belong to the Lord and not to themselves because the Lord dwells within them. Believers need to recognize that their bodies are sacred. Because their bodies belong to the Lord, they cannot be used for anything that contradicts the holiness of the Lord. Paul also tells believers that they must honor the Lord with their bodies.
One Bible commentary I read noted that if our bodies belong to Christ, we have no right to be idle with or wasteful of what belongs to the Lord. Believers need to take care of their bodies because the body is sacred and filled with the Holy Spirit. Believers do not have the right to abuse or pollute the Lord's property with improper or sinful behavior. But if the Holy Spirit dwells within a believer's body, then it also means believers have the strength of the Lord to help them overcome the sins of the flesh.
These verses reminded me that my body is sacred, and I need to responsibly steward it and have a lifestyle that avoids actions and habits that defile the body. The world teaches us that our bodies are our own, and no one has control over our bodies except each individual person. I know I embraced this way of thinking for a long time. But now that I know that the Lord dwells within me, I think differently about my body. I know I need to be more thoughtful about the actions I take and the foods I eat, and rely on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to live a life that honors the Lord inside me.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who lives inside of us and makes our bodies holy and sacred—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Elf Girl in the City
S. Brenda Elfgirl - I was told I am an elf in a parallel life, and I live in the Arizona desert exploring what this means. I've had this blog for a while and I write about the things that interest me. My spiritual teacher told me that my journey in life is about balancing "the perfect oneness of a sweetness heart and the effulgent soul". My inner and outer lives are like parallel lines that will one day meet, but only when there is a new way of thinking. Read on as I try to find the balance.
Thank you for viewing / reading my blog posts! I appreciate it!
Tuesday, November 03, 2026
Day 302 Bible Readings for October 31 - 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT)
1 Corinthians 3-4, Psalm 142
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT)
“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”
In 1 Corinthians 3:6–7, Paul writes to the church in Corinth that while planting and watering the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is the Lord who makes them grow. Paul reiterates that everything is the work of the Lord, and it doesn't matter who does the planting or watering of the seeds, as they are servants of Father-God. The Lord is the One who brings about spiritual growth in believers.
One Bible commentary I read noted that Paul uses the metaphor of a farmer planting a seed. The farmer plants a seed and waters it, but the farmer does not make the seed grow. The seed grows through the miracle of life. Paul founded the Corinthian church, and he laid the foundation for the church. Apollos then strengthened the Corinthian church through teaching. But only Father-God could give believers spiritual life and produce lasting fruit in them. The Lord is ultimately responsible for the growth of a believer's faith.
These verses remind me that while I can admire the pastors and evangelists I listen to, they are just planting and watering the seeds of faith inside me. But the Lord is the One responsible for growing my faith. I know that when I listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, my obedience also helps to grow my faith in the Lord.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who sends many people to plant and water the seeds of faith inside of us—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
1 Corinthians 3:6-7 (NLT)
“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow.”
In 1 Corinthians 3:6–7, Paul writes to the church in Corinth that while planting and watering the seeds of the gospel of Jesus Christ, it is the Lord who makes them grow. Paul reiterates that everything is the work of the Lord, and it doesn't matter who does the planting or watering of the seeds, as they are servants of Father-God. The Lord is the One who brings about spiritual growth in believers.
One Bible commentary I read noted that Paul uses the metaphor of a farmer planting a seed. The farmer plants a seed and waters it, but the farmer does not make the seed grow. The seed grows through the miracle of life. Paul founded the Corinthian church, and he laid the foundation for the church. Apollos then strengthened the Corinthian church through teaching. But only Father-God could give believers spiritual life and produce lasting fruit in them. The Lord is ultimately responsible for the growth of a believer's faith.
These verses remind me that while I can admire the pastors and evangelists I listen to, they are just planting and watering the seeds of faith inside me. But the Lord is the One responsible for growing my faith. I know that when I listen to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, my obedience also helps to grow my faith in the Lord.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who sends many people to plant and water the seeds of faith inside of us—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Friday, October 30, 2026
Day 301 Bible Readings - 1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)
1 Corinthians 1-2, Psalm 141
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)
“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”
In 1 Corinthians 1:27–28, Paul writes to the church in Corinth that the Lord often makes choices that defy the world's logic and expectations to accomplish His plans for the world. The servants of the Lord often lack power, rank, or anything else valued by the world. One Bible commentary I read noted that Father-God often works through people whom society overlooks, rejects, or considers powerless. By doing this, the Lord shows He is sovereign and is not limited by human standards. The Lord chooses people whom the world may overlook, and through their faithfulness and obedience, He can accomplish His purposes.
When I read these verses, I remembered all the times in my life when I felt worthless by the world's standards. When I prayed to the Lord about my feelings, I remembered all the stories of the people in the Bible and how the Lord chose them to accomplish His plans for the world. I began to realize that Father-God had chosen me to be part of His plan for the world. I may not know what my role is in His plan, but I have a role nonetheless. It also made me realize that anything I have accomplished in my life was not done by me alone, but with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I know that without Father-God in my life, I couldn't have achieved the success I have experienced.
These verses remind me that when I read the Bible every year, my faith in the Lord strengthens and grows because I read about people who are like me but were chosen to do great things for the Lord. Father-God often chose those whom the world would consider insignificant to accomplish great things. The Lord worked through those believers who were humble and dependent on Him, so when they accomplished great things, they would say that all they did was because of Father-God.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who has a plan for your life no matter what your rank or status is in this world—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28 (NLT)
“Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.”
In 1 Corinthians 1:27–28, Paul writes to the church in Corinth that the Lord often makes choices that defy the world's logic and expectations to accomplish His plans for the world. The servants of the Lord often lack power, rank, or anything else valued by the world. One Bible commentary I read noted that Father-God often works through people whom society overlooks, rejects, or considers powerless. By doing this, the Lord shows He is sovereign and is not limited by human standards. The Lord chooses people whom the world may overlook, and through their faithfulness and obedience, He can accomplish His purposes.
When I read these verses, I remembered all the times in my life when I felt worthless by the world's standards. When I prayed to the Lord about my feelings, I remembered all the stories of the people in the Bible and how the Lord chose them to accomplish His plans for the world. I began to realize that Father-God had chosen me to be part of His plan for the world. I may not know what my role is in His plan, but I have a role nonetheless. It also made me realize that anything I have accomplished in my life was not done by me alone, but with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit. I know that without Father-God in my life, I couldn't have achieved the success I have experienced.
These verses remind me that when I read the Bible every year, my faith in the Lord strengthens and grows because I read about people who are like me but were chosen to do great things for the Lord. Father-God often chose those whom the world would consider insignificant to accomplish great things. The Lord worked through those believers who were humble and dependent on Him, so when they accomplished great things, they would say that all they did was because of Father-God.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who has a plan for your life no matter what your rank or status is in this world—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Day 300 Bible Readings - Romans 16:17-18 (NLT)
Romans 16, Psalm 140
Romans 16:17-18 (NLT)
“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”
In Romans 16:17–18, Paul tells the Roman Christians to watch out for people who cause division in the church. Paul also says to watch out for those who teach things contrary to what the apostles have taught. He says to stay away from these people and withdraw from fellowship with them. Paul writes that these people are serving their own personal ambitions and are not serving Christ. These people don't give themselves away but use attractive speech and praise to deceive believers who lack discernment.
These verses remind me of principles I try to follow in church. If I feel that someone in church is behaving out of personal ambition, greed, a desire for recognition, or self-interest, I stay away from them. I may speak to them at church, but I won't go out of my way to befriend them or take them into my confidence. I also pray to the Holy Spirit to guide me in how I behave toward them. Because I am relatively new to being born again, I'm very cautious of people who are double-minded because I don't want to go back to that way of thinking. One Bible commentary I read noted that believers need to be wary of those who cause division and those who would deliberately deceive the Lord's people.
But it's hard because I believe what Paul wrote is so accurate. These types of people do not announce themselves as dividers and deceivers. In their own minds, they may think they are doing the right thing, but their motives can be selfish and not based on what the Lord wants.
In the church that I attend, the ministers emphasize making sure that whatever we do and say is rooted in Scripture. The Bible is the authority for our lives. If a person behaves and speaks in a way that is contrary to what is in the Bible, then I know I need to exercise caution in my fellowship with them. What I am learning is that I need to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in all situations in my life. I've prayed to the Lord to help me become the person He created me to be and for my thoughts and actions to reflect the character of Christ, so I can be more in alignment with His plan for my life.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who encourages us to have our lives rooted in Scripture so we can be aligned with His will—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
Romans 16:17-18 (NLT)
“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”
In Romans 16:17–18, Paul tells the Roman Christians to watch out for people who cause division in the church. Paul also says to watch out for those who teach things contrary to what the apostles have taught. He says to stay away from these people and withdraw from fellowship with them. Paul writes that these people are serving their own personal ambitions and are not serving Christ. These people don't give themselves away but use attractive speech and praise to deceive believers who lack discernment.
These verses remind me of principles I try to follow in church. If I feel that someone in church is behaving out of personal ambition, greed, a desire for recognition, or self-interest, I stay away from them. I may speak to them at church, but I won't go out of my way to befriend them or take them into my confidence. I also pray to the Holy Spirit to guide me in how I behave toward them. Because I am relatively new to being born again, I'm very cautious of people who are double-minded because I don't want to go back to that way of thinking. One Bible commentary I read noted that believers need to be wary of those who cause division and those who would deliberately deceive the Lord's people.
But it's hard because I believe what Paul wrote is so accurate. These types of people do not announce themselves as dividers and deceivers. In their own minds, they may think they are doing the right thing, but their motives can be selfish and not based on what the Lord wants.
In the church that I attend, the ministers emphasize making sure that whatever we do and say is rooted in Scripture. The Bible is the authority for our lives. If a person behaves and speaks in a way that is contrary to what is in the Bible, then I know I need to exercise caution in my fellowship with them. What I am learning is that I need to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance in all situations in my life. I've prayed to the Lord to help me become the person He created me to be and for my thoughts and actions to reflect the character of Christ, so I can be more in alignment with His plan for my life.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who encourages us to have our lives rooted in Scripture so we can be aligned with His will—this may be your moment. Open your heart to Him. Speak to Him in prayer. Tell Him you trust Him and desire to walk with Him. He is faithful, and He will meet you exactly where you are.
Heavenly Father, I give You my life. Please forgive me for all my sins and wash me clean through the blood of Jesus. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, and I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I receive Your forgiveness and the gift of salvation. Thank You, Lord—I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, and I am made new in Jesus' name. Amen.
If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! I encourage you to find and join a Holy Spirit–filled, full-Gospel, Bible-based church where you can grow in your faith and experience the Lord's love, signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.
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