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.
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!
Friday, October 30, 2026
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.
Day 299 Bible Readings for October 28 - Romans 14:12-13 (NLT)
Romans 14-15, Psalm 139
Romans 14:12-13 (NLT)
“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”
In Romans 14:12–13, Paul reminds the believers in the church in Rome not to judge or condemn others because each person will be accountable to the Lord. Paul says to live in a way that strengthens others in their faith and does not cause them to stumble or return to sin.
What struck me about these verses is that I have a very critical nature. And while I do not voice my criticism of other people out loud, my mind is full of critical thoughts when I see them. One Bible commentary I read noted that we cannot judge others by a standard that we would not want applied to ourselves. We can still rebuke others when they violate clear Scriptural teachings, but not over doubtful things like food or sacred days. We can offer our advice to others, but we should never judge them over matters of personal conviction. That same Bible commentary also noted that Paul was telling believers not to discourage or beat others down or entice them to sin.
What these verses reminded me is that each believer is responsible for their own actions and decisions, and ultimately, Father-God is their judge. I need to model my behavior on how Christ treated people. Jesus loved others and was particularly critical of the religious leaders who were responsible for leading others spiritually. I want love to guide my actions and the thoughts in my mind, and I pray to the Lord for the Holy Spirit to help me silence the critical thoughts I have about other people.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who can help you transform your life—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 14:12-13 (NLT)
“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God. So let’s stop condemning each other. Decide instead to live in such a way that you will not cause another believer to stumble and fall.”
In Romans 14:12–13, Paul reminds the believers in the church in Rome not to judge or condemn others because each person will be accountable to the Lord. Paul says to live in a way that strengthens others in their faith and does not cause them to stumble or return to sin.
What struck me about these verses is that I have a very critical nature. And while I do not voice my criticism of other people out loud, my mind is full of critical thoughts when I see them. One Bible commentary I read noted that we cannot judge others by a standard that we would not want applied to ourselves. We can still rebuke others when they violate clear Scriptural teachings, but not over doubtful things like food or sacred days. We can offer our advice to others, but we should never judge them over matters of personal conviction. That same Bible commentary also noted that Paul was telling believers not to discourage or beat others down or entice them to sin.
What these verses reminded me is that each believer is responsible for their own actions and decisions, and ultimately, Father-God is their judge. I need to model my behavior on how Christ treated people. Jesus loved others and was particularly critical of the religious leaders who were responsible for leading others spiritually. I want love to guide my actions and the thoughts in my mind, and I pray to the Lord for the Holy Spirit to help me silence the critical thoughts I have about other people.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who can help you transform your life—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.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Day 298 Bible Readings - Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
Romans 12-13, Psalm 138
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT)
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
In Romans 12:1–2, Paul wrote to the church in Rome about how to live. He tells believers not to adopt the standards of the world but to let the Lord change them inwardly in the way they think. When believers do this, they will learn Father-God's will for them. Paul says that when believers let the Lord transform their lives, they will be offering a living and holy sacrifice to Him. The Lord will find their transformed lives an acceptable sacrifice to Him.
When I read these verses, I thought about the way I've been praying lately for the Lord to take all the beliefs I have about my life and send me guidance from the Holy Spirit to transform my life so I can learn to be hungry for Him. Paul reminded me that my prayers for the Lord to transform my beliefs are part of how I offer my body as a living and holy sacrifice to Him, and that this is my way of worshiping Father-God. One Bible commentary I read noted that when you let the Lord transform your thinking, you will have a life that is set apart for Father-God. Another Bible commentary I read noted that living as a sacrifice involves steps such as resisting sin, serving others, and prioritizing the Lord's kingdom in daily decision-making.
What I've noticed about my life since asking the Lord to transform my beliefs is that I am rediscovering all the things in my life that used to give me joy, but for whatever reason, I stopped doing. One example is how much I used to enjoy being busy. Throughout my life, I worked at my job during the day and came home at night to work on other projects. I was never the type to sit at home at night and watch TV. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I have more projects to work on, which I can work on during the day and at night. This new schedule has given me so much enjoyment, and it makes me feel like I live a more satisfying life.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who can transform your thinking and guide you toward a life that pleases Father-God—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 12:1-2 (NLT)
“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
In Romans 12:1–2, Paul wrote to the church in Rome about how to live. He tells believers not to adopt the standards of the world but to let the Lord change them inwardly in the way they think. When believers do this, they will learn Father-God's will for them. Paul says that when believers let the Lord transform their lives, they will be offering a living and holy sacrifice to Him. The Lord will find their transformed lives an acceptable sacrifice to Him.
When I read these verses, I thought about the way I've been praying lately for the Lord to take all the beliefs I have about my life and send me guidance from the Holy Spirit to transform my life so I can learn to be hungry for Him. Paul reminded me that my prayers for the Lord to transform my beliefs are part of how I offer my body as a living and holy sacrifice to Him, and that this is my way of worshiping Father-God. One Bible commentary I read noted that when you let the Lord transform your thinking, you will have a life that is set apart for Father-God. Another Bible commentary I read noted that living as a sacrifice involves steps such as resisting sin, serving others, and prioritizing the Lord's kingdom in daily decision-making.
What I've noticed about my life since asking the Lord to transform my beliefs is that I am rediscovering all the things in my life that used to give me joy, but for whatever reason, I stopped doing. One example is how much I used to enjoy being busy. Throughout my life, I worked at my job during the day and came home at night to work on other projects. I was never the type to sit at home at night and watch TV. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I have more projects to work on, which I can work on during the day and at night. This new schedule has given me so much enjoyment, and it makes me feel like I live a more satisfying life.
If these verses resonate with you—if you feel drawn to place your faith in Jesus Christ, the One who can transform your thinking and guide you toward a life that pleases Father-God—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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