John Chapter 4 (Day 10)

• What information was given?
  • This chapter starts out with the story of the woman of Samaria. This woman was at a well that Jesus was at and he asked her for some water. He then spoke of the living water and whoever drinks from this will never be thirsty again. He told her to tell the whole town about what Jesus said and many of them did believe. Soon an Official’s son from Cana was ill, so he went to Jesus and asked to heal him and it was so.
• What verses stood out to you and why?
  • “Jesus said to her “everyone who drinks of this water will be thirty again, but whoever drink of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:3-14
    • In this verse Jesus is not talking about physical water, but spiritual water. When the soul is dry and thirsty the easiest thing to do is find material things to fill the void: shopping, drinking, partying, ect. But these are just material things that will fade. This things were made as a distraction to put a Band-Aid on our wounds; just a temporary fix. But if you study, meditate, and truly live in the Lord, you will be forever happy and fulfilled. God will give you the satisfaction you are looking for in those material things, but it will feel like SO much more.
  • “But the hour is coming and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirt and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” John 4:23
    • This verse is simple. Before there were people worshiping for the wrong reasons or to the wrong God, but soon we will be able to see the “true” worshipers. For God is looking for them and will bless them.
  • “So Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” – John 4: 48-49
    • This is where the Official ask for help from Jesus. Jesus already called him out saying that he does not truly believe and will not until a miracle happens. BUT Jesus sees a man that has no other options to save his son, pleading for Jesus to help. And Jesus showed mercy and healed the son in an instant. Jesus showed get mercy and power.
• What did I not understand or want to learn more about?
  • What was the reputation of the Samaritans?
  • What was that woman thinking when Jesus was talking with her? She had never met him before or heard of him, yet he knew it all?!?
  • How desperate must have that Official been to drop everything he once believed to help his son?

John Chapter 3 (Day 10)

Hey y’all!
My bad I already failed at doing the challenge everyday. One of my cousins was getting married and I was distracted. But I still want to finish this book within 21 day! So my days and chapters will be a bit off from yours, hopefully if you continued, if you didn’t that’s fine too. Have a blessed day 🙂

Chapter 3

• What information was given?

The Pharisees Nicodemus was talking with Jesus and actually accepted him as a teacher of God. He then asked him many different questions on how to become born again. In chapter three Jesus is explaining about being born again and recites the famous verse in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him shall not parish but have ever lasting life.” After this Jesus and his disciples go to the Judean countryside and run into John the Baptist in the river preaching. He was explaining that he was NOT the Lord himself, but a messenger for whoever receives the Lord will have eternal life.

• What verses stood out to you and why?
  • Jesus answered him “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” -John 3:3

• I like this verse because you could go to church, you could volunteer, and you could be a good “Christian” on the outside, BUT if you do not TRULY BELIEVE in Him and His power and truth, you cannot really see his beauty, mercy and blessing he has for us.

• “If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things” –John 3:12
  • Truth! If somebody cannot listen and accept the physical truth on Earth, how much harder would it be to accept a spiritual abstract idea? The Lord is good to us to show us signs and gives us blessing to let us know that he is there. But if somebody cannot accept the concept of gravity or wind I would hardly expect them to believe, I mean TRULY BELIEVE, in God.
• “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him shall not parish but have everlasting life”. –John 3:16
  • It is hard for me to read this verse without feeling loved. Growing up as a Christian I have read this verse over and over again and never thought of it being more than words. But once I truly understood what I was telling me, wow. God allowed for his ONLY SON, his own child, to die for a whole ton of sinners. That is a crazy amount of love.

• What did I not understand or want to learn more about?
  • Although I read through John 3:22-36 a few times I am still confused of what John the Baptist is saying. I understand that he is telling the world of God’s love and warning them of His wrath, but that’s all I got from these verses.
• What were some new things you learned in the chapter?
  • I had no idea that Nicodemus was a Pharisees or that he believed Jesus’ teachings.

Day 2: John Charpter 2

Day 2: John Chapter 2

• What information was given?

This chapter started with the story of the wedding in Cana. Here is the first miracle of Jesus when he turns the gallons of water into wine. After this miracle, Jesus when to the temple and found livestock, merchants, and traders on the steps. Jesus got angry made a whip and turned over tables to get rid of them. Then he foreshadowed his crucifixion and resurrection. The part of the chapter is about how the people started believing in Jesus but Jesus didn’t depend on them nor trust them with any part of him.

• What verses stood out to you and why?

And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” John 2:4-5

• I just find is funny that Jesus asks “what does this have to do with me” To me it seems a bit sarcastic because this event becomes one of his first miracles. I also like this verse because Mary had faith that he would do something about the wine running out and told the servants to follow Jesus’ orders. That shows the faith of a good follower of Christ and a good mother.
• When Jesus does turn the water into wine, he doesn’t turn it into mediocre wine. It is really good wine. Jesus transformed something so simple as water into something and complex as wine, GOOD wine. I believe that God can transform anything and anyone just as easily.

Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews then said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days’ John 2:19-20

• This event shows the human trait of anger that Jesus possessed. He turned over the table and scared away the animals that were on the front step of the temple. The surface value of this verse tells me to respect the house of the Lord. Places of business can easily invite sin of greed and pride to come and live. A temple or church should be first and foremost a place to worship and talk with God. With that said, I am not going to discourage members of churches today from networking and doing business with each other. I am discouraging doing business in the church on Sabbath day. It should be focus on God.
• On an abstract level the temple in this verse represents a person. The temple is a holy place that should be the home of the Lord, just as a human body should be. There will always be outside distractions and sins trying to creep into the temple, but by not allowing them in you can keep the temple holy and a place focused on God.
•  My favorite part of this verse is that the Jews say it took 46 years to build the temple and doubt Jesus’ promise to make it raise in 3 days.  The temple might have taken 46 years to build, but it started to become of place for sin to gather. Jesus saw this and wanted it to be made new. But Jesus was not talking about physically taking down the temple, but taking down the corruption in people and making them born again in Christ. When Christ died on the cross and rose again, he did this. He gave us the gift to destroy our old habits and sins and become a new person in Christ.

What did I not understand or want to learn more about?

• Define Zeal??
• What did Jesus mean about “my hour”?

What were some new things you learned in the chapter?

• I rediscovered a the meaning of the word temple.
• Definition of Zeal: great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective

Day 1: John Chapter 1

Day 1: John chapter 1

• What information was given?

This chapter starts with God at the beginning and how He created everything. He is the one that created life and light. There is NO darkness strong enough to overcome light.

Then John the Baptist is introduced by him being questioned by Jewish priests. He humbly answers by saying “I am the voice of one crying into the wilderness ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’.” The next day he finally meets Jesus, the son of God.

In the next verses some of the disciples start to follow Jesus: Andrew, Simon Peter (Cephas), Philip, and Nathanael. Then Jesus tells them that they will soon be witness to great miracles.

• What verses stood out to you and why?

“So they said to him ‘Who are you?… He said, “I am ‘the voice crying out in the wilderness. ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’…” John 1:22-23

• John the Baptist did not boast saying I am the chosen one. He answer that he was a vessel being used to proclaim the good news.

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.” John 1:11

• God created people and He loved them. When He sent Jesus to the world, Jesus was casted out like an outsider. Jesus was mocked, persecuted, and crucified by the people that he made and came to save. He still came and saved us regardless of the sin we made against him. That is amazing love

“And he said to him, “truly truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” John 1: 51

• Jesus just finished telling Nathanael that he was able to see him by the fig tree and this is foreshadowing the great miracles that will be in the near future. I also think it is a little funny because Jesus is basically just saying “that was nothing compared to what I have in store.” #Jesus’humor

• What were some new things you learned in the chapter?

• What did I not understand or want to learn more about?

What was the relationship between the Levites, Jews, and people from Nazareth?

John’s 21 day challenge

John’s 21 day challenge is for those people that what to learn more about God and his teachings. I have been a Christian all of my life, but I have only done the bare minimum. By this I mean just going to church and volunteering for events. I am sure I am not the only one. I would listen and agree with all lessons that the pastor would point out in the scriptures, but come the next day I would get TOO busy to read it for myself. This is probably the same thought for a lot of other people and that cool for you, but for me the thought of being “too busy” to give some of my time to God is crazy. God send HIS ONLY SON to DIE for ours sins and for me to repay the type of kindness with disregarding his teachings and his word just seems silly to me. That is why I am doing this challenge. And for anybody else that wants to start growing in the word more, I invite you to join me as well.

The Challenge:
Set some time aside each day to read 1 chapter of the book of John. This could be first thing in the morning or the last thing at night. It doesn’t matter. Before each session pray something along these lines “Lord, please open my heart and my mind to your word that I may grow in you.”  Try to keep a journal or make notes of what you read, what you learned, what stood out, and any questions you may have. Once again this is your journal and your time with God. This is only some suggestions.

Sample questions

Day 1: John Chapter 1

• What information was given?
• What were some new things you learned in the chapter?
• What verses stood out to you and why?
• What did I not understand or want to learn more about?

I will be posting my notes online daily to help me be motivated to continue my challenge, so comments will be welcomed. Also remember that I am not a pastor nor have I studied the bible in depth so I’m sorry if I get things wrong, it’s just my thoughts.

God Bless ❤

Cooking for the Practice Part 1

Hey y’all! 
So, I’ve been trying to cook more so I gave myself a challenge. The challenge is to cook a veggie dish everyday and then talk about what I learned that week. Here is my first post 🙂 

Day 1: Easy Eggplant Parmesan
http://www.livingwellspendingless.com/2013/04/10/easy-eggplant-parmesan-recipe/#_a5y_p=719192 

One of the first times I got to cook with eggplant 🙂 It was delicious.  The only tip I could give is to check how much space you are going to need for the eggplant. Other than that, this is a very simple and easy recipe that the whole family can enjoy. 

Day 2: Avocado and Cucumber Smoothie
http://www.rotinrice.com/2013/05/avocado-cucumber-smoothie/

This was one of the best things I put together. It was so cool and refreshing that I felt healthier for drinking it. HUGE TIP! When following this recipe watch out how much lemon you put in haha 🙂 

Day 3: CREAMY CHEESY CORN CASSEROLE
http://www.giverecipe.com/creamy-cheesy-corn-casserole.html

With this recipe I learned that different cheese are NOT interchangeable. Using the wrong cheese will change the consistency of the dish. 

Day 4: Creamy Avocado Smoothie 

Recipe:
1 Avocado
unsweetened Almond Milk
At Least 5 tsp of Sugar
SOME Ice

Another GREAT addition to any meal. The almond milk really creamy and delicious! 

Day 5: Spinach Casserole
http://www.kitchme.com/recipes/how-i-got-my-family-to-eat-spinach-spinach?invite=29ot

SO easy to make, just watch out for how much salt you put in the dish. I can easily turn salty. 

Day 6: FORGOT 😦 
I didn’t make a veggie dish, but I DID make a pasta that I forgot where the recipe came from haha. 

DAY 7: Sunday BBQ + Stuffed Mushrooms with the Family
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/mouth-watering-stuffed-mushrooms/detail.aspx

Today I had a wonderful lunch today with my family. My brother cooked Hawaiian BBQ and I cooked the stuffed mushrooms 🙂 This recipe has become one of my family’s favorite dishes. They request it often from me.

Hope you’ll enjoy these recipes as much as I have and if you have any new ideas for recipes let me know! I’d love to try them out.

Till Next Time!  

 

 

The 1-Month Veggie Challenge

It’s that time of the year were I’m feeling really Fat and unhealthy. Don’t Get me wrong, I am proud of my body size and shape, BUT when it’s taking so much energy to get out bed there is something wrong with that picture. SO in honor of me trying to get healthy I’m doing a 1- Month Veggie Challenge 🙂 Once a week I’m going to be posting all the recipes that I did that week and pictures!! 😀 I’ll start on Sunday haha Have a good week! 

To the Lost and Broken- Hearted

          Growing up I loved watching comedies. Anything that could make me laugh I loved. Some of my favorite films being Mrs. Doubtfire, Hook, Aladdin, and Jumanji. Robin Williams in these films were just absolutely amazing. He brought these characters to life from just words on a piece of paper. His talent didn’t stop there. Not only did he make his characters to live, but he also made them real! The viewer of his movies and shows were able to connect with him and really feel what he wanted them to feel. In some of his other movies such as Jack, Bicentennial Man, and Patch Adams he brought hidden life issues on the big screen. He was able to show the world how to live a life full of humor even with obstacles in our lives. He did not stop there. He continued to act and to make us laugh, cry, and feel in the Night at the Musuem, Robots, RV, Happy Feet, Mn of the Year, Old Dogs, August Rush and on his TV series the Crazy Ones. He was just amazing. 

          But yesterday we lost a great talent. Robin Williams has been making the world laugh for decades now. His talent and style in unmatched to most. Although I have only been a spectator of his work and his life, he seemed like an amazing person. Kind, caring, talented, and an overall good human being. I am truly crushed to hear him go, especially if it was at his own hands. I wish that I heard he died of natural causes, which I guess he did. From his depression he felt that taking his own life would be better than living. Who knew that one of the funniest people on Earth had a horrible case of depression. Nothing that he had could cure this type of sickness. 

        Depression is a serious illness that many people write off as just being upset or down at times. Yes, sometimes that might be the case, but there are level of depression that can cause unexpected events to occur. In my lifetime of 22 years, I have heard of depression taking 2 people’s lives and at least 9 other cases of people hurting themselves just to feel better. And I’m sure I just did not pay attention to the others that are affected.  Obviously depression cases should be diagnosed and treated properly. Depression affect 1 in 6 people in the US every year (Medscape); an overwhelming number. So one last lesson that Robin Williams gave the world was that Depression does kill and it can hit anybody, even if they are loved by the WHOLE world. 

RIP Robin Williams. 

My First Post

Hello to the online world!

Welcome to my blog page and first post. Live, Hope, Eat are some of the words that I try to live by and I believe describe me fairly well. Although at first these words seem like they are randomly put together each one has a significant meaning.

Live- Live life.
Time is rented. Life is limited. We only have so much time on this Earth before we are gone. No matter what you do or do not believe it is hard to argue this statement. Therefore we must LIVE life and take those opportunities that will make our dreams come true. There is only one chance to live this life why not go BIG before we have to go home.

Hope- Hope for the best.
Murphy’s law, whatever can go wrong will go wrong. Plans rarely go exactly the way you expect them too. Instead of the waiting for things to go wrong, hope for the best to happen. Even when things are not going according to plan, at the end of the day if the main goal is achieved then all of the trials were worth it. If you find yourself in a difficult situation and there seems like no hope and darkness all around, just remember that even “the darkest nights will end and the sun will rise” –Les Mis

Eat- Eat up the moments.
It’s an odd phrase, I know, but “Eat up the moments” is my spin on the common motto live in the moments. Eat up the moments, to me at least, means not only be present in the moment, but feed off of the moment. Let every experience build your character and help you grow as a person. If something happens, it happens for a reason. Everybody has their own story, their own unique perspective on life that is shaped from what we experience. Like snowflakes, no two people are shaped the same so embrace every moment and feed off of it or you’ll never know what you can become.

I hope that this little explanation has helped you understand my title and prepares you for all the random things that you might be able to find on this blog.

Thanks for reading and always remember

Live. Hope. Eat