Becky Baker > Recent Status Updates

The Fellowship of the Ring
Book 2

5:16-18
God's Word repeatedly reminds us of the need for these qualities, but we often fail to allow the Holy Spirit to fully form them in us. We need to be willing to do our part by studying, praying, and putting in the work every day.

5:14-15
A congregation will encourage the child of God in times of weakness and correct and chastise when needed.
A kind warning and encouraging word will help a new Christian learn much more than displeased looks and catty remarks.
Being a part of the body of Christ means serving God but others as well.

"...he felt a burning on the back of his head, and a dazzling light from the water pained his wet eyes. He wondered at it, for he had almost forgotten about the Sun. Then for the last time he looked up and shook his fist at her....It would be cool and shady under those mountains. The Sun could not watch me there."
It sounds like Gollum is hiding from God and trying to run from his sin

4:13-14
Before Jesus Christ, death only meant fear and the certainty that you will be judged. But after Christ, a believer can be confident that they will live eternally.
When Paul talked about "them which are asleep," he was speaking of joyful expectation, not hopeless despair.

4:9-12
God gives us selfless love through the Holy Spirit, which cannot be replicated in our own strength.
Those closest to us will notice how calmly and sincerely we strive for greatness in the tasks God has given us. This will be a powerful witness for Christ.
Christians who are hardworking will "have lack of nothing" because the Lord will bless them mentally and physically.

Finished with The Hobbit
and onto The Fellowship!

4:3-8
We need to be aware of our flaws and how easy it is for us to give in to the lusts of the flesh. Every believer should walk in purity today and know that only a Spirit-filled walk will help us resist temptation.

4:1-2
The believer must obey God's commands or face His wrath, and anybody who thinks otherwise is deceiving himself. The Lord truly is concerned with how we live and our ministry; are we?

3:9-13
In prayer, Paul always thought of these Christians, even when he was far from them. God works in response to believing, intercessory prayer. The issue is that we frequently fail to take advantage of this amazing power.

3:6-8
We often underestimate the impact we may have by living a consistent, Spirit-filled life. One Christian with a joyful, unselfish, Christ-like disposition can shift the atmosphere of a group of unhappy believers.
Give your pastors, parents, Sunday school teachers, and fellow believers a favorable report about your walk with God, both in word and actions.

3:1-5
We must not allow our afflictions distract us from our steadfastness. Satan could utilize our hardships to further his own agenda by making us feel defeated if we do not acknowledge that the Lord permits trials to serve His purposes.
How do we handle stress? Do we give in to the devil, or trust the Lord to strengthen our faith through the painful experience - the choice is ours.

2:17-20
If our hearts are in line with the Lord's will, we should care about others the same way Paul did. Sadly, lots of people are more interested in their personal needs than in the needs of others.
"Satan hindered us" - we must be constantly vigilant to this danger. Unless we receive the strength by the Spirit to overcome challenges, we cannot become what God intends us to be or accomplish anything for His glory.

STING

2:14-16
The unbelieving Jews hindered Christ's work, which provoked God's anger, and is going to be revealed at the final judgment. The same is true now for everyone who oppose God's ways.
Like the Jews in Judaea who were persecuted for their beliefs, the Thessalonians "suffered like things" of their own people. The Refiner's fire is vital for purifying and increasing our faith.

2:13
The church in Thessalonica "received the Word of God" as coming from God, not from mankind. They knew it was holy and had supreme authority because it was written by God. They received it, which means they needed it, and weren't going to think of it simply as a work of men.

2:5-12
When someone fully comprehends the significance and impact of the message, nothing can ever justify silence. The suffering Paul endured only reinforced his faith that the message he preached was God's, not man's.

2:1-4
Paul tells the Thessalonians that they should expect people to be hostile to the gospel of God. Paul was beaten and jailed in Philippi for casting a demon out of a slave girl, yet it was against the law in Rome at the time to punish Roman citizens without a hearing.
Don't let negative reactions to your witness for Christ discourage you. We ought to please God, not others.

1:9-10
The early Christians understood the possibility that they might live to experience the return of Christ in the clouds. They were aware of God's promise that their faith in Christ would rescue them from "the wrath to come". They were able to wait patiently and work hard because of THIS blessed hope.

1:6-9
The Lord wants a lot more for us than just forgiving our sins and giving us eternal life. He also wants the new creature in Christ to show others how to live by being obedient and productive.
Faithful service should come from love for Christ. If we don't have a labor of love in our lives, we need to do some serious soul-searching.

1:1-5
Today, we can humbly look at our own progress in the faith and compare it to their godly example.
They didn't say they were Christians and then go back to living like they did before.
The gospel is more than a message of words. It is a message that comes in power and in the Holy Ghost, therefore, we should be spreading the "good news" to others in our lives.

I would highly recommend everyone listen to the audiobook. Having Andy Serkis read me The Hobbit is top tier

“I do not know how long he kept on like this, hating to go on, not daring to stop, on, on, until he was tireder than tired. It seemed like all the way to tomorrow and over it to the days beyond.”
This is exactly how I felt on Thursday when we were driving to Door Country

AAAAAAHHHHHHHH

SHE SPEAKS

No wonder why this poor girl is unraveling.
This is the kind of book where you can't trust any of the narrators, and I kinda love it. I have no idea what's going to happen next.
I can't tell if the guy is there or not.

I’m not loving the chapters on his relationship with Kathy. I’m hoping it connects to the story later on.

This is the kind of book that you reread as you get older, I think.
As he looks back on his life it makes you look back as well, and really appreciate every moment that you have.

She has dementia....
This is an odd way to continue the story, but I think I like it better than what I was originally expecting.