The Children's Living Bible: Romans 12

Good Evening Beloved,

I have been reading in Romans this past week and I am reading it from several different translations. This evening I am going to take from the Children's Living Bible. I will make direct quotes but I will highlight them so you will know it was from this bible.   I will also paraphrase some too.
Romans 12:
Give your body to God, let it be a living sacrifice, holy , the kind he can accept.  Don't copy the behavior of the world, be new and refreshing, different.  " Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you." There are many members in our body and they all work differently and it is the same in the BODY OF CHRIST.  There are many different members in Christ's body too, and we all need each other.
For example:  I can not do what my husband does for our children, nor can he do what I do for them. We are the same , parents, but we have different roles with them.
God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well.
So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, then prophesy whenever you can --as often as your faith is strong enough to receive a message from God.  If your gift is serving others-- serve them well.  If you are a teacher, do a good job of teaching.  If you are a preacher, see to it that your sermons are strong and helpful.  If God has given you money , be generous in helping others with it. If God has given you administrative ability  and put you in charge of the work of others , take the responsibility seriously. Those who offer comfort to the sorrowing should do so with Christian cheer.  Don't just pretend that you love others: really love them.  Hate what is wrong.  Stand on the side of the good.  Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring  each other.  Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically.
Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.  When
God's children are in need , you be the one to help them out.  And get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner or if they need lodging , for the night.
Don't curse others, pray that God will bless them.  Be happy for others.  If they are sad then share in their sorrow.   Work happily together. Don't try to act big or try to get into the graces of important people. Don't pay evil for evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honest clear through.  Be at peace with everyone, just as much as possible.   Never avenge yourselves , leave that to God .  ( DON'T TAKE THE LAW INTO YOUR OWN HANDS) .   Instead , feed your enemy if he is hungry.  If he is thirsty  give him something to drink and you will be " heaping coals of fire on his head. " Don't let evil get the upper hand, but conquer evil by doing good.
This is written so that even a child can understand.  Sometimes we miss out because we think to hard on a verse...  This is really very simple.. I hope that it speaks to your heart the way it spoke to mind.
We all need reminders to do the right things.... I am going to pray for each one who reads this , right now.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Please forgive me and the one who is reading this of everything that we have done wrong today.. Thank you for being with us on this, the day You have made.... We are so blessed that we can have the Word of God before us...Thank you for Blood of Calvary.  I pray Father that each one reading this would be blessed by your Word today . I add my prayers to theirs for Your Will to be done. In Jesus name. Amen
Remember to Smile.... It is a free gift from God for you to share with all you meet.

Tenderly with arms wrapped about you, your sister in Christ Jesus vickie

Double Portion

Good Evening Beloved,

I have so many things to tell you!  I had such a great day today..  Mike and I went to a new church up in Lafayette. I had been invited by the Pastor from this church to come and visit, so we went today.
We went this morning to the regular church service and it was different from what we are use too. It was nice.. they had a guest speaker there today.  We learned things that we had never heard before and that is always nice to do.... I don't want to mention names as I do not have permission to do so,  but I can tell you this; this man was a good speaker.
We came home and found out that our church at home was not going to be in service this evening so we went back to Lafayette and I am so glad that we did.  It was a amazing night of worship and prayer and teaching and healing.... I saw people go to the alter and say that they wanted to be free from smoking and  this man ask them to throw their cigarettes away and to go and get them from their cars, lighters, matches, anything that had to do with smoking ; and they did!!!  I saw people just fall down in the Spirit.  I had something happen to me personally that I am still in shock about..
I had an accident on a motors scooter in September, 2011 and I have not been able to make a fist since then.  This man said if anyone here has arthritis, it is gone.. I clamined it !! I can now make a fist, not with one hand but with both of them!!!!  May not sound like a big deal , but let me tell you for me it was HUGE!!  I can breath better too!!  I know it was NOT this man but God who did this... I just am so excited it happened.
One week ago my oldest brother passed away.  I am saddened by this.... I will miss knowing he is not in this world with us any longer.. BUT you know God..  He never leaves us nor forsakes us....  I was feeling pretty bad about my brother but tonight God gave me a very special gift.  I met not one, but two new sisters!!!  I got a double portion tonight when God put into my life two very wonderful, sweet , awesome ladies,  Anna and Becky.  We met and made friends right away.. I love it when that happens!!! I could go on and on and on  but I won't ( at least not tonight :) ) I just had a great day today and that does not happen all that often..  I love to hear the Word of God come alive and it did for me at least on this day..  I don't mean to sound like it does not on other days but today was just kind of special...  So, for tonight I will say this :
Smile:  Remember it is a free gift from God for you to share with all you meet. 
God Bless each of you . Tenderly with arms wrapped about you.  Your sister in Christ Jesus
                                                                                                                 vickie