Today Our Daily Bread 2 Tim 1, Rom 16:19-20 & Acts 17:6

The scripture passages were taken from Rock Church's suggested daily reading schedule for the month of October. Comments are from, ~Lena's Journalin'~ which are Lena's own personal notations on each days’ passages.
2 Tim 1:1-18
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: *Grace, **mercy, and ***peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that is in thee also.
6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: 11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, F1 and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.
15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. 18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.
FOOTNOTES:F1 believed: or, trusted

~Lena’s Journalin’~
Why was Paul appointed a preacher, an apostle, etc.? Was it due to his worthiness? Of course it wasn’t, he was a persecutor of the church of God, who continually spoke against God’s people I the church! (Ever been used there?) Was it because of his position in life? He was a scholar of sorts, knew a lot about God’s word, enough to be extremely religious and at the same time shut the spirit of God right out of his life! He wasn’t born a prophet or apostle, but he was born (again)- one of his new spiritual life! An Apostle is one who is an example to follow, one who shows the way, one who sets it up so others can live in it, kind of like a builder. He gets it up and running, shows others how to do enough that they can pick up there and live in it, while he goes on to show others how to also. I believe as many as he influenced for evil, he more than covered for God! God uses influence. Why would you want some? For God’s eternal kingdom, that’s why. The more the better! Seriously. Saul was a great influencer for evil and he is a great example of someone who was a part of a big mess and was totally against and opposed to the things of God (ever been there?), but was changed by an opportunity given him and accepted by Him. What made him an Apostle and Preacher was the answer to God’s offer for his life. If he had refused God, he would not be who he was.
We use this scripture often- God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and of a sound m mind...Well, that is what it is saying. Now, look at the context of how and why it is brought up this way here. The context is God’s call on you! God is asking all of us the same question He asked Saul, "Will you come away from evil ruling your life and of influencing people against Me, by not influencing them for Me? Will you be an influencer, for My kingdom, Majesty and Glory? Will you share your life with others, a life given over to the leading of the Spirit of Christ and God? Will you cease from speaking ill of My house and My people (the church) and come and follow Me and grow up enough with a goal in mind to reproduce in others what you’ve learned by the example and testimony of a changed life?
NOW bring that scripture out of the archives! GOD HAS NOT GIVEN YOU A SPIRIT OF FEAR- ONE of POWER and LOVE and of a SOUND MIND! How does that sound in this context? That says to me that the timidity that tries to hold me back, has no place in God’s presence in my life. The lies that tell me I’m not enough have to flee. He’s MORE than enough and it’s not all about me, it IS ALL about HIM! Now would be a good time to speak those memorized verses- I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength (Phil 4:13), I am MORE than a conqueror through Him who loved me and GAVE His life a ransom for me and for many others. What do we conquer over? Fear, dread, intimidation. Over what? Sharing the gospel, being the gospel! Why? There’s a war out there God is calling each one of us to engage in for His glory, that God would win us out of darkness into light and life, That our souls and the souls of any others who will come to Him through us will be saved! That’s why we must overcome our fears!
One more diddy and I’ll be finished here today- This scripture below says it so awesomely. I spoke to my Cell ladies last Thursday about this. What is every trail in life set out to do to you? I mean every one? What is every tragedy, every death and separation, every enemy thought of failure, etc etc, out to do to you? I can tell you by revelation of God’s spirit, they may look different, but they are the same in their very mission and goal, they have the same goal for your soul that sin does-to separate you from the revelation of the the living love of God. To keep you serving the lie of the evil one, to keep you where you cannot see his evil plight against you. To house you in disappointment and the deception of rejection and failure, to make you think you are either not worthy of or not loved by God. This one is the biggest- to make you think God is your enemy! Every trial, every plight, every tragedy is an opportunity to either turn to or away from God, the strategy for your soul and your salvation is to steal it away from the hand of God! Read on…
Romans 8:31-39
31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? 33 Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. F51 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord
Concerning the scriptures we’ve been reading ALL month below- what are you obedient to? The sharing of the gospel through a life evidenced with Christ? The call in answer to God’s question to You? YES, THAT is what will turn your and our world back to God!
Here are definitions of grace, mercy & peace for those who want to do a bit of a word study:
*Grace
That which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
what is due to grace
the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
the token or proof of grace, benefit
a gift of grace
benefit, bounty
thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
Translated Words
**Mercy-
kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them
of men towards men: to exercise the virtue of mercy, show one's self merciful
of God towards men: in general providence; the mercy and clemency of God in providing and offering to men salvation by Christ
the mercy of Christ, whereby at his return to judgment he will bless true Christians with eternal life
***Peace-
a state of national tranquillity
exemption from the rage and havoc of war
peace between individuals, i.e. harmony, concord
security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous)
of the Messiah's peace
the way that leads to peace (salvation)
of Christianity, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is
the blessed state of devout and upright men after death

Romans 16:19-20 19 For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Acts 17:6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, "These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.