Hosanna!

When I watched the crucifixion video at church I cried not cause I’m scared that Jesus told me to follow His example. But cause I know that what I will go through in this life will never amount to what He went through in a day. So who am I to complain.

Following the Savior

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His step. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He reviled He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaded, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. -1 Peter 2:21-23

No one enjoys suffering. No one enjoys being mistreated. No one enjoys being misjudged. 

This week has felt so unfair. From simple things like people cutting the line in train rides to dealing with strangers who judge you and try to pick a fight, to dealing with unnecessary back stabbing comments around you.

This morning I was contemplating about heaven. How I hated that this world was just so full of evil. How unfair it is that some people can make mistakes and turn the story about that I’m the one at fault. How I get judged and I still have to pay for something I didn’t even do. I hated it. I hated every little bit of it. I wanted out, I wanted heaven. It sounded like a better option anyways.

While in thought God brought to mind the verse He gave me this week. 1 Peter 2:21-23. And it’s as if I could hear Jesus talking to me

“When a mob came to arrest me, I went with them willingly despite knowing what I was about to go through. When I was in my lowest point my closes friends left me, but when I saw them again I forgave them so easily. When the soldiers mocked me I kept silent. When the crowd asked that a murder be released instead of me I did not argue my case. When the people cast lots for my clothing I did not wish them bad. When those who passed by the cross heaped insults at me I did not call down my Angles to put them to the sword. And as I hung on the cross, listening to people misjudge me and insult me I didn’t quit, rather I STAYED UNTIL IT WAS FINISHED!!!”

My Jesus took all that…He endured… and He remained sinless. The thought of my Savior enduring so much brings me to tears. I cannot fathom His love, nor His grace and patience. My love for others is still so imperfect, but I know Jesus will help me cause He knows exactly how it feels.

Just wanted to share another verse that God gave to comfort me, and in this I claim His promise:

“And after you have suffered a LITTLE while, the GOD of all grace who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself RESTORE, CONFIRM, STRENGTHEN, and ESTABLISH you.” -1 Peter 5:10

The right road is not always the easiest road, but it will surely lead you to the best destination. 

Unka Glen: You are not your sex life

Payphone by Maroon 5

iPhone Bible Study Apps

I’ve been trying out some apps on the iPhone that would be a great help in studying the Bible :) Feel free to try them out yourself. I’ve listed some things about them, haven’t used them all that much but here’s an overview at least. Excited for more Bible Studying :)

Added some screenshots for your reference as well. My Top Favorites are Accordance, Holy Bible (YouVersion) and Glo. I’ve listed my comments also on which ones I think you could do without haha :P

1) Holy Bible (YouVersion)

-Has several free versions you can download and use when you’re offline

-Allows you to highlight text (but per verse and not per word). Available only when online

-Has built in plans where you can have topical verses and devotionals per day til the plan is finished

-Daily verse is prompted on the home page

-Allows bookmarks

-Allows notes

-Allows sharing on Facebook etc

-Has several reading plans

My personal review:  This is the version i commonly use if I need to read my Bible on the iPhone. However you can’t highlight verses when there’s no internet. Highlighting is easier on this app and you can use as many colors as you want. You can also download a lot of free transaltions and you can get NIV and NASB when you’re connected to the internet.

2) Wave Bible

-Allows you to view up to 3 versions side by side

-Comes with a built in how to use manual

-Various ways to search for passages

-Built in materials for Bible Study

-Colorful interface

-Available versions: Original Language, KJV, NET, God’s Word Translation. The rest you need to purchase

My personal review: Only thing I like about it is you can view up to 3 translations side by side, but you don’t really have a lot of available translations so not that good

3) Logos Bible Software

-Option to highlight per verse

-When online you can access more commentaries

-Allows you to write notes

-Available offline Bible version: The Lexham English Bible

My personal review: Not my favorite app, only thing I like about it is the access to commentaries when online. An app I can do without

4) Accordance

-Allows you to highlight PER word not per verse

-Two way comparison for verses

-Allows you to see the greek word and meaninng

-Allows notes

-Available offline Bible version: ESV, WEB, BHS-4D, GNT-TD

-Customize font size, color, type

My personal review: I think this is a really good app cause you can get the greek words used and it also has a built in dictionary. Plus you don’t need to be online to access the greek words and to highlight. Highlights are limited to only 8, 4 colors and 4 underlines. But that’s why I have my hard copy cauese it’s better to highlight a REAL Bible not just an app ;)

-Available offline commentary

-Built in dictrionary

-Allows bookmarking

-Daily devotionals need to be downloaded

-Available Translation: KJV

My Personal review: Almost like the Logos Bible app, but you can access commentaries offline.  An app I can do without

6) GLO

-Has a free NIV version (all other apps you usually have to buy the NIV version)

-Allows you to customize the look of the font and passage (size, justification, background, brightness)

-Does not allow you to highlight

-Has an Atlas feature which lets you view maps of important places related to the scripture

-Has additional meida features: videos, artwork, virtual tours, maps, photos

-Has Bible Reading plans (The Bible in a year, New Testament in a year etc.)

-Allows you to make notes / journal

-However this app can only function when there is internet connection

My personal review: This is REALLY cool cause it has a LOT of resource material, only downfall is that you need the internet connection to use any of these.

7) BLB (Blue Letter Bible)

-Lets you view two translations at a time

-Allows bookmarking

-Shows you the history of books and passages you just read

-Allows Journaling per chapter

-Has a built in search option

-Allows automatic scrolling so when you’re reading you do not need to manually scroll

-Option to ediit font, color, theme, 

-Available offline Bibles: ASV, KJV, NET

-Available online Bibles: ESV, NKJV

My personal review: Good for comparing but has limited available translation. An App I could do without

8) Mantis

-Available Bible Version: KJV, the rest you have to purchase

-Allows highlight per word

-Allows bookmaring

-Allows notes

-Built in search option

-Shows you the history of books and passages you just read

-Analyze option lets you compare versions (but you need to purchase other versions)

-All comentaries need to be purchased

-All media and maps need to be purchased

-All dictionaries need to be purchased

-Has 5 built in reading plans, the rest are all for download

-Has autoscroll options

-Has a built in calendar option used to daily passage reading

My personal review: ALMOST EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE PURCHASED!!! I think there are better free apps that have more content

9) BibleStudyTools.com

-Relies on internet for function

-Search options available

-Several translations available (like NIV)

-Allows highlighting per verse

-Allows notes

-Has a reading plan

-Resources available: Dictionaires, Commentaries, Encyclopedias

My Personal review: Nice for the reading plan, but you can’t really use the app unless there’s net