Category: Romans

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A Son Is Given

All three of our children live “away”. The girls are just an hour up the road but Koy is in California and it takes about 2 hours of flying time to get there. We are grateful that we now live this close.

Those of us parents who have had children join the military or enter other “dangerous” occupations know the heart ache, the apprehension and even the worry of having our children go off into the unknown, into hostile and harmful circumstances.

Now think about this…what if you were Father God. Your Son has been with you every moment from eternity past. You have created universes together; you have intervened in the lives of your creation in a powerful way. Never a cross word spoken, never a rebellious thought or action – your Son is your dearest friend, He’s a part of all you do and have ever done.

He’s leaving now – headed to earth. “unto us a Son is given” Isaiah 9:6

He will be loved by some, treated with ambivalence by most and hated by others and they will plot to kill Him. Although you know all this, you still choose to let Him go and even more than that you choose to let Him die so that He can provide restoration for all those who are incapable of providing it for themselves.

“When anyone is in Christ, it is a whole new world. The old things are gone; suddenly, everything is new! 18 All this is from God. Through Christ, God made peace between himself and us. And God gave us the work of bringing people into peace with him. 19 I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace to tell people.” II Corinthians 5:17 ERV

And all of this was not because of our great value or importance but because of His great love.

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.9 We have been made right with God by the blood sacrifice of Christ. So through Christ we will surely be saved from God’s anger.” Romans 5:6-9 ERV

“Unto us a Son is given”!

Would you be willing to give your son? Aren’t you glad He did!!

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Grateful for Peace

Last night I was talking with a group of friends and I reminded them that the Lord is committed to our peace.

All through Scripture we are instructed to fear not – be not afraid. Fear is the enemy of faith and it is the robber of peace.

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.” II Timothy 1:7 NLV

In the beginning, man was created “fear free” but once they were deceived by the serpent they became “fear full”.

“Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening. The man and his wife hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man. He said to him, “Where are you?” 10 And the man said, “I heard the sound of You in the garden. I was afraid because I was without clothes. So I hid myself.” Genesis 3:8-10 NLV

God dispelled that fear and reassuringly covered them with His love and protection.

“ And the Lord God made clothes of skins for Adam and his wife, and dressed them.” Genesis 3:21 NLV

The blood that was shed for their sin came from an animal; the blood that covers ours comes from Christ. It’s that total forgiveness that brings us peace.

“Now that we have been made right with God by putting our trust in Him, we have peace with Him. It is because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us. 2 By putting our trust in God, He has given us His loving-favor and has received us. We are happy for the hope we have of sharing the shining-greatness of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NLV

When fear bombards us, and it will, how do we combat it?

“Keep your minds thinking about things in heaven. Do not think about things on the earth. ” Colossians 3:2 NLV

“ Be full of joy always because you belong to the Lord. Again I say, be full of joy! 5 Let all people see how gentle you are. The Lord is coming again soon. 6 Do not worry. Learn to pray about everything. Give thanks to God as you ask Him for what you need. 7 The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLV

If there was anyone in the Bible who knew what it was like to be assailed by fear it would be Paul. He had been stoned and left for dead, beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, threatened, lashed with 39 stripes and many other perils. (Read II Corinthians 11) In spite of it all, he is the one who penned those words above.

He knew that having a heart of gratitude for God’s goodness and love drives out fear and brings peace to any situation.

“Be full of joy all the time. 17 Never stop praying. 18 In everything give thanks. This is what God wants you to do because of Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLV

Be grateful, be filled with God’s joy and peace!

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Grateful for Unconditional Love

Unconditional love and loving-kindness walk hand in hand.

We saw over the last week that the loving-kindness of God is His love in action. His protection, provision, peace and forgiveness. Forgiveness is certainly paramount in my life and thoughts.

For years, I felt I had to earn God’s love. I needed to be reading my Bible every day, praying according to some set standard, going to church by man’s standard, doing as many good works as possible and giving, not only finances but my time, according to a standard.

I couldn’t! I didn’t measure up to the standard of a good Christian.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, there is One Who will go between him and the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One Who is right with God. 2 He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:1-2 NLV

My sins – past, present and future – were paid for by Christ. We were on His heart before He went to the cross and willingly gave His life. We were forefront in His thoughts. He died for us. He wanted us to have an unbroken relationship with His Father.

“I do not pray for these followers only. I pray for those who will put their trust in Me through the teaching they have heard. 21 May they all be as one, Father, as You are in Me and I am in You. May they belong to Us. Then the world will believe that You sent Me. 22 I gave them the honor You gave Me that they may be one as We are One. 23 I am in them and You are in Me so they may be one and be made perfect. Then the world may know that You sent Me and that You love them as You love Me.” John 17:20-23 NLV

This was just part of the prayer Jesus prayed on the night He was arrested and taken to trial. His thoughts weren’t on the persecution He was about to face, He was thinking of us!

“The Lord says, ‘I love you people with a love that continues forever. That is why I have continued showing you kindness.'” Jeremiah 31:3 ERV

Forever!

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:22-24 NLT

I want to spend my time walking and talking with Him each day. My Father loves me. All those things I said I felt I had to do to earn and deserve God’s love, I now do because of my love and gratitude for His unconditional love!

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Opposing Functions

I love spending time with our grandkids. Last night we took Sam, our eight-year-old grandson for his belated birthday dinner.

We had been in Greece on his actual birthday and had Face Timed with him before he went to school that morning, but this was our night out. We went to Wendy’s. His choice.

We were talking with him about the things he likes and what he’s doing in school. He’s in third grade now and he’s learning division. I was impressed. We talked about addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, when he said this, “Those are opposing functions”.

I don’t think I even knew what a function was when I was in 3rd grade but yes, you’re right. They are opposing functions.

That phrase stuck with me the rest of the evening. I knew the Lord was trying to get through to me so, I stayed up after Dave went to bed and listened.

I realized there are several opposing functions in Scripture. We’ve looked at one the last two days, patience and impatience. However, it goes deeper than that.

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:21 ERV

Now, that’s a mammoth opposing function. Christ took our sin, although He had never done anything contrary to God’s will and gave us His right standing with God, although we had never done anything worthy of righteousness.

“ He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.” Romans 4:21-24 NLT

For a long time, I couldn’t see myself as righteous. That’s a religious word meaning in right standing. Every time I looked at my past, I saw all the ways I didn’t measure up and looking to the future, I had no hope that would change.

It was all about me! And I wasn’t good enough.

I had known verse 8 of Romans 5 from the time I was a little girl, but I remember the first time in my adult life when it rang true in my heart. I was sitting at my kitchen table, in a little rented house in Glendale, AZ. Dave was at work, Kim was at all-day kindergarten and Koy was napping in his room.

I had my Bible open and was praying for God to give me something to live by.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.” Romans 5:6-11 NLT

I cried then and I have tears in my eyes now.

Christ took my sin and made me a friend of God – now that’s an opposing function!

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You Are Loved

This morning I have spent some time looking at pictures from four years ago. You see, this is a very special day, it’s our youngest granddaughter’s birthday. This afternoon, all three of our youngest grandkids will be coming for a sleepover. I love being a Bestamor.

I don’t imagine that God has photo albums; He doesn’t need them. We are always present in His thinking. From the day we accept Christ as our Saviour and become a part of His family He takes special interest in us, He even knows the number of hairs on our head.

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.” Luke 12:6-8 NLT

Even before we accepted Christ He loved us.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8 NLT

Do you see that? Willing to die. There’s a common expression, “that’s to die for”. It’s used to describe excitement over a new car, a good meal, a vacation – but when God used that expression, He was talking about us.

We are that precious and valuable to Him.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT

As a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother I feel I have a big capacity to love but as much as I love it isn’t even close to the depth of the love God has for us.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT

May your day be filled with the thought of this very thing, you are loved so deeply that you were “to die for”.

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Reach Deep

I want you to reach deep this morning – reach deep into your pocket or your purse, possibly you’ll have to go out to your car and reach deep into the cup on your console but reach deep.

For it’s there you will find the message that God asked me to deliver, “In God We Trust”.

Are we truly trusting God? When our currency was first minted, our nation’s founders wanted everyone to know where we placed our trust. It wasn’t in the strength of our new nation, instead it was in the goodness and providence of Almighty God!

Listening to the news will either make us cynical or fearful or it can be an opportunity to build our faith. There seems to be very little truth. Truth has been replaced with speculation and accusation. No wonder the Bible says that in the last days men’s hearts will fail them for fear!

“And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides. 26 People will be terrified at what they see coming upon the earth, for the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then everyone will see the Son of Man coming on a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:25-27 NLT

We need to have our trust in God’s word that than of the news commentators, the financial experts, the medical experts and the military experts. Trust the One who knows the beginning from the end. Trust the one who knows the number of hairs on our head and the One who sees a sparrow when it falls.

Every one of us have a Bible in our pocket or purse; it’s small, round, and shiny. Take it out and read it – read it several times each time and remind yourself “In God we Trust”.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? 33 Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. 34 Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

35 Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? 36 (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) 37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 NLT

These verses are a promise from our heavenly Father – In God we Trust!

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The Hills Are Alive

Today we will look at the final verses of Isaiah 55. What a great way to start the weekend!

“You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands! 13 Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow. Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up. These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” verses 12 & 13 NLT

I toyed with two titles for this blog – The Hills Are Alive or Blessings of Peace and Joy. Both are appropriate for these verses.

Step back to one of yesterday’s verses.

“It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”

God’s word is the tie in to our joy and peace. The Israelites learned that often. As long as they were serving God and following His word they had peace in their land. However, when they followed after false gods and ignored God’s word they would be defeated in battle and at times were taken into exile.

We read yesterday where Jesus compared our hearts to soil and God’s word to good seed but not all seed is good. Some seeds produce thorns, nettles and stubborn weeds. Those are the seeds of bitterness, anger, self-righteousness, jealousy, maliciousness, envy, strife…

“But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,” Colossians 3:8-10 NLT

When we let God’s word take root in our hearts – in our thinking and our actions – He will give us the wherewithal to pull up the weeds. New trees will grow, new life with prosper.

“ Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT

God knows there will be times we struggle with thoughts of doubt and anxiousness; He’s always there to see us through.

“When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.” Psalm 94:19

Have you ever asked yourself why, why would God do all of this for me? Why would He spend so much time and effort on my well-being? If you have, here’s the answer:

“These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name; they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.” verse 13 NLT

There are lots of gods in this world but they enslave instead of bringing freedom. They curse instead of bless; they damn instead of enriching. God is not the damn-er, He is a blesser.

When we walk in His word the world will see the blessings of God in our lives and it will be a testament of his power and love. Even the mountains and the hills will sing and the trees will be clapping with joy!

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So Much More!

I hope you are enjoying this little study in Isaiah 55. I am!

Just yesterday Dave and I were talking about some decisions we were making, seeking the Lord’s direction and acknowledging that we would only do certain things if we had the Father’s peace. We prayed, we talked, we prayed some more and then we were reminded of yesterday’s teaching – “I will make an everlasting covenant with you. I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.” There you have it, the peace came!

Since we’ve been back from Greece, we have been asked several times if the trip was what we hoped it would be. Our answer was immediate, everything we hoped for and more.

That’s how I feel about the verses we will go over today, everything we hoped for and more!

“Seek the Lord while you can find him. Call on him now while he is near. 7 Let the wicked change their ways and banish the very thought of doing wrong. Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously. 8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:6-9 NLT

Some people read verse 6 and get the impression that God is elusive or that He is hiding. Not so. The Lord is always near to us, we’re the ones who often hide. Just like Adam hid in the garden because he was ashamed of his sin, we often pull back from God, from prayer, from fellowship.

Jesus said in His teachings, “ask and it will be given you, seek and you will find, knock and the doors will be open”. Isaiah is saying the same thing here – seek for God, you will find Him; ask (call) and you will receive.

Receive what? Forgiveness!

We’ve all done things we are ashamed of; we’ve all sinned. Big sin or little ones, they all interrupt our relationship with the Father. We read the word “wicked” and think “I’m not that bad” but that my friend is self-justification. According to God’s standard we’ve all missed the mark.

“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT

‘Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.’ (vs 7) Let that sink in – turn (seek) to God and He will forgive generously. Right now, take a deep breath and breathe in the forgiveness of God. Don’t run, don’t hide, come to receive forgiveness and the healing it brings. It’s not like the conditional forgiveness that we give. The “I’ll forgive you now but if you ever do it again, that’s it” kind of forgiveness.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

God doesn’t just love us; He is love and love never fails. We, in our thinking, can’t imagine being able to forgive and forget completely but that’s exactly what God does. He promises to remember our sins no more!

“He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12 NLT

His ways and thoughts are definitely higher than ours. He wants us to take on His way of thinking, learning His character and knowing His heart.

As Isaiah said, “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” God’s love is everything we have hoped for and so much more!

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The Author

There’s an old saying that goes something like this: “I know the Author of the world’s best seller”.

It doesn’t say I am acquainted with the author or that I met the author once in a book line when I got His autograph. No, it says I know Him. I am more than acquainted with Him, I have sat down and talked with him, I have gained insight and advice for life from Him. I have studied His words and found Him to be the writer of truth.

“… let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

It’s important for us to understand that the Bible isn’t just a good book with good principles to learn from. It is THE book of life – not just life on earth but eternal life with God, the Father.

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is our example of a life lived by faith. Everything we need to know about faith, He has written. How do we learn more about faith? We read and we hear.

“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 NJKV

The way of faith is not hidden, it is open for all, however, there are few who choose to utilize the faith that has been provided.

“…Use good sense and measure yourself by the amount of faith that God has given you. ” Romans 12:3 CEV

The Bible tells us that when the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert God provided all they needed; their food and water and not even their shoes wore out. He had made them a promise.

“And I have led you forty years in the wilderness. Your clothes have not worn out on you, and your sandals have not worn out on your feet.” Deuteronomy 29:5 NKJV

“The people asked, and He brought quail, And satisfied them with the bread of heaven.
41 He opened the rock, and water gushed out; It ran in the dry places like a river.” Psalm 105:40-41 NJKV

Jesus taught the Jewish people, reminding them of their promised blessings – building their faith in God:

“Why should you worry about clothes? Think how the flowers grow. They do not work or make cloth. 29 But I tell you that Solomon in all his greatness was not dressed as well as one of these flowers. 30 God clothes the grass of the field. It lives today and is burned in the stove tomorrow. How much more will He give you clothes? You have so little faith! 31 Do not worry. Do not keep saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘What will we wear?’ 32 The people who do not know God are looking for all these things. Your Father in heaven knows you need all these things. Matthew 6:28-32 NLV

Faith is the absence of worry and fear. Faith is trust in what God has done and said. He is the one who has given us faith and He is the developer of it. He promised to provide.

May I encourage you to spend time with the Author of our faith, read the Book and learn from Him!

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Again and Again

There’s a verse in Romans 10 that I love hearing, reading, and quoting again and again.

“So, faith comes from listening, but it’s listening by means of Christ’s message.” Romans 10:17 CEV

When we hear God’s word, and then hear it again and again it builds faith in our hearts.

Do you remember when we were kids the things we heard again and again?

It’s amazing how many things we do as adults that we were taught as children. We no longer do them because “mom” is still standing there telling us every time but we do them because we know they’re right.

Look both ways before crossing a street

Brush your teeth before going to bed

Don’t run with scissors

Don’t talk with your mouth full

Chew with your mouth closed

Don’t tattle

Wash your hands after you’ve gone to the bathroom

Say, “Yes Ma’am” “Yes, Sir”

Don’t punch your sister

Pick up your clothes

Feed the dog

All of these things are simple and right, but we had to be taught them and now that we do them, we are better for it.

When we listen too and apply God’s word, we are better for it and faith is built.

“So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading The Book of the Law he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, you and Israel will be able to take this land. 9 I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9 CEV

Joshua was taking over for Moses, leading over a million Israelites into the Promised Land. Big shoes to fill – he needed wisdom and courage. This was his instruction from the Lord…remember what you were taught, you will be successful!

Today I want to remind you what you were taught. There is one prevailing theme throughout Scripture, and it’s summed up in two instructions.

“36 “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus answered:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” 40 All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 23:36-40 CEV

When we love the Lord with all our heart we will naturally and supernaturally love others as well. We learn from His example of unconditional love and we give. We give our time, our possessions, our acceptance, we give our very lives if necessary.

That is the reoccurring message of each day’s blog. Focus on loving the Lord and we will love others as well. Faith comes by hearing the Father’s message again and again and again.

Love well today!

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