Category: Romans

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Love, Not Fear

Years ago, our first year of marriage to be exact, Dave was in law enforcement. Each day he would head out the door into an unknown world filled with danger. I could sit home and fret or I could trust the Lord.

I remember specifically praying one of those first mornings, “Lord, you love David more than I do. I don’t want anything to happen to him so I am putting him in your care. Bring him home to me at the end of each shift. I love You more than I love David. I will trust You”.

And I did trust the Lord and I knew Dave was safely wrapped in God’s love.

Yesterday I had several times throughout the day that I found myself focusing on the Father’s love. I could see, in my mind’s eye, the love of God surrounding me like a shield, protecting me from every side. It was amazing.

I gained a new understanding of this verse:

“Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear.” I John 4:18 ERV

Understanding the depth of God’s love will drive out fear. Realizing that I am completely surrounded, shielded, by the Father’s love removes all fear. The Bible tells us that God is love. Since He is love and He promises to never leave us or abandon us, we will always be shielded by that love.

“God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. 16 God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children.” Romans 8:15-16 CEV

No longer enslaved by fear, we are children of a loving Father and nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate us from His love.

“God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. 10 Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven.” I John 4:9-10

During the month of February we celebrate love and there is no greater love than the love of the Father!

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A Shield of Love

I couldn’t sleep last night so I found a movie to watch, Mountain Top. The main character is played by Barry Corbin who is falsely accused of embezzling $100,000. It wouldn’t be top-rated in any genre but the acting was good and the plot was refreshing.

The lead character had an unwavering faith in God’s provision even when those around him doubted. It was that kind of faith that comes from walking with the Lord for years and depending on Him in all situations.

“The Lord is truthful; he can be trusted. He loves justice and fairness, and he is kind to everyone everywhere on earth.” Psalm 33:4-5 CEV

It gave me pause. I’m not always good when people falsely accuse me of wrongdoing. In fact, I’ve been known to jump in and make things worse. This is one area that the Lord is still helping me with – keeping my mouth shut and letting Him defend me.

“Dear friends, don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, ‘I am the one to take revenge and pay them back.’” Romans 12:19 CEV

Jesus knew what it was like to be unjustly accused. It seems every time He taught someone was there to malign Him. Jesus would redirect the conversation and point His accusers back to the Father. Even at His trial, He stood silent.

I’m really not sure why the Lord put this subject on my heart this morning, but I know I had to be faithful to write it. Maybe some of you are dealing with false accusations; it could be that you are being threatened with losing your job or a relationship because of lies.

“But let those who trust in you be happy forever. Protect and strengthen those who love your name. 12 Lord, when you bless good people, you surround them with your love, like a large shield that protects them.” Psalms 5:11-12 ERV

I want to encourage you to let the Lord fight the battle. Place yourself behind His shield of love!

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Don’t Forget What You See

Have you looked in the mirror this morning? That reflection first thing in the morning can be a bit unnerving. Everything seems a bit undone after a night of sleep. It takes time to get things in order – hair, makeup, men need to shave, etc.

I am reminded of what James says about looking into a mirror.

“Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it. 23 If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror 24 and forget what they look like as soon as they leave. 25 But you must never stop looking at the perfect law that sets you free. God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget.” James 1:22-25 CEV

We are quite intent on having everything look good when we stand in front of a mirror but are we just as intent when we look into the Word of God. The Bible gives us instruction on how God sees us. He was us to reflect His character to the world.

King Solomon put it this way in Proverbs 23:7. “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”

If we see ourselves as God sees us and we meditate on His word, we will be victorious when the battles and the challenges come. Let’s look at a few things the Bible tells us about ourselves:

…I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

…My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory.

…The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

…If God be for us, who can be against us

…the thief comes but to steal, kill and destroy but I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly

…if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all men liberally

…He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we are healed

…(Abraham) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

God tells us that the battle is in our minds and we are to renew them to His way of thinking and not to be caught up in man’s natural way of thinking.

“Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. 2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans 12:1-2 ERV

In preparing for the day, take a little longer looking into the mirror of God’s word. Let the image that He has created for us be the one we hold in your heart. Like Abraham, let’s be fully persuaded that what God has promised He will do.

Don’t forget what the Father sees in us and who He created us to be!

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Special & Unique

I know we all want to feel special. There is something in us that hopes for the little extras. A bigger piece of pie, an extra scoop of ice cream, more money per hour at work, the bigger bouquet, the nicer car, the corner office and the list goes on.

I’ve never was the one who won the trophy buckle, graduated valedictorian, was promoted to executive team or even won the state championship. But there is one thing I’ve done that puts me in the top group every time!

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone (whosoever) who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

Yes, I’m a member of the world – I’m an everyone! That makes me a recipient of the Father’s love and a recipient of life eternal. I’m one of billions of people who lived on this planet, but I am one in a million in God’s eyes! He knows the number of hairs on my head, He knows when I fall, and He knows my name.

“Training your body helps you in some ways. But devotion to God helps you in every way. It brings you blessings in this life and in the future life too. 9 Here is a true statement that should be accepted without question: 10 We hope in the living God, the Savior of all people. In particular, he is the Savior of all those who believe in him.” I Timothy 4:8-10 CEV

Our heavenly Father has salvation for ALL, but we have a part to play and that is we must BELIEVE in Him.

If I came to your house with a big box, wrapped in beautiful paper, tied up with a gorgeous ribbon and I had put your name on the box, would that present be yours? Well of course it would!

If you took that present and set it on the dining room table and looked at it, each day, admiring how pretty it was and how nice it was of me to bring it, would it benefit you? No, not really. It’s not until you open the gift, fully accept it, that it truly becomes yours and is a benefit to you.

Many people have seen the gift the Father brought them; the gift of forgiveness and restoration but for whatever reason have failed to open it and appropriate it for themselves.

“Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.” I John 2:2 CEV

“no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. 13 All who call out to the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:12-13 CEV

So, you see if you are a whosoever, an everyone, an “all people”, the gift is yours! Accept it and take advantage of what we have been given. We are each very special to the Father!

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Learning How To

We watch a lot of YouTube “How To” videos. When Dave needed to know something about the boat motor, replacing the filters on the truck, etc. he would find a video. I watch instruction on cooking something new, tutorials on my new camera and computer and travelogues on places we want to visit.

The thing is we don’t watch them just once. No, we sit down, watch, take in as much information we can and then start our project with cell phone in hand, video queued up, so we always have instruction at our fingertips.

That’s what I feel this prayer of the Apostle Paul’s does for us. Step by step it gives us instruction on “how to” know the power and blessings God has for us in Christ. It’s something we need to read again and again. Words we need to digest for life enriching, life changing growth. I hope you took the time to read it through again yesterday.

“I pray that the great God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ may give you the wisdom of His Spirit. Then you will be able to understand the secrets about Him as you know Him better. 18 I pray that your hearts will be able to understand. I pray that you will know about the hope given by God’s call. I pray that you will see how great the things are that He has promised to those who belong to Him. 19 I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him. 20 It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead. This same power put Christ at God’s right side in heaven. 21 This place was given to Christ. It is much greater than any king or leader can have. No one else can have this place of honor and power. No one in this world or in the world to come can have such honor and power. 22 God has put all things under Christ’s power and has made Him to be the head leader over all things of the church. 23 The church is the body of Christ. It is filled by Him Who fills all things everywhere with Himself.” Ephesians 1:17-23 NLV

We’re going to look at a couple items of major importance in this prayer:

  • promised great things to His children
  • know His great power

The Father has promised us great things; joy, peace, forgiveness, healing, salvation, strength, wisdom, protection, provision – great things! One translation records verse 18 this way, “the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints (God’s people),”. The Father gives us these things, great things, as our inheritance. We are His children and as such He has an inheritance for us.

The next thing Paul prays for us is that we will “know His great power”. Now, this is something that amazes me – the Father’s power is working for me and not against me.

This is the power that He put into practice when He raised Christ from the dead! It’s the same power which transported Jesus from earth back to heaven while His disciples watched his ascension.

This power, this great power of God, is for us who put our trust in Him!!

When we feel powerless in life’s situations His power is available to us, that same power which He used on Christ’s behalf.

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” Romans 8:11 NLT

Paul prayed this prayer so that we, those of us in Christ, will learn how to know our Father’s great promises and great power. Amen and amen!!

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True Value

Have you ever noticed the way the advertisers work to create low self-esteem at the beginning of each year? They add on to the notation that many have already adopted – I’m not good enough, I weigh too much, I need to join a gym…eat better, join a weight loss program…need a new hair style or different clothes.

It’s out there to convince us that we need to make a change and then we will be happier, more beautiful, healthier, more successful.

Our real value isn’t always recognized. It doesn’t come from how we look, what we eat, what we drive or any of those other things. Our acceptance, our status, comes from who we are in Christ. We have been given the ultimate make-over.

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.” II Corinthians 5:17 CEV

The most rewarding thing to me about our “belonging” to Christ is that it doesn’t depend upon our social status, our belonging to a certain club or church, our financial standing isn’t taken into consideration nor is our beauty. It all depends on Christ and not on us. What brings us in to right standing with the Father is our acceptance of the sacrifice of the Son.

“My children, I am writing this so that you won’t sin. But if you do sin, Jesus Christ always does the right thing, and he will speak to the Father for us. 2 Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.” I John 2:1-2 CEV

All the world’s people…everyone, yes, everyone! No one is left outside of God’s love and His provision for new life. Our part is to accept that free gift; the Lord won’t force us to take it, but He wants everyone to benefit from it. When we accept what Christ has done for us there is no one or no thing that can separate us from God’s love.

“ If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? 34 Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God’s right side, speaking to him for us. 35 Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death?… 

37 In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—…Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:33-39 CEV

Nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from God’s love! The sentiment of the world may be that we aren’t acceptable or that we have no value but that’s not how God sees us. To Him, we are precious – priceless.

“And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:17 AMPC

So, as you come into this New Year focus on what is truly life affirming, life changing. Spend time with the Father and let Him confirm your true value.

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Copy/Paste Christmas Style

This morning I opened a tab and input the words “copy paste Christmas image” and what popped up was a catalog of images that were available to copy and paste of all things Christmas.

But that wasn’t quite what I was looking for. You know the concept was God’s idea.

“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:25-27 KJV

God created us to be like Him – to be His representative, His counterpart on the earth. But when Adam sinned our nature was changed. God had to work to restore what He had intended for man to be. Enter Jesus.

“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. 20 So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. 21 Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin[b] so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:17-21 ERV

Jesus restored us to the position that we had before Adam sinned. In Christ we are a NEW CREATION – a new creature – like the one that God created in the Garden of Eden. Jesus restored us to our original likeness.

He copies and pastes the origin blueprint that God used for man into our hearts when we receive the gift of salvation.

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)” Ephesians 2:4-5 ERV

In Christ we have been made new.

It’s not something we work to earn but something we receive freely by grace. Just as Adam was God’s idea and he did nothing to deserve or even request his creation so is our salvation and our restoration to a living and loving relationship with the Father God.

“Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.” Romans 5:19 CEV

Copy/paste Christmas style! The gift of new life in Christ, the gift of being restored to the Father’s likeness.

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A Teenager, A Carpenter & A Shepherd

Sometimes I think we forget that the people we encounter through the pages of the Bible were real people just like you and me. They were subject to the same emotions that we experience. I find that very comforting.

This morning I was thinking about the angels that were used to deliver God’s messages to those who had the starring roles in the Christmas story – a teenager, a carpenter and some shepherds.

First let’s look at the message that Mary received.

“The angel came to her and said, “Greetings! The Lord is with you; you are very special to him.” 29 But Mary was very confused about what the angel said. She wondered, “What does this mean?” 30 The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God is very pleased with you. 31 Listen! You will become pregnant and have a baby boy. You will name him Jesus.” Luke 1:28-31 ERV

Don’t be afraid.

Then look at Joseph, the carpenter’s, encounter.

“ But after Joseph thought about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to accept Mary to be your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son. You will name him Jesus. Give him that name because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-22 ERV

Don’t be afraid.

And finally, let’s see the message the shepherds received.

“ That night, some shepherds were out in the fields near Bethlehem watching their sheep. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord was shining around them. The shepherds were very afraid. 10 The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. I have some very good news for you—news that will make everyone happy. 11 Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in pieces of cloth and lying in a feeding box.” Luke 2:8-12 ERV

Don’t be afraid. The message is clear – God never wants our lives ruled by fear. When we are fearful, we react without thinking, often irrationally. God wants us to think clearly, to listen well and to follow His leading in peace.

If any of these three had been moved by fear the outcome of the angels’ announcements could have been very different. Mary may have told the angel to find someone else to mother the Messiah. Joseph, fearing for his reputation, may have decided to follow through with his plan to separate himself from Mary and end their relationship. If the shepherds had been led by fear they may have stayed on the hillside and missed out on seeing the newborn King.

I’ve had to ask myself; how many times have I missed out on God’s leading in my life because I let fear lead and not God’s peace. When the Father reveals His leading in our lives, He will also fill us with His peace.

“I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

Of the three, the teenager, the carpenter and the shepherd, who do you identify with most; the young woman whose life would be publicly and dramatically changed, the businessman whose reputation and livelihood could have been ruined or the shepherd who could have not gotten involved but missed out on the meet-up of a lifetime?

To all of us, who are being led by the Father, the message is the same “Don’t be afraid, I am with you”!

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Big Hugs

I’m a person who loves to give hugs! Plain and simple – I feel hearts connect with a hug.

My hugs aren’t those tiny squeezes with a pat on the back, those remind me of burping a baby. Hugs should be genuine, huggers should be bold and not timid. Yesterday was a good day for hugging. Family came, neighbors stopped over, dear friends visited and even some new acquaintances came.

I think the hardest thing for me during our last months of social distancing was not being able to hug. People were so cautious and even timid about touching. I understand…but for someone who loves to hug it was a very isolating time.

I want to tell you about a man who experienced a life changing touch. He was a man with leprosy. He wasn’t allowed to connect with society. In fact, he and others like him had to live outside the city and announce to all who came close “unclean, unclean”. It was his warning to stay away, social distance, as it were.

Can you imagine the loneliness and despair?

But one day something happened. A man came outside the city and a large crowd followed Him. He was teaching up on a hillside; His words were dynamic, His presence was inviting. One of the things this man said that day was this:

“Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. 8 Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks.” Matthew 7:7-8 CEV

The leper continued to listen and then this happened:

“As Jesus came down the mountain, he was followed by large crowds. 2 Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, “Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.”

3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, “I want to! Now you are well.” At once the man’s leprosy disappeared.” Matthew 8:1-3 CEV

This leper encountered a healing touch – no longer unclean, no longer an outcast!

You and I didn’t have leprosy but we were just as unclean as this man. Our disease was worse than COVID, our disease was sin. It separated us from a relationship with God, the Father. “Unclean, unclean”! But the Father wasn’t willing to accept our condition and made a plan for our redemption.

“Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by his Son’s life.” Romans 5:6-10 CEV

” Now that we are at peace with God” no longer do we have to shout “Unclean”, we are redeemed!

Let me tell you, when I reflect on the depth of God’s love for me I feel Him giving me the biggest and best hug ever. When He hugs me our hearts connect and I know that I am loved!

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God’s Heart

Recently I spent the day with a group of ladies from Desert Christian Fellowship. They had invited me to be their guest speaker. The theme for the day was Bold Women of the Bible – one of those women was Mary, the mother of Jesus.

I talked of how Mary stood at the foot of the cross and watched her Son die. Her innocent Son had been condemned to death, a horrible death . She was faithful and stayed by His side through it all. I was overcome with emotion as I talked to these ladies, I put myself in Mary’s place. As a mother, I could imagine the pain.

How her mother’s heart must have ached!

Now stop and think how much the Father’s heart must have ached while Jesus hung on the cross? A Father whose whole character is love saw His Son brutally murdered. He could have rescued his Son but He didn’t.

God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son, knew that a perfect sacrifice was required to redeemed mankind from their sin. That sacrifice would be Jesus.

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

His heart was aching as His Son was being tortured but because of His love for us He didn’t intervene.

“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. 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:6-8 ERV

God’s heart, his character, is pure love. His heart ached because sin separated Him from those He loves, from us. Don’t ever think it wasn’t heartbreaking for the Father to experience His Son’s death, it was. He endured it because of His unconditional love for us.

“ Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven.” I John 4:10 CEV

He made a way to give us new life, to see us redeemed, it was the way of the cross! That’s God’s heart!

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