Category: Romans

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A Blank Page

Each morning is a blank page and our words and actions are the ink.

How will we fill it?

We have become so accustomed to the advancements of the computer than some have forgotten what it was like before we had a delete button. If we made a mistake with our writing our only choices were to cross out the mistake or get a clean sheet and start over.

I remember how long it took me to write my term paper when I was a Senior in High School. Painstakingly working on the final paper, making sure every word was spelled correctly and the punctuation was right. It had to be perfect…

I am so thankful that the Lord makes allowances for our mistakes. In fact, with each sunrise He gives us new mercy for the day.

“The Lord’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. 23 The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. 24 Deep in my heart I say, “The Lord is all I need;  I can depend on him!” Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV

Since the Lord is faithful to us, we should extend the same mercy to those around us. We are not only filling our own page but we will be writing on the page of others.

” Intelligent people choose their words carefully. Those who know what they are doing remain calm. 28 Silent fools seem wise. They say nothing and appear to be smart.” Proverbs 17:27-28 ERV

Today we have the opportunity to add value to our life and those around us.

“Saying the right thing at the right time is like a golden apple in a silver setting. 12 Wise advice to a listening ear is like gold earrings or fine jewelry.” Proverbs 25:11-12

We have probably all seen images of redacted government reports,  the ones where the pages are filled with blacked out information and comments. We don’t want our life’s pages looking like that. Instead we fill our pages with kindness.

“Share with God’s people who need help. Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes.

14 Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them. 15 When others are happy, you should be happy with them. And when others are sad, you should be sad too. 16 Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.

17 If someone does you wrong, don’t try to pay them back by hurting them. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. 18 Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:13-118 CEV

Let’s choose our words wisely today and if we aren’t sure what to say, say nothing at all.

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How Much is ALL

Not all of our time in West Glacier was spent working. We did take one day and travel through Glacier National Park. We went on Going to the Sun Road, saw St. Maries Lake and Many Glacier. We stopped at Many Glacier for lunch. The view from the deck of the Lodge was amazing. It was impossible to take in all the beauty.

I kept thinking God made ALL of this. He made if for our enjoyment. All of His creation tells of His glory.

ALL – is an absolute – not some, not part – not by special selection but ALL. The Bible has much to say about all. God loves ALL of us.

“God makes people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. He does this for all who believe in Christ. Everyone is the same. 23 All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:22-24ERV

The righteousness of God, right standing with God, is for ALL and to ALL who will believe because there is no one who has his own righteousness. We have ALL sinned. Our salvation is not predicated on how good we are, our social standing, our financial statement, our academic degrees, political party or our natural citizenship. It is ONLY based on what Jesus did to bring salvation to ALL. Our part is to receive the gift.

More ALL verses to contemplate today.
” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8-10

All God’s fullness of power and deity are in Christ and when we are in Christ we are complete in Him. He invests His fullness in to our lives as well. That’s just too good to be true you might say. Read this:

” and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18 I pray that you and all of God’s people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.[19 I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.” Ephesians 3:17-19 CEV

When we understand the love of God by experience, His true unconditional love, we will be filled with ALL God’s fulness! Amazing!! Amazing grace in giving us freely this gift. The Gospel message really is the nearly too good to be true news!! The Apostle Paul prayed that we would know this fullness of God’s love.

He also gave us a few other absolute “ALL” verses.
” I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13

” I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus! ” Philippians 4:19

If you haven’t accepted God’s free gift of grace that brings salvation, all you have to do is accept it with a sincere heart because it’s available to ALL.

” The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise as some people think. He is waiting for you. The Lord does not want any person to be punished forever. He wants all people to be sorry for their sins and turn from them.” II Peter 3:9

Be ALL God created you to be!

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Paid It All

Keeping the focus on the absolute truth of God’s word again today.  

Here are a couple of verses that point out the absolute atonement that Jesus provided for our reconciliation with God.

“And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:2

Propitiation is an old word that meanings atoning sacrifice. Jesus is THE atoning sacrifice for sin. He freely gave his life so that we could be brought into right relationship with the Father.

And He’s not just the propitiation for a few but He died for the sins of THE whole world. He has made provision for ALL. No one is excluded or left out.

But why?

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” I John 4:10

Jesus is THE propitiation – the atonement, the reconciliation, the reparation – for our sins. His death was more than enough to provide atonement for all that we have done.

“All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:23-24 ERV

Have you ever looked through binoculars? You know that when you focus in one object the ones around it become blurred.  We need to do that with Christ.

The focus isn’t on us but on Christ and what He has done.

“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

Everyone – there is another absolute – no one is excluded. Everyone is offered the gift of eternal life because the price of sin has been paid in full!

 

 

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Enough

Faith – have you ever really thought about it? Do you have enough of it? How much is enough?


Romans 12:3 says “God has given me His loving-favor. This helps me write these things to you. I ask each one of you not to think more of himself than he should think. Instead, think in the right way toward yourself by the faith God has given you.”

We are instructed not to think of ourselves too highly or to pride ourselves in our accomplishments. Every good thing we have is a gift that God has given us so we shouldn’t take credit for it or consider ourselves better than others.

In another version this verse says
God has given every believer “THE” measure of faith. Not a measure; if it were “a” measure then maybe you would get a cupful of faith and I would only get 1/2 a cup.  We have all received “THE” measure of faith. So regardless of the size of the measure, we all receive the same.

We receive enough faith for each and every circumstance.

Jesus taught his disciples if they had faith like a mustard seed they would be able to move mountains Paul continues on with that thought in I Corinthians 13 where he says if we have the faith to move mountains and have not love it profits us nothing.

He also says later in Galatians 5:6 that faith works by love; so if our faith isn’t working, we should check our love walk.

Faith is one of the fruit of the spirit that we have been given.  We need to use what God has given us and use it motivated by love, never selfishness. Jesus was moved with compassion and miracles happened. It will work the same in our life.

If we take “THE” measure of faith today we can believe God to use us to move mountains – mountains in our life and in the lives of others. This word the denotes an absolute or a precise measure.

(Just a side note here. Over the next few days we will be looking at some absolutes in Scripture, things that never change. Things that are preceded by the words “the, always, never, all”.)

We are His ambassadors here on earth and we’ve been given the responsibility to effect a change. He’s given us “the” tools.

We need to use what we’ve been given. We have enough!

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True Freedom

“So if the Son makes you free, you are really free.” John 8:36 ERV

Our nation was founded by men who were seeking a better way of life; an opportunity to achieve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They trusted God to lead them and give them direction in the founding of this nation.

On this day of independence it’s important to remember that we are truly free through our relationship with Jesus Christ. We are no longer held captive or enslaved by sin because the Son, Jesus Christ, broke the chains of bondage and set us free!

Hallelujah!

Many of us have become disheartened over the past several decades at the decline of our nation and rightfully so. But one thing has not changed, God is still and forever will be, Lord God Almighty who rules and reigns in mercy, truth and justice!

We can trust Him and Him alone! He is our hope, He is our peace, He is our joy, the Everlasting God!

“Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God. I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you victories” Isaiah 41:10 CEV

The Jews of Jesus time were looking for their Messiah, someone who would come and deliver them from the harsh rule of the Romans. They wanted Jesus to set up an earthly kingdom and overthrow those who governed them.

“Jesus said, “My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it did, my servants would fight so that I would not be handed over to the Jewish leaders. No, my kingdom is not an earthly one.”

37 Pilate said, “So you are a king.”

Jesus answered, “You are right to say that I am a king. I was born for this: to tell people about the truth. That is why I came into the world. And everyone who belongs to the truth listens to me.”                      John 18:36-37 ERV

Everything that Jesus taught and did reflected  the true kingdom of God. When the sick were healed, when children were loved, when sin was forgiven it was all attributed to the kingdom of God.

The Apostle Paul put it this way.

“God’s kingdom isn’t about eating and drinking. It is about pleasing God, about living in peace, and about true happiness. All this comes from the Holy Spirit. 18 If you serve Christ in this way, you will please God and be respected by people.” Romans 14:17-18 ERV

So as we celebrate our nation’s independence today and focus on the freedoms that we enjoy, I encourage you to be mindful of the true and lasting freedom that we have received in Christ.

“So if the Son makes you free, you are really free.” John 8:36 ERV

 

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Write This Down

Ok, so you already know that I am a bit unconventional in my thought process when it comes to the way the Holy Spirit teaches me. Bear with me on this one.

I’m a big George Strait fan. Have loved his music for years and years. Got to see him in live concert once, own multiple albums and to me his music is timeless.

He has a song, Write This Down. It comes on and I can sing all the lyrics. Love it.

As I started my prayer time this morning, the Lord just brought up in my heart, “Write this down…I love you and I wanted you to know, so write this down.”

WOW! That’s the whole reason we have the Bible. He loves us and He wants us to know. Amazing that God the Father would go to such great lengths to remind us every day that He loves us!

“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 10:16-17 KJV

The difference in the Scripture and George’s song is this. The song says “remember what I forgot to say”, the Father has never forgotten to tell us how much He loves us. We sometimes forget but He never does!

“Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those things were written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us. 5 All patience and encouragement come from God. And I pray that God will help you all agree with each other, as Christ Jesus wants.” Romans 15:4-5 ERV

“I’ll sign it at the bottom of the page, I’ll swear under oath
‘Cause every single word is true, and I think you need to know,
So use it as a bookmark, stick it on your ‘frigerator door,
Hang it in a picture frame up above the mantel where you’ll see it for sure.” by George Strait

So if you are having trouble remembering God’s words of love, write this down:

“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

God bless you today!

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Cracked or Shattered

Love it when the Lord reminds me of “things”. The other day I shared some thoughts on the prodigal son and this morning I was still going over the lessons I have learned from that story when the Lord added one more.

Sin is sin! To God there is no big or little sin, it’s sin. The younger son in the story was guilty of some pretty “big” things while the older son looked respectable, he was obviously holding bitterness in his heart toward his younger brother. So which was worse?

Neither! Sin is sin. Kind of like a broken window; if you throw a rock through it and it shatters or shoot it with a bb and leave a little hole it’s still broken.

“One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” If you obey this law, you are doing right. 9 But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law.

10 You might follow all of God’s law. But if you fail to obey only one command, you are guilty of breaking all the commands in that law.” James 2:8-10 ERV

The Old Testament teaches us that gossip and murder are both hated by God yet we find one as more socially acceptable than the other.

Sin is sin and we are all guilty.  The penalty for sin is not on a sliding scale.

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.” Romans 3:23 CEV

“When people sin, they earn what sin pays—death. But God gives his people a free gift—eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 ERV

That’s why Jesus words were so powerful when he spoke to the Pharisees about the adulterous woman that they wanted him to stone.

“They were saying this to trick Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong so that they could have a charge against him. But Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 The Jewish leaders continued to ask him their question. So he stood up and said, “Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her.” 8 Then Jesus stooped down again and wrote on the ground.” John 8:6-8 ERV

How many times have we played the role of the Pharisees or the older brother? We condemn “the idiot driver”, the person holding up the line, the unintelligent cashier, the negligent phone representative, the ill-informed newscaster or the worst of all the person with an opposite view.

What they are doing may certainly be wrong but our attitude about the situation is equally as wrong. We are to do all that we do from a loving and compassionate heart.

The wonderful news is since God sees all sin the same, He makes the payment for that sin the same as well.

“So that one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people. But in the same way, Christ did something so good that it makes all people right with God. And that brings them true life.” Romans 5:18 ERV

We have forgiveness, payment for our sin, with the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That sacrifice is available to all – we simply need to receive it!

“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12 KJV

So glad that God doesn’t grade on a curve but He accepts us all based not on what we’ve done but on what Jesus did!

Now that’s called grace!!!

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The Road Home

We travel a lot, not as much as we used to but we still find ourselves on the road several times a month.

When we lived in Montana home was at the end of one and a half miles of dirt road. Now that we are in Arizona home is about the same distance from the freeway exit.

Each time we turn off we say, “we’re almost home”. Even Glory, our Australian Shepherd, knows we’re home! What a wonderful place to be!

Today, I’d like to go back to the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15. It’s a marvelous example of a wonderful trip home! This story has such great meaning to me – I desire to emulate the “father” in the story in all I do.

He divided his worth between his two sons. One ran off immediately to spend it in an unwise way. There was no appreciation for his father’s hard work in acquiring so much, just reckless abandon in spending it. The other son really never recognized or appreciated the fact that he had been given such a valuable inheritance.

The younger son finally realized that he had spent everything and was at the end of his rope and went home a broken man, willing to do whatever (work as a slave) just to have enough to keep him out of the pig pen.

The father was moved with compassion, he never really gave the son an opportunity to tell him all the awful things he had done, how rough life had been or to beg with a remorseful soul. The father restored the son to right relationship, forgave him his trespass and from what we can tell never brought it up to him again.

“ The son got up and went to his father. While he was yet a long way off, his father saw him. The father was full of loving-pity for him. He ran and threw his arms around him and kissed him. ” Luke 15:20 NLV

The older brother became resentful. He felt the father should have considered all the younger brother’s awful behavior, “he should have to pay for his behavior” and then got angry because the father was throwing a party. Resentful that the father hadn’t given him a party…

I think the father was a bit bewildered by this. He told the older son, you could have had a party anytime you wanted. You were always here and I gave you your part in the inheritance – you could have done anything you wanted with it.

Now here’s the questions. Do you realize that your heavenly Father welcomes your return with a party? Do you realize that your older brother, Jesus, never acts like this brother? In fact, He’s in there helping with the party…

I think the lesson of this story is three fold – repent and return to the Father, the Father’s love is unconditional love and don’t be jealous like the older brother (act like the Father).

“His father replied, “My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we should be glad and celebrate! Your brother was dead, but he is now alive. He was lost and has now been found.” Luke 15:31-32 CEV

Who do  you identify with? Are you the son that has run from the father’s home to live life your own way? Are you the resentful older brother who feels the Father favors the younger son or are you like the loving Father who loves each of his children and desires to provide for them no matter the circumstance?

Jesus is never jealous that we share the Father’s love or the inheritance of blessings that He has given us.  He loves sharing it with us.

“ God’s Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17 His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.” Romans 8:16-17 CEV

There have been times in my life that I have been like all three of the characters in the story.  I have had my prodigal moments, distancing myself from the Father, doing things my own way, on my own terms.

I have also been jealous when I have seen the Lord blessing people who have been far from God and who I felt didn’t deserve to be blessed.

And as I have grown, I have had times when I have be so glad to see the prodigals come home. Helped with planning the party and loved them back into the family.

“The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much he loved us: We are called children of God. And we really are his children. But the people in the world don’t understand that we are God’s children, because they have not known him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God. We have not yet been shown what we will be in the future. But we know that when Christ comes again, we will be like him. We will see him just as he is.” I John 3:1-2 ERV

The Father is excited as He waits to greet those who are on the road home!

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A Spoonful of Sugar

The lyrics from Mary Poppins are running through my mind today. Can’t really think of those songs without a smile coming to my face.

In my mind’s eye I can see Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke singing and dancing. Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down in a most delightful way.

Have you ever looked to the Scripture for a good dose of medicine? It has healing qualities you know.

I particularly like these verses from Proverbs.

“ Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.” Proverbs 17:22 ERV 

“If you are happy, your face shows it. If you are sad, your spirit feels defeated.” Proverbs 15:13 ERV

Happiness is good medicine! Is it any wonder that so many in life today are feeling sick and so their spirits feel defeated? They have lost their joy.

It’s essential that we become ambassadors of joy.

Dave and I love spending time with our little grandson, Sam. He always seems to be happy about something. Dave calls him Smiley Joe and calls his little sister Smiley Josephina. Their smiles come from a happy heart and they carry joy to everyone around them.

If we allow ourselves to stay focused on the things in our world that seem to being going wrong or those events in our lives that are contrary, we will be overtaken by the disease of sorrow.

But a good dose of the medicine of a merry heart will strengthen us and bring us peace.

“Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy the good food and sweet drinks. Give some food and drinks to those who didn’t prepare any food. Today is a special day to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.” Nehemiah 8:10 ERV

The word disease interests me. Break it apart, dis – ease. When our hearts are uneasy, worried or distressed we are susceptible to disease. How do we avoid dis ease?

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:7 CEV

Don’t look  at the circumstances  that are beyond our control instead look to God who changes circumstances. Then we can be filled with good medicine.

“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

There’s a song that children sing in pre-school and Sunday School. If You’re Happy and You Know It – the song says if you’re happy and you know it…clap your hands, stomp your feet, say Amen.  And there’s one line in there that says “if you’re happy and you know it then your face will surely show it”, our faces will show it – we’ll smile and our eyes will twinkle and those who look at us will wonder what makes us so happy.

“I will celebrate and be joyful because you, Lord, have saved me.
10 Every bone in my body will shout: “No one is like the Lord!”
You protect the helpless from those in power; you save the poor and needy from those who hurt them.” Psalm 35:9-10 CEV

Dear Father, let our faces show what You have done in our hearts. Let us be ambassadors of joy today.

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Remember the Egyptians

Sounds like a title for a movie, doesn’t it? Remember the Titans, Facing the Giants, Rudy – all of these movies were based on true stories, true circumstances and true victories.

I wonder what the movie writers would do with the children of Israel being held captive in Egypt. I know that years ago they cast Charlton Heston as Moses but what would the remake look like.

The casting call may read something like this. Needed: those who have felt oppressed, hopeless, overcome. If you have been looking for a way out of horrendous circumstances you’ll be perfect.

Do you remember a time when you felt completely helpless or oppressed, almost like you were a slave and had no rights of your own? The circumstances in your life were far from good and you couldn’t see things making a positive turn.

I’m sure that’s the way the Israelites must have felt in Egypt.  Years and years in slavery. Conditions getting worse and worse. Even when their God appointed leader, Moses, showed up, things got worse. They were still making bricks and now they had to contend with a pharaoh that was ticked off by the plagues.

To add further to their oppression Pharaoh commanded that they must gather their own straw for making bricks.

“That same day the king gave orders to his slave bosses and to the men directly in charge of the Israelite slaves. He told them:

7 Don’t give the slaves any more straw to put in their bricks. Force them to find their own straw wherever they can, 8 but they must make the same number of bricks as before. They are lazy, or else they would not beg me to let them go and sacrifice to their God. 9 Make them work so hard that they won’t have time to listen to these lies.” Exodus 5:6-9 CEV

Well, they survived their brick making duties, lived above the plagues, experienced the first Passover and then fled Egypt.

Now they are in the wilderness, headed for the Promised Land and Moses gives them this instruction.

“Don’t say in your heart, ‘These nations are stronger than we are. How can we force them out?’ 18 You must not be afraid of them. You must remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the people of Egypt. 19 You saw the great troubles he gave them and the amazing things he did. You saw the Lord use his great power and strength to bring you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use that same power against all the people you fear.” Deuteronomy 7:17-19  ERV

Remember the Egyptians!!!

I encourage you today – remember your Egyptians! God is still in control – He is still all powerful, all loving and His hand of protection and provision continue to reach out to you today.

“What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us? 32 God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else? 33 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,[e] 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? 36 It is exactly as the Scriptures say, “For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered.”

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—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:31-39

Remember the Egyptians!  They were no match for God.

The Lord fought for the Israelites and He is fighting for us. He loves us so deeply.

Remember the Egyptians!

All their horses, swords and skill were no match for the power of God.

Take heart, God is on your side!

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