Good morning to all from Atlanta, GA! Waine and I made it safely back from Jamaica and a good time was had by all. We were able to catch up with Aleron last night and had a wonderful dinner. He is working hard and is sleep deprived but no worse for the wearing. Freddie and his family have landed a job in Atlanta. Waine and I can't believe that we will soon be living in the same city as one set of our grandchildren! This is a dream come true! To have little people in our house again. Continue to pray for ET and his family and pray that God's Hand of blessings and grace continue to support ET's healing.
Medical Note: Drinking 6-8 ounces of water as soon as you get up in the morning, gets the gastric juices working and your metabolism wakes up. Keep a glass of water by the bedside and partake of water as soon as you awaken.
Well we finished Matthew and what a great accomplishment that was. I am starting on a journey in Romans and I am looking forward to all the wisdom that God has in store for me. Romans was written by Paul, the Apostle, to the Christians in Rome which at the time was the seat of power of those who opposed Christ and this new movement, Christianity. This journey in Romans should be just as exciting as the journey through Matthew. I can't wait to start! Verses 1-17 read as thus, "Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding His Son, who as to His human nature was a descendant of David (through His mother Mary), and who through the Spirit of Holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Him and for His Name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of His Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I planned many times to come to you (but have been prevented from doing so until now) in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are at Rome. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." Amen and amen! The righteous will live by faith!
As you know, Paul was born after the death of Jesus, around AD 10. He was a Jew who was also a Roman citizen. He studied to be a Rabbi and persecuted the early Christians. He was at the stoning of Stephen although it is said he, Paul, did not take part but encouraged the crowd none the less. He was traveling to Damascus when he was visited by Jesus! Paul had a vision of Jesus which blinded him. Jesus confronted Paul about his persecution of Jews and Paul was convicted and accepted Christ as his savior and became a Christian. Christ also gave Paul, a Roman and a Jew, the commission to spread the Word of God to the Gentiles. All the letters of Paul are to the pockets of Christians in the early church of God. As a Roman citizen, Paul was able to travel freely which provided Gentiles and Jews access to this great man of Christ.
Paul starts his letter to the Christians of Rome with a salutation that reminds them and us about the Deity of Christ. Paul refers the Christians of Rome to the prophesies of the Old Testament which was the scriptures that the Jews were familiar with. He reminds the Roman Christians of the Resurrection of Jesus which is the defining moment that established Christ as the Son of God. Remember, in the Old Testament, many great prophets were born, lived and died--Jesus the Christ however was born, lived and died and then was resurrected! Hallelujah! The resurrection is what set Jesus apart in His Deity and the belief in His resurrection sets us apart from the world. Paul goes on to encourage the Christians in Rome to continue their ministry because their faith and proclamation that Christ is Lord had been spreading throughout the known world. The Roman Christians were constantly being persecuted and killed because of their belief in Christ and Paul is writing to them so that they would remain faithful and encouraged. He is also reminding them how important they are to him and that he longed to be with them. Isn't that just like Jesus to send an encouraging Word just when you think you have hit your last straw. Just when you feel the loneliest and feel that all hope is lost, Christ will send a Word your way to encourage you. Paul is telling the Christians to hold fast to their faith even in the absence of his presence because their mutual faith will allow them to be bonded. Our faith transcends time and space. Our faith will repel the evil one who through fear will try and diminish our faith. Paul was telling the Roman Christians that it is our faith that allows the Power of God to flow through our lives so that His Will and plans for our lives can be realized. Faith and not fear is the order of the day. Live in faith and not fear today. Fear is what Satan uses to paralyze us and keep us stuck in the mire of our own self doubts. It is hard at times to visualize the banquet table that God has for us because of FEAR. If you have fear in your life--in any portion of your life-- I guarantee you as I write this Blog, you are looking into the future and not in the present where all your blessings lie. Tomorrow is not promised to any of us. We have this moment and I thank God that in this moment my focus is on the Cross and my faith. We are righteous when we live in Faith and not fear. You are not delusional when you don't pay attention to fear. You are RIGHTEOUS. Remember the Love and Sacrifice of Jesus for all of our sins and have a great day finding all of your blessings.
Stephanie
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