The Peace and Love of God

Good morning to all on this wonderful Monday morning! Waine and I were in Orlando since Thursday of last week helping Tracy, Freddie's wife, prepare for his surprise birthday party and we pulled it off! Freddie's 40th birthday was on October 21, 2010 and we started the celebration then and ended it yesterday when we got on the plane to come back to Atlanta. Waine and Freddy played golf on Saturday while Tracy and company decorated the venue. Freddie's family came from Miami and New York. We had a DJ playing 70's music; his friends all came dressed in 70's attire inclusive of Afro wigs and Bee Gees wigs. Kai got into the act as did Hailie and a good time was had by all. Tracy wanted to make sure that Freddie had a memorable 40th and I think Freddie would agree. Waine and I are truly blessed to have children who have spouses that truly love them and with who they are best friends. Please continue to pray for ET and his family and also the recovery of Waine's mother Violet.

I am continuing my journey in Romans today 5 verses 1-11, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. Amen and amen!

Paul truly understood the power of the LOVE of God--"while we were YET SINNERS, CHRIST died for US!"  Unlike the world, or your friends and even at time your family, who may sacrifice for you when they think you deserve it or perhaps not at all, CHRIST DIED for all of us while we were sinners; while we were separated from the FATHER and SON through sin He laid down His life so that we could LIVE. The question I thought of this morning is "how are we choosing to use this gift of life"? Are we living abundantly and generously with others; are we living by holding grudges; are we living by blaming others for our circumstance; HOW ARE WE LIVING? HOW AM I LIVING?

My husband's grandmother raised he and his brother in the country side of Jamaica. They had very humble circumstances as there is no welfare system or social security system in Jamaica. Ms. Rosie was left a widow with 15 children to raise and no visible source of income. Waine's mother would send money that not only supported her two children but also the aunt and uncles still living in the household. They didn't have much but what they had they also shared with others in the community. If a mother couldn't feed her children, she would bring them to Ms. Rosie's house where she knew they would have a roof over their head and food in their belly. When you ask Waine to describe his grandmother, he immediately tells you that she started her day singing hymns and praising God and ended her day the same way. Ms. Rosie held the LOVE of God in front of her face daily and always; therefore regardless of her circumstances, she KNEW that her LIFE's ABUNDANCE was held in HIS unlimited blessings not only for her but for her children and her children's children. In fact, all of Ms. Rosie's children did quite well. Her grandchildren became doctors, lawyers, successful business people with Ivy League diplomas to show for it. I often wonder if all of Ms. Rosie's pickney them, understood the power of the GRACE bestowed on Ms. Rosie and her offspring because of her faithfulness.

How will you be remembered? Will you be remembered for your Peace and Faithfulness or will you be remembered for your strife and worried nature. What's in your faith wallet? Do you trust God for your abundance? He gave His life willingly, do you think He would withhold anything else? Just think about it and let go of anything you are holding onto that prevents you from CLEARLY SEEING THE LOVE OF GOD FOR YOU. When you start loving yourself as God loves you then you will be better to your self and to others. Oh ,if  we could truly see the love of God for each of us. If I would love others as God freely loves me, this world would truly be a wonderful place.

Give your self a break today!

Stephanie