Good Sunday to all. Waine and I had a quiet weekend in Thomaston. My friend of 30+ years, Kathy Kiedrowski, a bridesmaid in my wedding to Waine, died on Friday. I will be traveling to DC for her funeral. Please keep her 3 children in your prayers. hey are all adults, but now have lost their Mom. Please pray God's traveling mercies for me. He is a mighty and powerful God who while we were yet sinners had His Son die for us. There is no greater love!
I am continuing my journey in Romans 8, verses 1- 39, "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of] His Spirit who lives in you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen and may God ass a blessing to the reading and hearing of His Word.
What a wonderful legacy we share. We are ONE with God through Christ. Our future was secured when Christ took our sins, past, present and future, and paid for them at the Cross. We , as Christians, have been paid for by the Blood of the Lamb. So why don't we live victoriously? Why do we become frightened and threatened? Its because like Peter, we take our eyes off Jesus and look at all the waves. There are always WAVES, but we need not be affected by them, When trouble comes your way, just lay the trouble at the feet of Jesus. I am struggling with a business problem as we speak. It just seems that the decision we made just keeps being assaulted by Satan. Every day there is something new and I know Waine and I made this decision in faith and by the Grace of God. So why aren't things moving smoothly? I don't have the answers to any of those questions, however I do know the One that does and I know my job is to remain in Christ as God navigates us to a solution. I am putting these problems at the feet of Christ, because as an obedient child I believe that He will take care of it. I am to live JUST AS IF THE PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST. Hallelujah! If you truly believe was Paul wrote in this chapter then who can prevail against the child of God. No one.
Don't let Satan fool you into thinking that you fight battles by yourself. All my battles, all your battles have already been decided in your favor. You just need to believe for your deliverance. Nothing can or will separate you or me from the love and grace of God our Father! To know Him is to Love Him. To love Him is to Serve Him. To Serve Him is to love you.
Now may the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace.
Stephanie
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