Romans 1:1-17
1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus,
called to be
6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,
7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God
and called to be saints:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world. 9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I mention you 10 always in my prayers, asking that somehow by God's will I may now at last succeed in coming to you.
12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and mine. 13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles.
14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish.
15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Proverbs 30
5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar. 7 “Two things I ask of you, LORD; do not refuse me before I die: 8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Every Word of God is Worthy.
Nourishing our Soul is something we are not told to do. Wash your hair, your clothes, eat nutritiously. Feed your Soul.
Why wouldn't we Nourish our Souls?
Galatians 5
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.
Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Romans 1 is not a Chapter without discussion. There is not one word not of God.
Romans 1:18
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Galatians 5:7
You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?
Discouraged, negative, drained. Stuck in a rut. Stuck in a rut. Galatians has a very, very good point. We all have questions.
However, the Good News, The Wind of the Holy Spirit. The Wisdom of God - will answer a Question when Father God presents our Question. And our Father will give us the answer.
What is hindering us?
Drunkenness - I grew up with alcoholics and see God lifting people up when help is sought in Jesus. He will begin a good work and the diligent look and find God.
Porn - Few I know have orgies {what the Bible, the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ have done for us!} Caught someone I love with images and they recovered from seeking God. I read the Movie Spoilers and see 27th money maker in movies - Shades of Grey - has the main characters escaping from depravity. We are not a society seeking depravity.
Envy - Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?
Factions = Prayer. Sometimes Peter goes to the Jews and Paul goes to the Gentiles when we pray. Prayer is called for.
Sexual immorality - Easily accessible on television and computer.
Impurity - Judas turned aside to his own interests.
Debauchery - Gossip with relentless hatred, jealousy, discord, selfish ambition, dissensions hoping for factions. Provoking and torment might be a strong part of this.
Idolatry - When reality has us discount faith or choose an easier path.
Witchcraft - Avoiding Jesus and praying for harm.
Fits of Rage - The Bible has over 500 ideas on what to do with Anger. God says Anger is not a sin. God certainly expresses His Godly Right to have Anger. God says us not to sin.
Those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
I discovered in Hurricane Rita - we can't always get around and away from what is plunked down in life for us to deal with. Jonah found this to be true. The Life of Jonah allowed Hezekiah to have compassion for God and His nation for Hezekiah. God's Plan is multigenerational. And when God is Gracious and Generous - He is going to tell you "This is what is Given to you as a Plan of God's." And when God is Very Gracious, He tells you several times. Even more than four times. And like Abraham, in different decades.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.
And God tells you within the Church and in Christ Jesus and throughout the Generations. So - in all aspects of our lives - God tells us He gives us - in all circumstances - trust God in His immeasurability. Asking Him unceasingly in Prayer Daily. And letting His Goodness and His Good Works be dealt with in His Time and in His Power.
American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr tells us we are praying to bloom within Father God's Plan.
I have to smile with this prayer. Eventually, we all have this prayer. God decides Circumstances He Gives us. Because what God Himself puts in your life - is - not - going away.
This is His Bear Hunt. We will go through His Plan. Remember with me - in the Exodus - the people kept saying "Egypt looks safer." The Exodus gave Children of Israel people who helped and walked with dry feet in God's Plan. Yes. We get advice from family and the people in the boat. Most people want peace and give instructions on having peace. We can all picture the glower within families when Moses was newly in the wilderness. Peace has security and Joy. Real peace is the hard one. Nicey peace is not peace. The Beginning of change - like geographical change - has new challenges and settles out.
Wisdom. God bless David's Nathan for having the Wisdom to know how to punt. Sometimes the Hail Mary rush in only lands you straight on your back with the wind knocked out of you. Remember with me our Wonderful Jesus says, my brother, James, you are able to ask God for Wisdom and this will be granted. This Bible verse of Jesus to James on wisdom - is so dear to me. And lives within me.
The Plan of God calls for Love.
Change. Belief. Trust. Moses got angry. Exile Babylonian returns have some severe angst. Paul knew shipwreck and snake bites. Peter didn't know if he was having a vision, sitting in the jail cell or talking to the Lord. In fact, Peter only knew he was safe when someone started talking to him at the house. Compass bearings confirmation.
If you are ever in need of a pneumatic device... Who fell out of the window of this house while Peter preached??? "You Teach Us." Eutychus. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. Acts 20.
In Family Acts of God - I'd anticipate Peter and Paul have different styles. Some go to Antioch and some go to Rome and Spain. And in finding the voyage - we wait upon the Lord God our Father to set the light on the steps to take.
Life is made up of - now. War and hardship are alike - hurry up to sit and wait. Boredom. Terror. Recovery. Adjusting. Surprise. Bad News. Recovery. Finding out X's are kisses - where steadfast Love is held on to at all times. Rejoicing in the Truth - God would have us hold on to our Vows. We live with Terminal Diagnosis. And find God is doing what a Facebook friend of mine who is a Priest sent me. A video saying God is lighting the next step. Providing the next step. Giving Strength to the next step and the step behind that one has the Love Joy Peace Fruits of the Spirit. O's are hugs. Today. We have today. Today is Christmas we are all here. Enjoy today. Even when you are told in Church your husband is not quite sure anymore what day of the week it is all the time.
Squabbles. Esau and Jacob squabbled over stew. The Brothers of Joseph had a dire controversy and sat down and ate. If this is your boat and you and your family row the boat - you certainly know the way the boat is rowed. Jesus and His Mother, Brothers and Sisters danced and vacationed at weddings and had some pretty public disagreements. And because God was believed and held and hoped for we have Acts 1 - they prayed with one accord. We have Philippians 2 - encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. While looking to the interests of others. Family - does this.
How does this unite us?
We have Only One Direction for all of Mankind.
We have Only One Direction for all of Mankind.
Romans 14:11
It is written: "As surely as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow before Me; every tongue will confess to God Jesus Christ is Lord."
Every day we are looking for God's Mercies Renew. Like an Easter Egg Hunt.
Every day we are going to be Blessing Seekers. And Blessing finders. Real and sincere blessings.
We will pray for others and we will remember God repeats His Victories. And as we pray for others we will rejoice for them for God's Open Heart and Willingness. We can be endlessly depressed listening to the world news. And in a prayer list - a long one - you remember who recovered completely from stage 4 Cancer after thinking the season would be the last one - 40 years ago. We can remember who recovered from crisis. Two young women who recovered from self-harming. The Grandchild who recovered from cancer working with St. Jude's Research Hospital. Renewals of peace and renewed times with God. Remembering Crisis in the Middle East has calmed before because our God works. ICU impossible recovery. And full health. Closure with God's Blessings. New Beginnings. Physicians guided by God with unbelievable results from Jesus. My mother took 50 steps on an hour old knee replacement.
Reminding ourselves how many great and glorious God who places Goodness in our lives.
Nourishing our Souls.
Abba,
Your Blessing. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.
Our Troubles - You are Greater.
You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream.
Our Mercies renew like grass that is renewed in the morning.
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!
We will place our cares and our loved ones - the people You give us. Our Nation in Your Hand. Peace for us all in our prayers and in expectation of Jesus working.
In the Daily sustaining Fruit You give to us. The Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law.
And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. We see reasonableness renew. We see eyes that see, we have ears that hear well. We have aches and pains healing. We have sleeplessness from illness decreasing. We have heart rumbles cease and hearts grow strong. Sinus headache told to leave and does. We see anger fade away to peace. Memory improves. Joys of the day increase.
Needing prayer for Edward's spider bite on his back. And over paperwork to be done.
The Glory of God is thrilling to the people of Abba.
Jesus is our Amen. Our Gift of God. Amen in Jesus.
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