A Precious Gift of Life

Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. Romans 5:18

I had an inspiration the other day for a personal devotion-using my birth month and date as a focus. So this morning I went through the New Testament and wrote down all of the 5:18 verses as a start. I am going to go back and pray over each verse and read more around the verses, but for today this verse in Romans stood out to me.

Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, the day Christians celebrate Jesus' resurrection. Today is the day that Jesus is in the tomb, dead, taking our sins and burying them.

This verse in Romans reminds us that one transgression allowed death into the world, but with one amazing act of sacrifice-a sacrifice that was holy and pure- life was given to all humanity.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Almighty, for sending Your Son to walk among us, to experience a human life with all of its temptations and yet to remain pure, not succumbing to the world of flesh. Thank you Jesus, for taking on the sins of the world, of all humanity, for all time and taking them to the grave so that we may have access to the Father through the Son. You are worthy of all praise and glory. I lift my hands and bow my head to You for Yours is the Glory and Power forever. Amen

Celebrate Easter with much joy dear friends, for this is the day Our Lord and Savior conquered death and gave us life!

Rooting Out the Doubt

Let your roots grow down into Him.

Let your lives be built on Him.

Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught

and you will overflow with thankfulness.

For God is working in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him.

Live clean innocent lives as children of God.

Hold firmly to the Word of Life.

Excerpt from: Philippians 2 and Colossians

(Thank you ro www.godsgracefulness.com for permission to repost)

This was just what I needed to hear today! If you have been following my blog you know I have been given verses about growing roots, settling down. This last week has been filled with doubt for me.

My nephew heard something during children's church two Sundays ago that didn't sit well with him. So, he asked me and I didn't have a good answer. I told him I would find out. The answer was not what I wanted to hear...but God's ways are not our ways. Well, this gave doubt an open door.

I have a bachelor's degree in Anthropology. I have a curious and inquiring mind and I like to find out facts. This is one reason I have had a difficult time with becoming a Christian. The reason I bring this up now is not to get into the science/religion debate but to let you know that I like to analyze things and think things through. I like things to make sense.  I want to Know!

When I read the above post from God's Gracefulness I felt God telling me to remain faithful, that the roots he wants me to grow are spiritual roots. He wants me to "settle down" with Him and my faith.

I have been going to two churches, of different denominations. Doesn't seem like it should be a big deal. But that has also let the enemy in to confuse me. My spiritual roots aren't deep enough yet. I am still a spiritual baby, and I crave pure spiritual milk. I need to get that spiritual milk from one place to decrease the confusion.

I pray the Lord plants me in the garden in which He wants my roots to grow deep so that I may bloom and bring joy to others. Amen

A Gentle and Quiet Spirit

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment...Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 1 Peter 3:3-4

Holy Father, I pray that Your Spirit washes me with Your Word so that I may be holy in your sight. Lord, I lay my burdens at your feet, fill me with peace and love and take away the demons of anxiety and irritability and depresion. Lord, I yearn to have a gentle and quiet spirt which is worthy to you. You have given me beautiful and holy role models, Lord show me the way to quiet my spirit and be gentle towards myself and others. In Your Name I pray, Amen

This was the Word God gave me this morning. A gentle and quiet spirit. How I yearn to have a gentle and quiet spirit. Intolerance, impatience, irritability get in the way. Selfish pride gets in the way.

I repeated this verse every time I felt myself becoming irritated today. God showed me that I was being selfish and this selfishness is an obstacle to finding peace. I kept my thoughts on God and called on Him to quiet my soul when the feelings of irritability started. I slipped this evening though, and I pray for grace. God is showing me where it is most difficult for me to remain gentle-in my interactions with my sister. Lord, help me see my sister as You do, as Your child precious in Your sight. Fill me with Your love for her. Help me to keep patience and have a gentle and quiet spirit in my interactions with my sister. Amen.

God also let me know that my pride gets in the way. I never thought I was prideful...but God has shown me that I was wrong. Pride is a funny thing, our world says we need pride-parents, teachers, other caring people in our lives tell us they are proud when we do something they approve of. We are also told to be proud of ourselves. It develops self esteem and confidence. As God's children we are to be in this world but not of this world. Pride is of this world. Lord, thank you for showing me my prideful ways. Wash my pride away with Your Word, Your loving kindness, and Your grace. Allow Your love and light to shine through me and All Glory to You!

I hear you Lord, but I don't understand yet

Last night I prayed for my cousin who I haven't seen since I was a little girl and for some others that needed prayer. I was given verses to share to encourage and lift up these wonderful people. After I shared the verses I read the Psalm again and felt a verse call out to me. God must want me to notice that verse. Well, maybe I am just wishful, I doubt God has really given me this verse since I'm sure (in my own mind) that there is no chance of a relationship in my future.

Tonight my niece handed me my Kindle because she had finished her book. My sister was using my computer so I turned on the Kindle and started reading. Wouldn't you know it, the Lord put that same verse in the second paragraph I was reading. If I put this verse together with a verse from earlier in the week it sounds like God may be telling me there is a family in my future. That isn't a longing I want to open up right now because it leads straight into the deepest depths of depression. But, this is God talking. Is God telling me to open my heart to the possiblity? Or is God telling me that I am home with family-my mom, my sister, niece, and nephew?

Let me share the verses. First, I was given a passage in Jeremiah. I posted previously on Jeremiah 29:5-Build houses and settle down, plant gardens and eat what they produce. But that was only the beginning of the passage. The next verse states:

Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. (Jer 29:6)

And here is the verse from last night and tonight: Psalm 68:6

God sets the lonely in families

I am lonely Lord, and I would love for You to set me in a family. Lord, if this is Your will for my life, open my heart and my mind and my life to the person you have planned. If it is Your will that being set in  a family means continuing to live with mom, sister, niece and nephew please give me the wisdom to understand this and accept this with a grateful heart.

If I have any readers out there that would like to offer some Godly advice, I am all ears...ummm...eyes.

Peace and Prosperity Upon this Place

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.

Jer. 29:7

Not only is God telling me to plant gardens (I really hope He doesn't mean that literally because I have the biggest black thumb ever), He is telling me to pray for the city to which He has brought me. I have never thought about praying for a place before, but this verse has been nagging at me for days.

God brought me to this place through scripture (Mark 6:1 7/2/11).

God told me to settle down in this place (Jer. 29:5 2/28/12)

Now God says I need to pray for this place (Jer. 29:7 3/5/12)

Dear Lord,

I come before you tonight in obedience to Your word. I pray for your blessing over the Hudson Valley, that You bring prosperity and ecomomic recovery to this place. Lord, I pray that Your Spirit flows through Your people in this area to those in need of Your love, grace, and mercy. I pray for renewal and uplifting. Lord, I pray for Your peace over this place to which You have brought me.

In Your Son's Holy Name,
Amen