All Blog Posts Tagged 'movement' - All About GOD2024-03-28T23:56:10Zhttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profiles/blog/feed?tag=movement&xn_auth=noTreasured letter from hometag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-27:1383940:BlogPost:19355502024-03-27T12:39:06.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p>Listen along here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7b9bb1/a-treasured-letter-32624-philippians-6">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7b9bb1/a-treasured-letter-32624-philippians-6</a></p>
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<p><span>A treasured letter. </span></p>
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<p><span>Nineteen years old, 2100 miles from home, I remember getting out of my parents' blue Chevy, looking around at not a single familiar face. It was quite an experience-mostly a good one. See, I had chosen a…</span></p>
<p>Listen along here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7b9bb1/a-treasured-letter-32624-philippians-6">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7b9bb1/a-treasured-letter-32624-philippians-6</a></p>
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<p><span>A treasured letter. </span></p>
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<p><span>Nineteen years old, 2100 miles from home, I remember getting out of my parents' blue Chevy, looking around at not a single familiar face. It was quite an experience-mostly a good one. See, I had chosen a Christian college (Bethel) in St. Paul, Minnesota, far away from my Northern California home. Understanding the Midwestern 'take' on things was probably my biggest adjustment, besides missing my mom, my piano, and my big black dog, Sam. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>One thing was a source of continued </span><span>joy </span><span>while I was there - a letter from home. When I retrieved the precious envelope from my mailbox, I read it, reread it, and then stuck it in one of my textbooks and carried it with me. I treasured the written connection with my mom and dad, as I pictured them sitting down at the kitchen table to write a letter to their baby girl, far from home. Ah yes, those letters were treasures.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Just as my mother pictured me as she wrote on inexpensive, practical stationery, just so, Paul pictured his friends in Philippi as he wrote to them from his Roman confinement. No doubt, he recalled their familiar faces with a smile as he expressed his gratitude for their faithfulness to Jesus, and their continued love and support of him. Ah, how he loved them!</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>And meanwhile in Philippi, as is their practice, believers gather to worship God. There is a buzz in the air at Lydia's house because a letter has arrived from Paul, and O, how they adore him. </span></p>
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<p><span>Lydia smiles as she welcomes her dear ones, and remembers to herself: 'Why, it seems just yesterday I was praying with the women at the river, when Paul and Silas and the others joined us. We were wary of the strangers at first, until we listened to Paul; I had never heard anything like it. He kind of got this other-worldly look on his face as he told us how Jesus got his attention while he was traveling to Damascus*. Paul told us of the joy he had in his heart ever since, and I leaned in closer so as not to miss a word. He told us what it was like to experience the presence of God in his heart and life--no Jewish teacher had ever talked like this man! He really had our attention as he went on to tell us that his experience was not for him alone, but that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, wanted to have the same relationship with us . . . that we too could become his children. Oh, I shall never forget that day-it was the day of my rebirth-the day that I met my Lord, and then was baptized into the Christian faith! So much has happened since then. Just looking around, it is not just those women and me anymore, many others have become a part of our gospel community. Ah, now someone is about to read Paul's words to us-</span></p>
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<p><span>'Brothers, sisters, a messenger delivered this letter from our brother Paul; I know you will treasure its words just as I have since its arrival. Do not forget, Paul drafted this letter to us from Rome where he is a prisoner; I cannot even imagine the depth of his love for Jesus Christ, and for us, that he would go to such lengths to send us encouragement, when he himself is in confinement.'</span></p>
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<p><span>"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now ... It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." 'Uh, allow me to interject something here,' Lydia says-'for all of you who sacrificed your own comfort to send provisions to Paul, you see how much it meant to him. You see how much it aided him in his travels to spread the good news of the gospel-the same good news that he had brought to us all those years ago.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Permit me to continue reading, brothers.' "And this is my prayer: </span></p>
<p><span>that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, </span></p>
<p><span>so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, </span></p>
<p><span>filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-</span></p>
<p><span>to the glory and praise of God." </span></p>
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<p><span>Two thousand years later, wow, wow, wow! What a passage, what a prayer! But you and I need see and understand that the beautiful New Testament book of Philippians, along with Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon, were letters written from the heart and mind of Paul while he was a prisoner of Rome - meant to encourage, instruct and inform people he loved in the manner we ought live out the gospel of Christ.</span></p>
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<p><span>Listen: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Jx_QX7oQghdH1F6k-KKOYj_O6AkKA9OyYpqfpWPst4QIHFLKU0cA-P1Q1Q9uL-5JQOrDT7z9oqqQebn5XpDxwqbsbCfFLDbP_7yMmLz2ZW4bLqzYLXh4pe_6nnc3tFeXjtvZGr42TfSZUGd_4gCDSHQSEb_0nArZ4regG07bhWkvWjBScHe1Jg==&c=YG65K10JfELKxyFNHOJHaKZEfTsRuN4nV0E_gJSHiDFdAgOh5hLr_Q==&ch=hU-GcdUfa4Kf5Efq-fa7-8Dva83gSLro9v4IqpRf0p_ZdykkkRdwGw==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq5URsXbKXs</a></p>
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<p><span>I pray that your love will abound, both for God and for those who you encounter each day.</span></p>
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<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
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<p><span>*Acts chapter 9</span></p>Knowing we are loved changes ustag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-26:1383940:BlogPost:19355482024-03-26T13:59:31.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Listen along here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/3144ed40/knowing-we-are-loved-changes-us-32424-philippians-5">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/3144ed40/knowing-we-are-loved-changes-us-32424-philippians-5</a></span></p>
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<p><span>Love.</span></p>
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<p><span>It happened again - twice actually in the last week. In the course of conversation, the woman I was speaking to said, "I had a pretty messed up childhood." Interpretation: the love I…</span></p>
<p><span>Listen along here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/3144ed40/knowing-we-are-loved-changes-us-32424-philippians-5">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/3144ed40/knowing-we-are-loved-changes-us-32424-philippians-5</a></span></p>
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<p><span>Love.</span></p>
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<p><span>It happened again - twice actually in the last week. In the course of conversation, the woman I was speaking to said, "I had a pretty messed up childhood." Interpretation: the love I was meant to know, grow up in, and be protected by, was not there. This lack is tantamount to emotional malnutrition. Why, Childhood Protective Services would be called if parents starved a child! Yet no one comes to the rescue of a child who is not well loved--which may be far more detrimental.</span></p>
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<p><span>This letter to the Philippian people is infused with love and supercharged with joy. </span></p>
<p><span>Look with me at how Paul talks to them:</span></p>
<p><span>I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,</span><span> </span><span>[these people financially supported Paul so that he could continue to spread the gospel], </span><span>being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.</span></p>
<p><span>It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.</span></p>
<p><span>And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ</span><span> </span><span>Philippians 1.3-10</span></p>
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<p><span>Is there any doubt that Paul deeply loved these he had led to Christ? None at all. </span><span>He loved them and rejoiced in them. </span><span>True love finds its roots in God, our Father. But here's the thing--it is pretty hard to be 'filled to overflowing' with love unless you grasp in some part the magnitude of God's love for you. Do you have any idea how much he truly loves you? He looks at you as his beloved. </span></p>
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<p><span>You</span><span> are the Beloved. </span><span>You are much loved by God</span><span>. </span></p>
<p><span>And being the Beloved expresses the core truth of our existence. </span></p>
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<p><span>I am putting this so directly and so simply because, though the experience of being the Beloved has never been completely absent from my life, I never claimed it as my core truth. I kept running around it in large or small circles, always looking for someone or something able to convince me of my Belovedness. It was as if I kept refusing to hear the voice that speaks from the very depth of my being and says: "You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests." That is what the Father said to Jesus, and </span><span>what I long to hear from him each day of my life</span><span>. </span></p>
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<p><span>Perhaps the voice has always been there, perhaps not. Growing up in the home of older parents--and one overly-domineering unbelieving father, in a conservative Protestant church, I do not remember being told that I was much loved by God -at least in such a way that I could 'get it'. Or perhaps I was more eager to listen to other, louder voices saying: "Prove that you are worth something; do something relevant, spectacular, or powerful, and then you will earn the love you so desire." Meanwhile, the soft, gentle voice that speaks in the silence and solitude of my heart remained unheard or, at least, unconvincing. </span></p>
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<p><span>I think you understand what I am talking about. Aren't you, like me, hoping that some person, thing, or event will come along to give you that final feeling of inner well-being you desire? Don't you secretly hope: "May this book, idea, course, trip, job, country, or relationship fulfill my deepest desire." But as long as you are waiting for that mysterious moment you will go on running helter-skelter, always lustful and angry, never fully satisfied. You know that this is the compulsiveness that keeps us going and busy, but at the same time makes us wonder whether we are getting anywhere in the long run. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>You and I don't have to kill ourselves. We are the Beloved. We are intimately loved long before our parents, teachers, spouses, children, and friends loved or wounded us. That's the truth of our lives. That's the truth I want you to claim for yourself. That's the truth spoken by the voice that says, "</span><span>You are my Beloved</span><span>." </span><span>[do you know of Henri Nouwen?]</span></p>
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<p><span>Listening to that voice with great inner attentiveness, I hear at my center words that say: "I have called you by name, from the very beginning</span><span>1</span><span> You are mine and I am yours.</span><span>2</span><span> You are my Beloved, on you my favor rests. I have molded you in the depths of the earth and knitted you together in your mother's womb.</span><span>3</span><span> I have carved you in the palms of my hands</span><span>4</span><span> and hidden you in the shadow of my embrace. I look at you with infinite tenderness and care for you with a care more intimate than that of a mother for her child.</span><span>5</span></p>
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<p><span>I have counted every hair on your head</span><span>6</span><span> and guided you at every step.</span><span>7</span></p>
<p><span>Wherever you go, I go with you, and wherever you rest, I keep watch.</span><span>8</span><span> I will give you food that will satisfy all your hunger, drink that will quench all your thirst. </span><span>9. </span><span>I will not hide my face from you.</span><span>10</span><span> You know me as your own as I know you as my own.</span><span>11</span><span> You belong to me. </span></p>
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<p><span>Nothing will ever separate us. </span></p>
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<p><span>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 you from my love that is in my Son, Christ Jesus your Lord.</span><span>12</span></p>
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<p><span>This has fresh application again for me - which the truths of God always do. In a number of situations, including e-mails from countries I would be challenged to locate on a globe,</span></p>
<p><span>--></span><span>people are crying out to know God loves them</span></p>
<p><span>even when they do not recognize the cry of their heart...</span><span> </span></p>
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<p><span>And so I close with, 'You are the Beloved of God.' Give yourself over to that truth, give yourself over to the lordship of the God who always has YOU on his mind. For then you shall surely see the answer to Paul's prayer--to my prayer for you--that your love may abound more and more. </span></p>
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<p><span>How ya' doing? Loving others well, and expressing it? Forgiving rather than carrying a grudge? Love comes from God... open your heart to the greatest love you will ever know.</span></p>
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<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>
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<p><span>Listen: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012xrHP-OHJyfwNIqJdn1zYky3Bnzd6MdSovK4WziAUNXhHSP4X1yauLQUUsD_GZifLUAhwTvuxmWj-thLkcahpDrAhaVcxHGppGm62hLIpbrXL8uk4yopoitS1DIy7g7Imj3lGBGkZSvNoNe5dMEA1h65ckOSraSMBZiAqt67KPtJdkgYEeGUqw==&c=MKBIhDN8XLkWuQJ4fn-643a3uqC27eFd65qk9NlLfwDui423WxIAAA==&ch=AAcKSu5p70LzufiCesmqhC8Lvakz5qgWumZd_TVNW7UnduxQYRLu1Q==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9sE5kEnitqE</a></p>
<p><span>Philippians, #5</span></p>
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<p><span>This Morning Briefing was inspired by </span><span>The Life of the Beloved</span><span> by Henri Nouwen.</span></p>
<p><span>Below are the scriptures referenced: </span></p>
<p><span>1) from Isaiah 43</span></p>
<p><span>2) Song of Solomon 6.3</span></p>
<p><span>3) from Psalm 139</span></p>
<p><span>4) Isaiah 49.16</span></p>
<p><span>5) 1 Thessalonians 2.7</span></p>
<p><span>6) Matthew 10.30</span></p>
<p><span>7) Proverbs 16.9 </span></p>
<p><span>8) Psalm 107.9</span></p>
<p><span>9) Psalm 81.10, 16</span></p>
<p><span>10) Ezekiel 39.29</span></p>
<p><span>11) John 10.14</span></p>
<p><span>12) Romans 8.38-39, personalized</span></p>Do you ever think God has amnesia?tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-22:1383940:BlogPost:19356422024-03-22T13:02:09.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Do you ever think God has A</span><span>m</span><span>Ne</span><span>S</span><span>iA?</span></p>
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<p><span>Do you think God forgot? Oh no, he didn't forget your prayer, I assure you!</span></p>
<p><span>Hmm, I don't know--maybe the prayer that is answered more often than any other has just eight words-two words, repeated four times: "Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God!' </span></p>
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<p><span>We pray these words as we come to the end of…</span></p>
<p><span>Do you ever think God has A</span><span>m</span><span>Ne</span><span>S</span><span>iA?</span></p>
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<p><span>Do you think God forgot? Oh no, he didn't forget your prayer, I assure you!</span></p>
<p><span>Hmm, I don't know--maybe the prayer that is answered more often than any other has just eight words-two words, repeated four times: "Oh God, oh God, oh God, oh God!' </span></p>
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<p><span>We pray these words as we come to the end of ourselves, of what we are able to manage and control, and realize that only God can effect change ... only God can save ... and certainly that God is indeed mighty to save!</span><span>1</span><span> Note: as long as self is in the way, there Is not much room for God, whether we pray or not. </span></p>
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<p><span>Yet when we cry out to God, he hears and he comes. He promises, 'when you call upon me, and come and pray to me, I will listen.'</span><span>2 </span><span> It is in our deepest need, God meets us; in fact, God uses our deep human need as a springboard to accomplish his purposes.</span><span>3</span><span> Have you ever noticed that God specializes in redeeming hopeless situations?</span></p>
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<p><span>What seems hopeless in your life right now? Physical pain that threatens to undo you?</span></p>
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<p><span>Or maybe you've lost hope that your wayward son will find his way back to God? Perhaps he is in the ravages of some addiction. Remember it is the Father's heart to turn your son's heart, draw him back to Himself, and to you. God specializes in bringing that which was lost home again. Do not lose hope, Friend. Jesus, in Luke chapter 15 talks about three things of value lost, three things found. So good. </span></p>
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<p align="center"><span>Claim this promise as you think and pray for your loved one: </span></p>
<p align="center"><span> God, who began the good work in you, will continue his work within you,</span></p>
<p align="center"><span> until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1.6</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>or as I memorized,</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>will be faithful to complete it on the day of Christ Jesus.</span></p>
<p align="center"></p>
<p><span>Does it seem like all hope is gone that your marriage could be whole? Cry out to God, ask him to breathe life into seemingly dry bones. He specializes in that-Ezekiel 47. Beware: in healing your marriage or another strained relationship, he might start with you; he might suggest as Paul did, that you have the same attitude of Jesus Christ: humility. </span></p>
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<p><span>"But Christine, 'you know how long I' been prayin' God would...?" No, but he does. Don't grow weary in praying, don't give up or lose hope; don't be afraid to simply pray or sob, "O God, O God, O God, O God!! I am desperate for a touch from you!" God hears your prayer, and he will lovingly comfort you.</span></p>
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<p><span>When the man after God's own heart, David, was overwhelmed by his circumstances, he found relief in God when he prayed. Consider his words, </span></p>
<p><span>"Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay."</span><span>4.</span><span> Prayer assures us that God is on the job, and employs our faith that he is at work.</span></p>
<p><span>God promises peace when we pray- 'Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. And the God of peace will keep your hearts and minds quiet and at rest as you trust in him.' </span><span>5</span></p>
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<p><span>When someone asks if I will pray for her I oft ask, "What would you like God to do for you?" </span></p>
<p><span> The question crystallizes what is wanted, what is needed . . . so, Friend, what would you like God to do for you? What do you NEED God to do for you? Perhaps, you aren't even sure how to answer, but you know you need a touch from God. It is then that you might cry out, "O God, O God, O God . . . O God! In your wisdom, in your love, come and do what only you can do."</span></p>
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<p><span> He is big enough . . . he is good enough. Never forget, Christian--the Lord your God is with you, and he is mighty to save. So take him your needs: ask him to heal, lead, comfort, restore and save. And that prayer you have been praying for your son, for your daughter, Bethany? God does not have amnesia. He does not forget your prayer, and he is always at work,</span><span>6</span><span> even if you do not see it. Be encouraged!</span></p>
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<p><span>Consider this truth in song:</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001-oLBKQ1D9Zgqu2t6N_pwzovQ2A6BadOEEAGgIk2BZ2d-_VSMYO3Ip_P1hxM0bmAaYwWeN0iBKE5BMB3ou0zO9rPjpnPB5MW7Fl4Ut5owNQYXZo46k839YQQms3qQJuMQCKSxY8dFDdL61-umgjPdoVzI6fBVCbksuRxeKG0F5aFHyqzMtYTeug==&c=slO8ab4yhDh0-5TPqnbEj9eWZA0OjubXteL1-MTXlx9voxRX-N0ktg==&ch=fovODk7bOmYol9m1DBzbUu2pEQtzjno7mSd4aHDU2jp3DTOI5UAPFg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMvTqnCSDao</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 - Zephaniah 3.17</span></p>
<p><span>2 - Jeremiah 29.12</span></p>
<p><span>3 - Jim Cymbala, </span><span>Breakthrough Prayer</span><span>, p.145 </span></p>
<p><span>4 - Psalm 40.17</span></p>
<p><span>5 - Philippians 4.6,7</span></p>
<p><span>6 - John 5.17</span></p>Sunshine walks into the roomtag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-20:1383940:BlogPost:19350372024-03-20T13:24:54.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Sunshine walks into the room. </span></p>
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<p><span>Encouragement is like verbal sunshine . </span></p>
<p><span>It costs nothing, warms hearts and enriches lives. Truth is, encouragement is a gift to the soul. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>In the middle of the word is </span><span>courage</span><span>, which is built from the root word 'cor', meaning heart. </span></p>
<p><span>To live with courage is to live fully from one's heart; indeed, it is more than…</span></p>
<p><span>Sunshine walks into the room. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Encouragement is like verbal sunshine . </span></p>
<p><span>It costs nothing, warms hearts and enriches lives. Truth is, encouragement is a gift to the soul. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>In the middle of the word is </span><span>courage</span><span>, which is built from the root word 'cor', meaning heart. </span></p>
<p><span>To live with courage is to live fully from one's heart; indeed, it is more than bravery!</span></p>
<p><span>To </span><span>en</span><span>courage is to </span><span>give support, confidence, or hope to (someone).</span><span> In keeping with the meaning of the word, I like to think of it as giving a little piece of my heart to another.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Sometimes an encourager is a guide along our path, someone who will say 'you can do it... I know you can! Here, go this way... I will help you.' Notice the role of the guides leading courageous blind Erik W eihenmayer climbing Mt. Everest in this great short video: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001z6ReYA85X60pjT94zSapQ0DzpxBp_WOyjVWugCm9OnWE-Sd-E8obXBbuowcmGxYfkoEMDBeRO9V2ryEmctfZL2q10oodpjA0RRvQMt9GCUT5leuU1HOcuv0qFbclfVjN97zABfic0Y88A75t6yeyDnjRyklNRHYpnCW6hRmS8ngt1orBJh9lZg==&c=e9fRSIICJyp1zXrJkcu46SQaOcZzv3wx0HY-UUf6Afa6VMj9gD0ssQ==&ch=8YJZz7duPKjHFynx13UnhQ3_pA4RG_FSQODqeKO7XImf2ttBdgqW_g==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE1ZdO7ppLo</a><span> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The opportunity to encourage someone usually comes in relationship, in connectivity, but taking notice of someone who is hurting or in distress might happen as you watch your young athlete run up and down the soccer field. You might see the pain in someone's eyes in the hardware store or at the gym. It would not be too big of a stretch to say that 'to encourage someone just might save his life'! (I certainly saw this working with people who lived on the mean streets of Long Beach--Bloods, Crips, the addicted, mentally ill and disenfranchised) To encourage a young man may set his course; to encourage a young woman may change her course and help her believe SHE CAN. Just sayin', isn't that what Jesus did for us?</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>The apostle Paul was a great encourager, praying for those he loved so much-such as the Philippians, with whom he established a church some 10 years earlier. Picturing their faces he wrote, 'I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel...it is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart. . .' Ah, love.</span></p>
<p><span>The passage: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001z6ReYA85X60pjT94zSapQ0DzpxBp_WOyjVWugCm9OnWE-Sd-E8obXFjL-dRwdarRCQh9s7tRJStWIxpes6aEucF7xo0-4LUzcSPguitk5qucu7wzv7zpFHGPjX7s7GQDX4Day54mI30KAPdqL7n5AAXYH34sfKM6Enx-nBTuFjgJ0Q2aMLu6j5Ey6MeKkJoIqcSlcZM9QKpoUavAp9wqlI51pZSsc7ih&c=e9fRSIICJyp1zXrJkcu46SQaOcZzv3wx0HY-UUf6Afa6VMj9gD0ssQ==&ch=8YJZz7duPKjHFynx13UnhQ3_pA4RG_FSQODqeKO7XImf2ttBdgqW_g==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1.3-8&version=ESV</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The greatest encouragement I know to give is what I have gained from Jesus. Words of love, not judgment or criticism~</span></p>
<p><span>After all, the tongue has the power of life and death.</span><span>1</span><span> </span><span>We can choose w</span><span>ords that breathe kindness ~ because gracious words are like honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.</span><span>2</span><span> </span></p>
<p><span> Words that have encouraged my heart for decades point to the Peace-Giver, who said, "</span><span>Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you</span><span> ..." Jesus.</span><span>3</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>It was many years ago when I read about the "five love languages" - ways that people communicate love, from an emotional standpoint. Words of affirmation top the list of the love languages.</span><span>4 </span><span>Turns out, encouragement is quite important in conveying love for others!</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Segue ~ before you roll your eyes, hear me out a moment. You know those essential oil diffusers? I was given eucalyptus, lavender and peppermint drops that I enjoy, but I got to thinking the other day, </span></p>
<p><span> </span><span>What if there was an essential oil called Encouragement?? </span></p>
<p><span>Just think, its aroma would fill a room with good feelings, right? I think it would smell like tangerines, just sayin'.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>So on encouragement - how about if you and I determine to be the aroma of encouragement today? Let's be the person who looks for the good, looks for things to affirm-a kind word, a note that says 'I'm thinking of you', a text message that says, 'I'm with you...I know this is a hard time, but I'm praying for you. You're not alone!' It really does not cost us much except some awareness and a choice to stop thinking so much about ourselves and determine to give courage to others. Yes, that's good and right.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>"My Prayer for You" ~ listen: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001z6ReYA85X60pjT94zSapQ0DzpxBp_WOyjVWugCm9OnWE-Sd-E8obXAn89GBjXSs6TidvR2c_FsXoncd9FetNoIdtdbqUsMmINVRg8feyr8j5GHTaHafyaNT7W3g_lBuYW6eRVRxLbb-PNSgdhbzBlFdidqVtYkjFwcVbaoa2OjCNwLw_vBE1Gw==&c=e9fRSIICJyp1zXrJkcu46SQaOcZzv3wx0HY-UUf6Afa6VMj9gD0ssQ==&ch=8YJZz7duPKjHFynx13UnhQ3_pA4RG_FSQODqeKO7XImf2ttBdgqW_g==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hj_0pvIGkks</a></p>
<p><span>Let's spread some sunshine today, what d'ya say? </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net </span></p>
<p><span>Philippians, #3 </span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 - Proverbs 18.21</span></p>
<p><span>2 - Proverbs 16.2 </span></p>
<p><span>3 - John 14.27</span></p>
<p><span>4 - </span><span>The Five Love Languages</span><span> Dr. Gary Chapman</span></p>Who Loves Ya, Baby?tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-18:1383940:BlogPost:19350352024-03-18T13:25:50.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>"Who loves ya Baby? Be beautiful...." the tag-line of bald-headed Kojak, tootsie pop in hand. Funny 11-second clip: …</span></p>
<p><span>"Who loves ya Baby? Be beautiful...." the tag-line of bald-headed Kojak, tootsie pop in hand. Funny 11-second clip: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001HCa2PbBT3yJmphepb0twFPccBw7Bp7tru9vJipFPdWkbXowbME4e8YPeb9Ag7ohZ3Dv97eBym0uFN6Jg_-G3U2ZPVQjKo9jaNHJb2jJz5MCUkh8UPFiZBo_FeNik1R9LV0TTtdXyaUw0ke_xp-1rvzKFu6vwu0MMBPSKE0RhR_qLKphp2D8ELg==&c=TtmiNzW5o94bKXvetXrXX7pDr0SSeUo3uUibh-EaxiPB2w_TDNUxvA==&ch=bDelyQ3Y2019R6AXrH3sAuJlLdl9eFM7r131JwVpj7O7U7zKFTAfhg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMOYhApOa7c</a></p>
<p><span>Decades later...Kojak? Telly Savalas? ha, who cares?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>However </span><span>there is One who loves ya Baby</span><span>, and that truth makes all the difference in the world . . . </span><span>God.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Truth is--</span></p>
<p><span>God's heart is so full of love for you it is difficult to comprehend . </span></p>
<p><span>God's heart desires one thing-to love and be loved by humanity. </span></p>
<p><span>God's heart shows no partiality; he is an equal opportunity lover. Yes everyone.</span></p>
<p><span>While we may show partiality because of race or class, these things do not cross God's mind.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>I take you back to the pages of Paul's most loved letter, Philippians. The church he established in old Macedonia serves as a grand expression of God's heart. Paul's stay in Philippi centers around three people-three very different people. But first, let's consider Philippi herself as context is so important when understanding scripture. Why did Paul go to Philippi? The city was a commercial center in the ancient world--prime location, gold and silver mines, status as a Roman colony, and maybe most importantly, the main road that traveled through the town linking Rome with her eastern provinces. All of these made Philippi a great spot for the good news of Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Upon arriving in a new town, it was Paul's custom to go first to the synagogue, but there was none in Philippi, which indicates there were few Jews in town. </span><span>[Luke records this in Acts 16.13ff </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001HCa2PbBT3yJmphepb0twFPccBw7Bp7tru9vJipFPdWkbXowbME4e8YPeb9Ag7ohZygGRYp5knFxiL1k2vjteSIRq2xG4HJ4S8rTHjXbBrr0U62T5FDMc7Uvmr8EDop7LIKPkf746L_iQ4qdZn3iZQMluuxsL8ThKzDAk-z3O7XxRQKAu8oM4CCvDK3DQUBwzWAIB24-4JENML--_gt6mAbB7NpkVdUQ5&c=TtmiNzW5o94bKXvetXrXX7pDr0SSeUo3uUibh-EaxiPB2w_TDNUxvA==&ch=bDelyQ3Y2019R6AXrH3sAuJlLdl9eFM7r131JwVpj7O7U7zKFTAfhg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16.13-40&version=ESV</a><span>]</span></p>
<p><span>So the missionaries went to the river just outside of town to look for a place of prayer. Once there, Paul did indeed find a small group of the faithful including Lydia, a successful businesswoman from Asia.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Paul and Silas told the group about the Savior, and Lydia opened her heart to Jesus Christ, and was baptized along with her household. Ah, the river! So grateful for her newfound relationship with the Savior, Lydia insisted they come to her home to stay; and 'she persuaded us', Luke noted. Note: first convert in Philippi, European soil - Lydia.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Day after day, as the Christians made their way to the river for fellowship and prayer, a demon-possessed slave girl shouted their presence as they walked through town. (Can you picture that?) "Finally Paul became so troubled that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" And it left ... along with the money she made for her owners fortune telling. Uh-oh.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Her owners had Paul and Silas brought before the authorities, who ordered them beaten with rods and thrown into prison. Being sternly warned to carefully guard them, the jailer put the battered men in stocks down in the bowels of the prison. But about midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, and there was a strong earthquake; the jail doors opened, and their chains fell to the ground. (Look at God's response to Paul and Silas's prayerful praise!) Sure that Paul and Silas had escaped, the jailer prepared to kill himself, until Paul shouted, 'No...we are all here! Do not harm yourself.' Wow, wow, wow.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Upon realizing the prisoners were still there, the jailer looked at Paul and then Silas, and realized these men were like no others. Think of it--after being beaten, stretched out on stocks in the cold damp prison cell, and late at night, they sang praises to God. That was anything but normal---peace and joy even while they suffered? The jailer wanted what they had. [</span><span>wait...have you ever looked at someone and thought the same thing? I want their faith, I want their joy...!</span><span>] 'Please tell me how I can be saved?' he urgently pleaded. Paul responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved." The jailer and all of his family members put their trust in Christ and were baptized, adding to the number of Christians in that town called Philippi. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Remembering their faces, Paul writes, "I thank my God every time I remember you." Of three of those we are now aware-the wealthy Asian businesswoman, Lydia, the set-free Greek slave girl, and the Roman jailer. It seems Paul's heart mirrors the heart of God, who loves and draws all of us to himself . . . no partiality, no consideration of gender, race, or social status. God does not play favorites, and I for one, am glad-otherwise, I would surely be on the outside looking in.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>No matter who we are or what we have done, </span></p>
<p><span>God extends great love toward us. </span></p>
<p><span>Now, let's reach back and experience his love. Amen.</span></p>
<p><span>And one more thing, let's endeavor to love others well--especially the tough ones.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine - </span><span>The Everlasting Love of God,</span><span> </span><span>song:</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001HCa2PbBT3yJmphepb0twFPccBw7Bp7tru9vJipFPdWkbXowbME4e8YPeb9Ag7ohZ7lFMl2phlRJJGEoNvtBD-IU24cIQDbzBcATSXOJ-fgL7fuapoU8fmvkM6PyDJogff5Et5qox27ePK-4d7Evk1LKTsIUJ-cLfLx3Jt03mq02VGp5YBr7VXQ==&c=TtmiNzW5o94bKXvetXrXX7pDr0SSeUo3uUibh-EaxiPB2w_TDNUxvA==&ch=bDelyQ3Y2019R6AXrH3sAuJlLdl9eFM7r131JwVpj7O7U7zKFTAfhg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaTKSQ1-fh8</a></p>Extra! Extra! Get your peace right here!tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-15:1383940:BlogPost:19353292024-03-15T13:25:08.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p>Hear the podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2056f13d/extra-extra-get-your-peace-right-here-march-14-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2056f13d/extra-extra-get-your-peace-right-here-march-14-2024</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>"Extra! Extra! Read all about it," newspaper peddlers shouted, trying to sell papers with breaking news.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Well, I've got some breaking news today - news for you. It is about peace…</span></p>
<p>Hear the podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2056f13d/extra-extra-get-your-peace-right-here-march-14-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2056f13d/extra-extra-get-your-peace-right-here-march-14-2024</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>"Extra! Extra! Read all about it," newspaper peddlers shouted, trying to sell papers with breaking news.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Well, I've got some breaking news today - news for you. It is about peace -</span></p>
<p><span>oft elusive in this day and age. </span></p>
<p><span>Not talking about the absence of war, because there will always be war...</span></p>
<p><span>or the absence of violence, because well, </span><span>human beings</span><span> ...</span></p>
<p><span>but rather the state of inner tranquility. </span></p>
<p><span>Peace is peddled in many ways, and people are willing to do just about anything to get it. Aromatherapy, self-help books, yoga, relaxation techniques, marijuana, anti-depressants, wine, essential oils, even light therapy ... we cast about trying to get a sense of calm.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>The only true and lasting peace is the peace of God, peace with God. God's peace is not man-made, can't be trumped up with enough good will, and cannot be bought. No, our loving God freely offers his children a peace that is beyond understanding or description. His peace makes it possible to be in a very difficult situation--including war or heartache or loss, yet defying all logic, remain at peace. Interestingly, when I think about that kind of peace, God's peace, a smile lights my face; my breathing slows and my being lightens.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Paul writes about this peace in the letter he wrote to the Philippians while under house arrest in Rome. We remember that Paul had established a church about 10 years earlier in Philippi, recorded by Luke in Acts chapter 16. </span><span>(Here is my Morning Briefing from his visit to Philippi--</span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001HZy6c5tAwhE-u2ywr_75Tbvx9WG46t0hNNquqCuyHgH3iw4AGzYkIGpVlurLw71wDC3TSsqkvh26-pF5JwklH1QkWtuShY-a0Qe5N-n3EXeSDurFOOFx5RyTDJbqOyZMdxBb5EAbr0Ont7yzLvtub_Per4JhvXc2QAwpLmk_2tf3gopB_IR3xA==&c=PBvOnnOtqQlkteTVKazjibIu9yooE5Anemt8aF_Bv5DgKoSbPurkeA==&ch=2Mg6bHHD0ZDMSfM6wORRioqqxa_GSTWWnKMf_WdnE0da86RsUVYIMA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">http://pastorwoman.com/ReadArchive.aspx?id=2914</a><span> ).</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The Philippians heard about Paul's imprisonment and sent someone to Rome to tend to his needs. You see, of all the churches Paul had established, he enjoyed the sweetest relationship with this Philippian church; oh, how he loved them! And they were devoted to Paul because they understood that he had brought them life - not through oppressive Rome or through the Jewish Law, but through the saving grace of Jesus Christ.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Opening our Bibles to the latter part of the New Testament, turning the pages carefully, so as not to miss the four short chapters, we discover it with the other letters Paul wrote while under arrest. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>He writes, "Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons; Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ ." Philippians 1.1-2 </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Notice that Paul begins his letter by saying who was writing --just the opposite of our letter-writing style; we sign our names at the end. He claims Timothy has the same thoughts as he does, since Timothy had been with him on his original visit to Philippi. Paul also refers to the Christian Philippians as 'saints'-those who were leading lives radically changed because of their relationship with and love for Jesus Christ. Referencing overseers and deacons, the church had clearly grown since Paul had originally founded it. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," he extends. We know that both grace and peace flow from the heart of our loving Heavenly Father, made possible through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. But there is more to this chosen expression of 'Grace and Peace.' Paul combines two greetings of his day, which is brilliant. 'Charis' is the greeting the Greeks used to begin all of their letters, while 'Shalom' is the greeting the Jews used to greet one another. Used together, we see how each is enriched by the other because of the Good News of Jesus Christ. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>'Want peace in your life? 'Want the smile of inner contentment on your face? Follow Jesus, and stick closely. And this study of the book of Philippians is sure to aid you in living with peace and experiencing joy, growing closer and closer to your Lord. Grace and Peace can only come through Jesus Christ. Amen. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>New song - God be the Glory:</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001HZy6c5tAwhE-u2ywr_75Tbvx9WG46t0hNNquqCuyHgH3iw4AGzYkIHQjSTnj631eiCI0qxLkQud-7Zagjve256zDceS64j0_pEtp38DG29Nf2tAyZ8teOUFCZXxrLC4yq26hgtHTMksSNbgHx8OWLoqCzO6Jd5EqgU7mxVtZEK4mFo57muC9Tg==&c=PBvOnnOtqQlkteTVKazjibIu9yooE5Anemt8aF_Bv5DgKoSbPurkeA==&ch=2Mg6bHHD0ZDMSfM6wORRioqqxa_GSTWWnKMf_WdnE0da86RsUVYIMA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFf2gTbM_7U</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Grace and Peace,</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span> PastorWoman.net</span></p>What to do with your anxietytag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-13:1383940:BlogPost:19350322024-03-13T13:05:13.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>No anxiety, Friend. . . God’s got you. </span></p>
<p><span>I wonder as I wonder why God said some of the things he did.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/d20138c8/what-to-do-with-your-anxiety-march-12-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/d20138c8/what-to-do-with-your-anxiety-march-12-2024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Having read the Bible since I was a little girl, I have oft wondered why God…</span></p>
<p><span>No anxiety, Friend. . . God’s got you. </span></p>
<p><span>I wonder as I wonder why God said some of the things he did.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/d20138c8/what-to-do-with-your-anxiety-march-12-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/d20138c8/what-to-do-with-your-anxiety-march-12-2024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Having read the Bible since I was a little girl, I have oft wondered why God said </span><span>Do not be afraid</span><span> so many times. I do not wonder any more. Since March of 2020, fears of different sorts have taken center stage, and for many of us, they have stayed there. We find ourselves anxious about many things, and that, on a worldwide scale.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Yet, our great God, our good God, spoke to us many times about not being afraid. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The Puritans who escaped the repressive persecution of England to worship freely in the Netherlands and then pressed on to the New World penned some beautiful prayers. In </span><span>Piercing Heaven</span><span>, </span><span>prayers of the Puritans, </span><span>one line screamed off the page at me from this morning prayer: "As you have now awakened my body from sleep, so, I beg you, awaken my soul from sin and from worldly security."</span><span>1</span><span> </span><span>Awaken my soul from worldly security</span><span>. Wow, did that resonate with me!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>There is no reason for the Christian to be afraid if our security is not in this world or what is going on around us. Our security must always be in Jesus Christ alone!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Once again, I look at my brother and mentor Paul the apostle who knows he is nearing the end of his ministry and earthly life. Before the Jews activate an assassination attempt while he is still being held in Jerusalem, the Lord comes to speak to Paul at night, which Luke records for us.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>. . .the Lord stood near Paul and said, "</span><span>Take courage</span><span>!"</span></p>
<p><span>As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome</span><span>.</span><span>2</span><span> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Did you catch it? "</span><span>Take courage</span><span>...do not be afraid." Jesus tells Paul that this would not be the end of the road for him. . . he would go on to represent Jesus Christ in Rome. Imagine the validation Paul must have felt ‘</span><span>as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so in Rome</span><span>. . .' The Lord was affirming the work of Paul's hands, an answer to the prayer of Psalm 90.17.</span><span>3</span><span> [May the favor of the Lord rest upon me - confirm and establish the work of my hands] It is the believer's prayer to one day hear, "</span><span>Well done, good and faithful servant.</span><span>4</span><span> </span><span>Paul got a sneak preview of that day.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>"</span><span>Take courage</span><span>," words meant to encourage, inspire and embolden, coupled with, "do not be afraid." Over and over, throughout the Old Testament, God told his children not to be afraid. Why? Because He was with them. David wrote, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil..." Why? "for You are with me.</span><span>5</span><span> God's presence assures and comforts us we have no need to fear. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>"Take courage," yes, take a hold of it, be courageous, for you are not alone; the Lord your God is with you, and He is mighty to save</span><span>6</span><span>, and what's more, his heart is so tender toward you, he wants you not to live in fear. Rest your case with him.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>'But, but am I wrestling with fear or anxiety--and by the way, what's the difference?' you ask.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Yes, what is anxiety, and how is it related to fear and what are we supposed to do with it? Interestingly enough, my minister at church has been doing a series on fear during this Lenten season, and this past Sunday, addressed anxiety.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>"Well if fear is what you experience when you see a lion in the bushes, anxiety is what you experience when you </span><span>wonder if there might</span><span> be a lion in the bushes. Fear is our response to something definite, anxiety is our response to the indefinite and the uncertain. While fear has to do with what's happening in the present, anxiety</span></p>
<p><span>has to do with what might happen in the future."</span><span>7</span><span> Anxiety is normal because we do not know the future, yet we want to control it. Hmmm... and yet we know the One who holds the future in his hands.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Hold on to these words of his:</span></p>
<p><span>>Indeed, </span><span>the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear.</span><span> </span><span>Luke 12.7 </span></p>
<p><span>And Jesus also says, </span><span>Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and</span><span> </span><span>God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? </span><span>Lk. 12.14</span><span> </span><span>Now listen to this--in my </span><span>Everyday Bible</span><span>, I just read in the book of Deuteronomy the animals the Jewish people were allowed to eat and forbidden to eat; ravens were specifically named as unclean,</span><span>8 </span><span>and yet, God even sees that they are fed, Jesus singling them out.</span></p>
<p><span>More? </span><span>the passage from Luke 12:</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001XEbAC8uY7933U6XWHI404OZ9l-W84K4nwWmETZZ_VxyZvaAMV5zQVMb5T1WELGFeHObXObZWVLUb5Ky0J9JUZI15Fir5z4-emtsECoKXuOP2r4BAxuRbRHHZAF5Lfz6cEd0XscCEXGqQPCuGqDVU5h6sBoaIai5kujN4_II_wMPZ4OAnfJJzWqnhcHOTv9e7chq-0iWUJhraHl01oTKmAh3oBWqYz20e&c=oxzVBfr75U2pGUKcyRSXLzBvx069BaI-aU7n9V2gRS9lCo1c2dYdIw==&ch=NehfHsapechBOI0fyZo5SDvjhrBnMtCOfa2OEnhdoD6WfJBq4FEmVA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+12.22-34&version=NKJV</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And how I love this exchange!</span></p>
<p><span>>Jesus turning and seeing a sick woman said to her, "</span><span>Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well</span><span>." At once the woman--who had lunged to try desperately to touch the hem of Jesus' garment was made well. </span><span>Matthew 9.22</span><span>. I want that kind of faith! The unnamed woman has been a hero of mine for almost four decades.</span></p>
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<p><span>What a tender Father we have. . . who wants us to fully trust in Him and his love for us. Resting there, we need not be anxious about the unknown--that which lies out of our control; we need not, indeed we must not, be gripped by fear. </span></p>
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<p><span>Your security is in the Lord alone</span><span>. In Him, ALL IS WELL; </span><span>listen to this beautiful song by Carrie Underwood and Michael W. Smith: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001XEbAC8uY7933U6XWHI404OZ9l-W84K4nwWmETZZ_VxyZvaAMV5zQVMb5T1WELGFe0fMw6JT6FKglHEbaWQemNWTPVaa_j7NQK2T7nepiX7CDsVUPAmn05ibCibc8ci8NAlVfNwXn4ByaLUVBibFoc7zUDQn2AnhwRw3z3ePLh7BD4bztWA5rwQ==&c=oxzVBfr75U2pGUKcyRSXLzBvx069BaI-aU7n9V2gRS9lCo1c2dYdIw==&ch=NehfHsapechBOI0fyZo5SDvjhrBnMtCOfa2OEnhdoD6WfJBq4FEmVA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoK-0j10Jo0</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>TAKE COURAGE. . . </span><span>God’s got you</span><span>, </span><span>rest in him.</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span><span> </span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 - Piercing Heaven, Prayers of the Puritans. Robert Elmer, Editor, Lexham Press, p. 253-prayer by Lewis Bayly</span></p>
<p><span>2 - Acts 23.11</span></p>
<p><span>3 - Psalm 90.17 - May the favor of the Lord rest up on you, confirm and establish the work of your hands. Yes, confirm and establish the work of your hands.</span></p>
<p><span>4 - Matthew 25.23</span></p>
<p><span>5 - Psalm 23.4</span></p>
<p><span>6 - Zephaniah 3.17</span></p>
<p><span>7 - Dr. John W. Yates III, Holy Trinity Anglican Church, March 10, 2024</span></p>
<p><span>8 - Deuteronomy 14.14</span></p>Remindertag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-12:1383940:BlogPost:19349382024-03-12T23:12:40.000ZLarry De Asishttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/HilarioDeAsis
<p class="pb-2 min-w-[1px]">Scriptural Readings:</p>
<p class="pb-2 min-w-[1px]"></p>
<p class="pb-2 min-w-[1px]"><em>John 10:27-28, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 13:5, Luke 10:17-20</em></p>
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<p><span>In our hectic and fast-paced lives, reminders play a crucial role. The inevitability of forgetting things is a daily challenge that affects people of all ages. It is typical to require a reminder, as forgetfulness can be a formidable adversary in our daily…</span></p>
<p class="pb-2 min-w-[1px]">Scriptural Readings:</p>
<p class="pb-2 min-w-[1px]"></p>
<p class="pb-2 min-w-[1px]"><em>John 10:27-28, Romans 8:1, Hebrews 13:5, Luke 10:17-20</em></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In our hectic and fast-paced lives, reminders play a crucial role. The inevitability of forgetting things is a daily challenge that affects people of all ages. It is typical to require a reminder, as forgetfulness can be a formidable adversary in our daily lives.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The overrated line, "Oh, I forgot," has become the exaggerated script for many. Recognizing the critical nature of remembering, we understand the significance of not forgetting. The consequence of forgetfulness can extend beyond the individual, resulting in the loss of something valuable and necessary for a select few, even if not universally.</span></p>
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<p></p>
<p><span>When we turn our backs on God, we consider that it is His will but ours. He will do everything to prevent us from turning our backs on Him, and He sealed us with His Holy Spirit. Marking us for salvation is not the only purpose. But also to be used by the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, we limit our minds to the idea that the Holy Spirit exclusively seals us and makes us Christians. But it is not so. To contain God is impossible</span><em><span>. What is factual is that our will is our priority, not His. Our agenda is to fulfill our desires, putting His will at the end of our list.</span></em></p>
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<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em>His will is for us to be holy like our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. </em></span></p>
<p><em><span>When we transgress, we do not fear the Lord.</span></em><span> We do not fear anyone or anything. </span><em><span>We say we can do it our way. Why?</span></em><span> Indeed, yes, all will still sin, but what makes the difference is that we </span><em><span>CONTINUE AND WILLFULLY SIN.</span></em><span> It is the danger of falling back into our previous situation. We do the opposite in the spiritual realm. Instead of becoming holy, we are turning back into a sinner once again. Does this make sense? Let us ask ourselves.</span></p>
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<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Our lives often require constant reminders to protect us against the wickedness of the world and to help us stay closer to God. It's not easy to remain pure and avoid sin, but thankfully, God has provided us with various tools to simplify these complex tasks. Always keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is with us, and take some time to read, study, and follow the flow of the following verses. They will remain with us, no matter what happens.</span></p>
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<p><em><span>John 10:27-28 </span></em></p>
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<p><em><u><span>King James Version</span></u></em></p>
<p><span>V.27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:</span></p>
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<p><em><span>V.28 And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.</span></em></p>
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<p><em><u><span>New Living Translation</span></u></em></p>
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<p><span>V.27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.</span></p>
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<p><em><span>V.28 </span></em><span>I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me,</span></p>
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<p><em><span>When we pray, Jesus listens to us and responds</span></em><span>, even though we may not hear His voice audibly. He has promised us eternal life, and we should be grateful for this gift. Sometimes, we may have doubts about this promise, but we must always remember that it is a promise of faithfulness that will never change. We should read His message prayerfully and consider what God tells us, as the</span><em><span> Christian faith revolves around our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.</span></em></p>
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<p><em><span>Romans 8:1</span></em></p>
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<p><em><u><span>King James Version</span></u></em></p>
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<p><em><span>There is</span></em><span> therefore now no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><u><span>New Living Translation</span></u></em></p>
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<p><strong><span> </span></strong><span>So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>As a Christian, there is a significant difference between walking in the Spirit and continuously being in the flesh. Although it is possible, the difference lies in which one rules over you. For instance, if pornography, drugs, and illicit relationships are still a problem for you as a Christian, then it means that the flesh is still in control. It is important to note that this does not imply that you are not a Christian. It just means that you are still struggling with the flesh. </span><em><span>The solution to this problem is sanctification, the process of getting rid of the flesh.</span></em></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><span>Hebrews 13:5</span></em></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><u><span>King James Version</span></u></em></p>
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<p></p>
<p><em><span>Let your</span></em><span> conversation </span><em><span>be</span></em><span> without covetousness, and</span><em><span> be</span></em><span> content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.</span></p>
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<p></p>
<p><em><u><span>New Living Translation</span></u></em></p>
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<p><span>Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,</span></p>
<p><span>“I will never fail you.</span></p>
<p><span> I will never abandon you.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><em><span>Covetousness possesses envy and greed.</span></em><span> What is happening today is that we fail to acknowledge and perform this commandment from God of getting rid of this evil from us eventually, into disregarding contentment.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>First, it starts as a commandment but eventually becomes a reminder. However, we have failed to follow both. It is a commandment that we tend to forget completely. How can we be reminded to avoid covetousness? Again, as Jesus taught us to be content, there is no other way.</span></p>
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<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Please take a moment to read this verse twice and reflect on its meaning. What do you believe God is telling to communicate to you the first time you read it? Does your understanding of the message change the second time you read it? Does His message remain the same, or does it differ? As a Christian, you may interpret this verse as discouraging prosperity because of the word contented. However, what about those who are poor? Does this mean that they should be satisfied with their financial situation? Does it also imply that they should not strive to improve their financial status?</span></p>
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<p><span>Look at the words coveteousness and contentment. Can you consider that these two words are related? God taught me a lesson in this verse, and I want to share it with you.</span></p>
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<p><em><span>God teaches us contentment, not poverty, and rewards our efforts through Jesus.</span></em><span> </span><em><span>It is an acceptance of what you have.</span></em><span> We depend on Him </span><em><span>alone</span></em><span> for our lives. </span><em><span>It is an acceptance of what you have.</span></em><span> If you have more, accept and share it. If you have less, acknowledge it, too, but it does not mean you have to stop and have the right to be better financially. </span><em><span>It is at our Father's disposal to bless us both materially and spiritually.</span></em><span> His will is always to alleviate us from our situation. I used the word alleviate because whether we have too much or less, problems will still haunt us. Rich and poor people experience the same difficulties, and having much or little in this world will not change us spiritually, </span><em><span>only Jesus Christ.</span></em></p>
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<p><span>Luke 10:17-20</span></p>
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<p></p>
<p><em><u><span>King James Version</span></u></em></p>
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<p><span>V.17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.</span></p>
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<p><span>V.18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.</span></p>
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<p><span>V.19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.</span></p>
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<p><span>V.20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.</span></p>
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<p><em><u><span>New Living Translation</span></u></em></p>
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<p><em><u><span>V.17 </span></u></em><span>When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”</span></p>
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<p><span>V.18 </span><strong><span> </span></strong><span>“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning!</span></p>
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<p><span>V.19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.</span></p>
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<p><span>V.20 </span><strong><span> </span></strong><span>But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”</span></p>
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<p><em><span>God reminds us that the only way to live a pleasing life to Him is by His grace and mercy.</span></em><span> </span><em><span>We must depend on Jesus Christ alone for our lives and our Father recognizes and rewards all of our efforts through Him.</span></em><span> Throughout our lives, the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us and work with us. Our daily routines are a part of the relationship between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - one God. Alleluia!</span></p>
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<p></p>Takes Twotag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-11:1383940:BlogPost:19354402024-03-11T13:42:18.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/32f8ba15/takes-two-romans-wrap-31024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/32f8ba15/takes-two-romans-wrap-31024</a></p>
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<p><span>Brilliant </span><span>takes</span><span> from Romans, </span><span>two.</span></p>
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<p><span>'This is one of your top three Morning Briefings ever!' an email came across my screen.</span></p>
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<p><span>While the encouragement was really great, let's face it - I was just…</span></p>
<p>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/32f8ba15/takes-two-romans-wrap-31024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/32f8ba15/takes-two-romans-wrap-31024</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Brilliant </span><span>takes</span><span> from Romans, </span><span>two.</span></p>
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<p><span>'This is one of your top three Morning Briefings ever!' an email came across my screen.</span></p>
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<p><span>While the encouragement was really great, let's face it - I was just highlighting parts of each of the first 10 chapters of Paul's life-changing letter to the Romans.</span></p>
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<p><span>And the other part was true too--I heard from many who were overwrought with our study of the book. Hence, the reason I shared striking verses from each of the chapters. Honestly, the scriptures were straight out life-giving, like you will see here from the 15th chapter! Oh, and why the pink font? Delineating from the Bible and my comments which of course are in pink.</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans 11 – Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor? Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen</span><span>. v.33-36 </span><span>My friends, these verses can easily be made a part of our prayers and praise. I love the notion of closing my morning prayer with ‘for Lord, it is from you and through you and to you all things!’ Amen.</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans 12 – Therefore </span><span>(because it is ‘</span><span>from, through, and to</span><span> him are all things)</span><span>, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God…</span></p>
<p><span>-></span><span>and because we are free in him</span><span>-></span><span>Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. </span><span>v.1-3</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans 13 – Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. </span><span>v.14 </span></p>
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<p><span>Romans 14 – Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. </span><span>v.1</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans 15 – </span><span>If you know me at all, you probably have heard me quote this verse or perhaps I even prayed it over you.</span><span> May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. </span><span>v.13 </span><span>Even on this very day, I am saying to the Lord, “God, fill me with all joy and peace because I am trusting in you, so that I can overflow with hope by the power of your Holy Spirit that is in me!” prayed with clinched jaw in all honesty, pleading for the life of one of my children. </span><span>My friends, grab ahold of this verse for yourself and pray these words.</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans 16 – Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen. </span><span>v.25-27</span></p>
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<p><span>Tap your toe, clap your hands, sing along to this:</span><span> </span><span>God So Loved</span><span>, </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0011jQn_dgKrza-gcdh1B5G2qCl7MPaq2EMjtT0L5OdvaQho6xQ-PpBCXR3rizLDm_nqeEQMZlTSiHR7ZbXk4DR_8md2aIHmb_myZghTZlu2kFIAqbDU32X9XOX8EflPjW8Sy_ncQqdlvP7vE29Ux4yVV4aPYALGS9VOw1oEhFbF33rp9eifEvlTA==&c=2mpoOdZIyXo-4qIFZilUCyZ2WngCMBhUoww8aYXb5d0R2AOQGPI3ZA==&ch=CVBPtiazzao00u6fUqxHGR6kxXzWK9YGOD61gBffUq_7AjLWfV7qnA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq5URsXbKXs</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Wisdom to live by,</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p></p>Brilliant takestag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-08:1383940:BlogPost:19350292024-03-08T16:05:15.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/450680ea/brilliant-takes-from-romans-30724">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/450680ea/brilliant-takes-from-romans-30724</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Brilliant </span><span>takes</span><span> from Romans</span><span>. March, 2024.</span></p>
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<p><span>‘Phew!’ I heard one woman sigh. And I knew what she meant—'this Romans study is finally over. It was hard--parts of it were dark and a whole bunch of it I did…</span></p>
<p>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/450680ea/brilliant-takes-from-romans-30724">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/450680ea/brilliant-takes-from-romans-30724</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Brilliant </span><span>takes</span><span> from Romans</span><span>. March, 2024.</span></p>
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<p><span>‘Phew!’ I heard one woman sigh. And I knew what she meant—'this Romans study is finally over. It was hard--parts of it were dark and a whole bunch of it I did not understand.’ While I totally </span><span>get</span><span> her thinking, I just can’t turn the proverbial page yet. </span></p>
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<p><span>The first time I taught through the book of Romans (more comprehensively than this past season), I remember feeling completely intimidated to even start; however, more study means greater understanding. And several of Paul’s thoughts are my favorites in all of the Bible. So … I propose you get a hard copy of the Scriptures if you are able and look through each of the 16 chapters and find take-aways that you want to remember.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Here is a partial list of what jumps off the pages of my Bible:</span></p>
<p><span>Romans one – I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes…. </span><span>v.16a</span></p>
<p><span>What may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. </span><span>v.20-21</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans two – do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? </span><span>v.4</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans three – This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. </span><span>v.22-24</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans four – check it out: this is Paul quoting the psalms, David specifically, from Psalm 32.1-2: Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him. </span><span>v.7-8</span></p>
<p><span>O, and I love that Paul commends Abraham for ‘being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. </span><span>Amen!</span><span> </span><span>v.21</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans five – Therefore since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… </span><span>v.1</span></p>
<p><span>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. </span><span>v.7-8</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans six – For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. </span><span>v.14</span></p>
<p><span>What does it mean to be under grace?? </span><span>stay tuned for our next study!</span></p>
<p><span>For the </span><span>wages</span><span> of sin is death, but the </span><span>gift</span><span> of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. </span><span>v.23</span></p>
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<p><span>Romans seven – I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate to do…..nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out…</span></p>
<p><span>What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! </span><span>v.15, 17b-18, 24-25</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Romans eight – Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Amen, and thank you, Lord! </span><span>v.1-2</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>for many years now, verse 26 screams off the page and shoots straight to my heart and mind: </span><span> the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>But really Romans 8.28-39 is a passage that breathes life into my soul—purpose, love, hope and overcoming! </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uzT6g5IA_Yc77ipgIM6HhlQEgb4Em2UNO78kMKPW8nj2u0LW0S4n18AAXB7ZIYK6uC8-TaglJGvyFaeIgbhEK53qSvF-MR1QG-KkumbS-yj-_2BssztaPg-H0R2xNc4M6RJ5sTLw5FJlARrdrr9pvScj5MGH9cniLbww_3Pu2QOyKhuYhW31hIkg5JuQx022MBGBftVyFRXQFBZzbowGY5DTFavEAvTB&c=SdGGrvQuQ-oanBehKjBSctLxavR5Sm1EMD2aHHBIcdRK9olQa3V6Lg==&ch=VK2KkUYG9hYkNbUGuAgbLCKOyIT6X9j6uCxmcQ95zDJIGbYXLCJxsQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8.28-39&version=NIV</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Romans 9 – It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. </span><span>v.16. </span><span>It = God’s choosing us</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Romans 10 – </span><span>at my neighborhood Bible study the other day, we were discussing how one becomes a ‘Christian’, ‘saved’, a ‘follower of Jesus Christ’ . . . here it is</span><span>: if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. </span><span>v.9</span><span> </span><span>[got it? No good works will save you, even though I’m sure you are a really </span><span>good </span><span> person] </span><span>For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. </span><span>v.10. </span><span>That, right there, is the best news you will hear all day! I pray it never gets old for you.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Tap your toe, clap your hands, sing along to this:</span><span> </span><span>God So Loved</span><span>, </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001uzT6g5IA_Yc77ipgIM6HhlQEgb4Em2UNO78kMKPW8nj2u0LW0S4n18AAXB7ZIYK6Y_oceLye3SQlVHlr-FzboF44mGswGjOpgZh7Pcf02O-TUq6x0Kq6xkWfoGGtUMGuWAWRxuFlgID2Vbxi_UxPTuIJo853mQMZ-Ir_GXoTy5V9j-Lt8homlA==&c=SdGGrvQuQ-oanBehKjBSctLxavR5Sm1EMD2aHHBIcdRK9olQa3V6Lg==&ch=VK2KkUYG9hYkNbUGuAgbLCKOyIT6X9j6uCxmcQ95zDJIGbYXLCJxsQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq5URsXbKXs</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Wisdom to live by,</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>With love from, Greecetag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-06:1383940:BlogPost:19349342024-03-06T14:37:49.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p>Today's podcast is here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/441b0b14/with-love-from-greece-march-5-2024-a-change-up">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/441b0b14/with-love-from-greece-march-5-2024-a-change-up</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Perhaps you have heard this -- </span><span>Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all</span><span>. Matter of fact, I agree with Helen Keller who made the statement; I want to wring all there is out of…</span></p>
<p>Today's podcast is here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/441b0b14/with-love-from-greece-march-5-2024-a-change-up">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/441b0b14/with-love-from-greece-march-5-2024-a-change-up</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Perhaps you have heard this -- </span><span>Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all</span><span>. Matter of fact, I agree with Helen Keller who made the statement; I want to wring all there is out of life.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Life is a gift. Making choices about how we spend our hours and days is a luxury. With each passing year, I become more and more aware of how precious is the gift of life. </span></p>
<p><span>Jesus did not say, </span></p>
<p><span> 'Friends, I have come to offer you a life of stress...'</span></p>
<p><span> 'Brothers, I gave up royalty and came to earth to </span></p>
<p><span> bring you a mediocre life.'</span></p>
<p><span> No, Jesus does not offer us a life of mediocrity, </span><span>right</span><span>? </span></p>
<p><span>Instead, he came that we </span><span>may have life, and have it abundantly</span><span>.</span><span>1</span><span> As always, Paul's words motivate me, "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise."</span><span>2</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Wise living does not just honor God, but it increases our longevity. A little research on longevity points to communities (blue zones) where people hold several priorities in common: </span><span>faith in God</span><span>, </span><span>steady, years-long relationships in community</span><span>, </span><span>maintaining a garden</span><span>, </span><span>growing grapes for red wine</span><span>, daily exercise/movement, and </span><span>a mostly-plant based diet</span><span>. Moraitis, a man from Ikarias, Greece, was the first to get my attention from a NY Times article more than a decade ago, swearing by his daily afternoon nap and a couple glasses of red wine (yes, from his own vineyard).</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Let's take the first: our relationship with God-our faith. Jesus' brilliant reply when asked about the greatest commandment: "</span><span>Love the Lord thy God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength</span><span>."</span><span>3</span><span> As we learn to love God more through personal spiritual disciplines, our faith in him grows stronger. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>></span><span>Pray</span><span> - set time apart to talk to your Father, like you do a friend, and seek his wisdom and direction daily. It is great to shoot little prayers up throughout the day, but why not start your day with a few minutes of prayer? Learn to cultivate a little solitude in your life. The psalmist wrote, "Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him, and he will do it.</span><span>4</span><span> Ask God to grow your desire for him and for his Word.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>></span><span>Read and study Scripture</span><span>. The sacred pages are fascinating and informative, worth what it takes to pull out the meaning and application for yourself.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>></span><span>Do you worship God</span><span>? Oh, how he loves that! Sure, I know you do not need to go to church to be a Christian, but why would you want to miss out? By the way, people involved in faith communities (attending/participating at least four times a month), extend their lives between four and 14 years!)</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>></span><span>Serve God by serving others</span><span>; giving of your time and physically serving is valuable in so many ways. </span></p>
<p><span>Would you like to grow in any of these areas? How so? _______________________________________________________</span></p>
<p><span>How will you make it happen?_________________________________</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Without a vision, the people perish . . . so live your life on purpose. We are in month three of a new year, so let's do some thinking and praying ... then determine how you want to finish this year with the life you have been given. Go ahead--enVISION yourself crossing the finish line, with your chest pressed out, breaking the tape--!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Let's be a little more Greek, a little more like Moraitis~</span></p>
<p><span>"This Could Change Everything", </span><span>song</span><span>:</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0015mqi7dJirNyhjw_TUTmPg_uLnKXjkfRcdJ-xvfCdJpytFqSEuBmoGyw3h4gJJ9xIUvvBhg1J8wMP42PGwpBUZ8LpG0-hd5qZPOWPPrDCU3h1SX7IyEjeAi_bdwPot6GEIJfxqAZpNB5546Wlfw_4DMx-qGRtD-RF0dMnHEP_rNbRT0zVX88OEw==&c=_nzhgV9hXtE4zW0DTJ-WcPzBGSVBiK8la2WiTUofwUhdBs1UrLMqKg==&ch=13O4x7ebVZBP-KW1DpTwggUMnWwebnc0OmlOtStiXswAtyHuPHnP1g==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQYvB46HBHE</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>p.s. - thought the longevity angle was a fresh take on considering growth in the New Year; did you find it interesting? Here's a link for more: </span></p>
<p><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0015mqi7dJirNyhjw_TUTmPg_uLnKXjkfRcdJ-xvfCdJpytFqSEuBmoG7Vb7s38iHfBni97oMx7QaK-kJ_g0QUc9i2o-2wB3H3N3WMv87yvA-9R-fVB7Cgg9DWu35plvS0qldD9FbRKoT6fKqT3KRZFqfJzyy2s-4WyLDGKcL6bczKDN9_zfJnuh1gpUe6SJLruVK3i9mDGWJY=&c=_nzhgV9hXtE4zW0DTJ-WcPzBGSVBiK8la2WiTUofwUhdBs1UrLMqKg==&ch=13O4x7ebVZBP-KW1DpTwggUMnWwebnc0OmlOtStiXswAtyHuPHnP1g==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100</a></p>
<p><span>Personally, it is not necessarily about extending my life, but feeling good, being well and thinking well during my lifetime. What do you say? Hit 'reply' and comment.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>1 - John 10.10b</span></p>
<p><span>2 - Ephesians 5.15</span></p>
<p><span>3 - Mark 12.30</span></p>
<p><span>4 - Psalm 37.5</span></p>How do you say Good Bye?tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-04:1383940:BlogPost:19351282024-03-04T13:40:34.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1fb1ece3/how-do-you-say-good-bye-romans-16-march-3-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1fb1ece3/how-do-you-say-good-bye-romans-16-march-3-2024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Letter writing is mostly a lost art today. Handwritten letters, posted in the daily mail just do not have the instant transmission like text messages and emails, and it seems we have become an impatient lot. Besides, folks can't be…</span></p>
<p><span>Listen here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1fb1ece3/how-do-you-say-good-bye-romans-16-march-3-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1fb1ece3/how-do-you-say-good-bye-romans-16-march-3-2024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Letter writing is mostly a lost art today. Handwritten letters, posted in the daily mail just do not have the instant transmission like text messages and emails, and it seems we have become an impatient lot. Besides, folks can't be bothered with pen and paper, stamps and the like.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>However, when I write letters or sign greeting cards, I love the feel of pen to paper, the fluidity and flourishes of cursive writing, and wordsmithing as well. Like most, when I close my letters, I usually do so with few words, whereas that was not the case with Paul. </span><span> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>It would be easy to glance at the last chapter of Romans and think, ‘oh, Paul is just greeting a number of folks…I can pass on that.’ But that would be a loss. We learn even more about Paul the man and his relationships from these last verses penned to the church at Rome.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>from Romans 16:</span></p>
<p><span>“</span><span>Before I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church in Cenchrea. I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many people, including me.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span> I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.</span></p>
<p><span>Timothy, my fellow worker, sends his greetings to you, as do Lucius, Jason and Sosipater, my relatives.</span></p>
<p><span>I, Tertius, who wrote down this letter, greet you in the Lord.</span></p>
<p><span>Gaius, whose hospitality I and the whole church here enjoy, sends you his greetings. Erastus, who is the city’s director of public works, and our brother Quartus send you their greetings.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul wraps up the letter and this chapter with this pronouncement:</span></p>
<p><span>Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen</span><span>.”</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And to think I usually close my personal letters with just two or three words! Note with me how Paul names and commends so many people involved in his ministry . . . wanting all to be recognized for their part. In all, Paul sends greetings to 26 individuals—six of whom were women. Women! And to think that many have saddled Paul with their notion that he was down on women . . . not at all! His first two mentions are of women—Phoebe, who was probably the one who delivered this letter to the church in Rome, and Priscilla, who labored together, along with her husband, Aquila, (who interestingly enough, is always listed after Priscilla), with Paul in several settings. hmmm.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Step a little closer and you will notice that an examination of the individuals reveals tremendous diversity in the Roman church—in race, rank and gender. Jewish, Gentile, slaves, city officials, and those from the imperial household came together in unity in this first century church. Why? How was that possible? Because as Paul wrote to the church at Galatia, ‘There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.’</span><span>1</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul warns of anyone or anything that would pull the believers away from the pure message of the Gospel. When new teaching creeps in, three questions are prudent: ‘Does it agree with Scripture? Does it glorify Jesus Christ? Does it promote goodness?’</span><span>2</span><span> (These are good questions to ask of some of the progressive thinking that is slithering into ‘Christian’ teaching today. It must glorify Jesus, or it is not Christian!) And the answer to all three of the above questions must be yes. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Be discerning … about doctrine, about people, and about good and evil. ‘Stay away from those who cause division in your midst!’ </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul passes on messages from two other people, who are noteworthy—Timothy, who had been his traveling companion and fellow ministry partner for eight years, and Tertius, who had been Paul’s pen for this letter, his lengthiest of the 13 New Testament letters.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul closes with awe-inspiring praise and tribute to God … for truly all of life, both present and eternal, finds it source in the all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful, only-wise God, who in the fullness of time, made the way for us to be with him through the offering of his precious Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Great is God's Faithfulness!</span><span> </span><span>song: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tpbq81ykc4umZllBE8iOpNo158CT4yzQaIYLjtciDRe7555PGjYISdqypP7_CECsQfXb_spQJx7BwC19S7hkBD_6avfN656eQy_yT3TorKV9a3hW0XUBiseJqaC7LAI3KMCjn_WOMreoV7aPggtkUl0rQyHbjmoTRmKB2S3u-bhf6d6KUDqiVg==&c=st5QeVEbhlkeYGU1AdbscgQDvQjYA3oLnypwZlzimxLhV4mgwmNBFw==&ch=dzxkHT1mj4BDw1U1IEil8-LOVu-3LMKT2rTgO0zXJSFSgm5_eViUBQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT0HcAr9aeI</a></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>Pastor woman.net</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 Galatians 3.28</span></p>
<p><span>2 The Message of Romans, John R. W. Stott</span></p>The most worthwhile purpose.tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-03-01:1383940:BlogPost:19354322024-03-01T14:07:25.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><b>listen to this: …</b></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><b>listen to this: <a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n xd10rxx x1sy0etr x17r0tee x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1dba1777/the-most-worthwhile-purpose-romans-15-22924?fbclid=IwAR3BCzhCkjCIAekPsWhk61hM1V_S4wkQWTuf1P3KvtZKNWUT5-nyIqejZS0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.pastorwoman.net/.../the-most-worthwhile...</a></b></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">The subject of discovering and knowing one's purpose is an important one - one to which I have devoted a lot of study, thought and teaching. As we come to the end of this brief look at the book of Romans, we clearly see that the man Paul lived on purpose. Is there something you and I can draw from him? O, I believe so.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">It is told that once when Michelangelo began to carve a huge and shapeless block of marble, he said that his aim was to release the angel imprisoned in the stone. I love that. In many ways, that is how Paul looked at men …he saw what they could be if they surrendered themselves to Christ.<span><b>1</b></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Take Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, for instance. In itself, it was quite ironic how God used Paul. The man, a Hebrew among Hebrews, striving always to be made righteous by the Law … mentored by the Rabbi Gamaliel … hate-filled persecutor of the followers of The Way—that is, any and all who endeavored to uphold Christ’s teaching--but God called this Hebrew to bring the Christian faith to the Gentiles. The Gentiles?! How so? Paul broke through with a ministry of the Word and the confirming work of the Holy Spirit, which included miracles that were wrought at his hands.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Oh, yes, Paul’s ministry was powerful! At this point in Romans 15, he launches into a mini-retrospective:</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">“Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and done— by the power of signs and miracles, through the power of the Spirit. So from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ. It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation. Rather, as it is written: “Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” Romans 15.17-21</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">We see the character of the man, Paul, revealed once again. Here we see Paul practicing what he preached, walking the ‘talk’, embodying humility in his service for Christ. All glory goes to God, as he cites the source of his power—the Holy Spirit. We do not see Paul saying, ‘yeah, it was rough—but I did it…’ or ‘look what I accomplished…’ No, Paul does not list the number of souls he had won for Christ, the various miracles he had worked, or the numerous churches he had established over his 10 years of laborious service on his three missionary journeys. What an amazing amount of ground—both spiritually and geographically—Paul had covered!</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">In one sentence, he sums up his missionary journeys—from Jerusalem in an arc all the way to Ilyricum— preaching the gospel as he went. His strategy was to evangelize the populous and influential cities, and plant churches, and then leave to others the radiation of the Gospel into the surrounding villages.<span><b>2</b></span>. And it worked.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">See, Paul saw himself as<span> </span><span><b>an instrument in the hand of God</b></span>, forever changed by the Savior, Jesus Christ. And because of that, he laid his ‘all’ on the altar … whatever else he might have done, whoever else he might have been, whatever expectations his (very) Jewish lineage might have had for him, he was fully devoted to Jesus Christ. And so, when God chose to use him, he was ready.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Paul was an instrument in the hand of God. Compelling. Attractive to me for sure.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">‘Reminds me of another story, which just might have application right here: It seems that the change in the life of D. L. Moody came when he went to a meeting and heard a preacher say: “If only one man would give himself entirely and without reserve to the Holy Spirit, what that Spirit might do with him!” Moody said to himself, “Why should I not be that man?” His spiritual legacy is renowned. Moody was<span> </span><span><b>an instrument in the hand of God</b></span>.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Paul – an instrument in the hand of God. Moody – a more recent instrument in the hand of God. Mother Teresa – an instrument in the hand of God. Billy Graham – an instrument in the hand of God.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">How about you?</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">How about me?</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><b>‘Instruments in the hand of God?</b></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">O God, show us how to be used of you,</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">fulfilling the life of purpose you have for us.</span></div>
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<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">May this song be our prayer: Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir,<span> </span><span><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n xd10rxx x1sy0etr x17r0tee x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dh1c3m8mRb8g%26fbclid%3DIwAR3Cqgfunsz2Bo_aZodboPJb28p0PNCtEifmkUKiIgpa870b5cprP9zXFeo&h=AT0DHWOrEIgvo4OF8840WzRJwhNTQ858uWbm31ZGPTnn0wCsiLMi-7V_eRyvSy6pOVO06aR5bVCJV3pvDU8lNYQISH0yjozJUamDIzQjfhwlA8CLalbDTtDMppFduYk&__tn__=-UK-R&c[0]=AT0rFk59Y4SP51owXyiYoJ4J0DKomeJx_1VNGzpTGH4ked2RkjMYbVjdroYPIJBRq5JZcai_jHsiCauHikCu0UwQmkLN5C90Xz1n6GflYq0F7Ezg5B7Ne4XuGS9pihRh1z7KJZ76xwxXTKEGP-TdaaLpW5anXUkFkcyL0DWFqcGZo6INz8_QrHycVUbHJ0ngQ0_nwT8wICUPW5gcLlmyMuAZRxc" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1c3m8mRb8g</u></a></span></span></div>
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<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><i><b>Christine</b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><b><i>Pastor woman.net</i></b></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><b>1 William Barclay, The Letter to the Romans</b></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><b>2 John Stott, The Message of Romans</b></span></span></div>Have you ever seen grace,tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-28:1383940:BlogPost:19349322024-02-28T14:41:43.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7a7928/have-you-ever-seen-grace-like-right-before-your-eyes-romans-1513%C2%A0">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7a7928/have-you-ever-seen-grace-like-right-before-your-eyes-romans-1513 </a>;</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Once he found it -- or rather, it found him -- Paul was all about the grace of God. And because he knew that without the grace of God, no one would know either hope or…</span></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7a7928/have-you-ever-seen-grace-like-right-before-your-eyes-romans-1513%C2%A0">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e7a7928/have-you-ever-seen-grace-like-right-before-your-eyes-romans-1513 </a>;</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Once he found it -- or rather, it found him -- Paul was all about the grace of God. And because he knew that without the grace of God, no one would know either hope or peace, he regularly offered the three in his writing to the people of God. I remember so clearly one day that I saw grace tangibly needed, </span><span>offered</span><span>, and then received by one of God’s children. The scene was the small historic Sanctuary, where I was holding weekly Bible studies for the street people of the beautiful, wicked city of Long Beach, 40 miles south of Los Angeles. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Yes, I remember the day our community was the scene of amazing grace. Andre, a brother, who lived in Lincoln Park, was waiting when I pulled my car up to the curb. Thrilled to see him again, I jumped out to hug him and welcome him back; you see, his return meant he felt accepted in our midst, or he would not have come a second time. Why? Andre was a Crip, who lived on the street, led an openly gay lifestyle, and was HIV positive. It was no secret. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>On that clear, cool Tuesday morning, the Sanctuary was where he wanted to be. He was looking for hope. He was looking for answers. He was looking for grace. I knew he was desperately hurting, and wanted to know where he could find God…again. At one point, I suggested we turn to Zephaniah 3.17… and then I asked the Duke of Earl if he would please turn to Andre, and read it to him. Duke donned his reading glasses, cleared his throat, and said, ‘All right.' </span></p>
<p></p>
<p align="center"><span>“</span><span>The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love,</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>he will rejoice over you with singing</span><span>.”’ </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Well Duke didn’t even get to the second sentence, before Andre burst into tears. I got up from my seat, crossed the circle, and reached out to hug him, as he was wracked with inconsolable guttural sobs. As I held him, all around the room, eyes filled with tears. It was a holy moment. That is because when the children of God can be alongside someone in his pain, and just be still in reverent silence, God is present. It is a holy moment indeed. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>When I went back to my seat, Duke put his long arm around Andre’s shoulders, and protectively supported him until he could compose himself. We all saw it--Duke extended the grace of God to Andre. And through the life-giving Word of God, Andre received grace from a God who delighted in him, a God who quieted him with his love, and rejoiced over him with singing. Ah, grace.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>“May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace,” Paul’s beginning sentiment to the Ephesians; “may God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ” - his words ending his letter to the Ephesians. Grace … in the beginning, and in the end. Freely, you have received God’s grace, freely give it away.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>And we consider now Paul’s sentiments in Romans chapter 15:</span></p>
<p><span>“May the God of </span><span>hope</span><span> fill you with all </span><span>joy</span><span> and </span><span>peace</span><span> as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with </span><span>hope </span><span>by the power of the Holy Spirit. </span><span>I memorized Romans 15.13 in the spring of 2020, as we all wondered about Covid and its destruction, about racial unrest, and all of the change swirling about us:</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I memorized it so I could pray it, even for myself: </span><span>May the God of </span><span>hope</span><span> fill me with all </span><span>joy</span><span> and </span><span>peace</span><span> as I trust in him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. And certainly for others.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And for you, oh worried soul, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."</span></p>
<p><span>Romans 15.13. Apprehend it for yourself. Make it your own.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>What Andre experienced that day in Long Beach impacted all who were present, not just him. You see, when on that rare occasion, we see grace freely offered, freely given away, and then grace taken a hold of—like a drink of cool water to a parched throat—it is never forgotten.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>"Call it Grace" the song: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001iW0X0Pwmb5Sp4csaSRiK6h7MUhc7V3Ght0UHBfEhPLPinNDfvuwFNwEIoKtDBYMuifHb__KtfoLuVbnN42ZZ2dn57ehIh3QlOZvjIcwseaXlqVT0x8VpTS1z8ZJzDhwGUBj8OXMBN_H4ou6XQGpBCgkDDUkzq_xJlKF3XVeifD7Lx4R0sWioEuBbu3TgJtZ8y7QnhFNxXs5wdb9Y9vhQJtY43oqHy4TeG-ka4fvRsys=&c=BbD6l2g7soSWDMoyi1Iwe8XM_FaJkafDP_CRDC1zvL180_Dy_X4AZQ==&ch=Blml4b9talTJDB0eSFyTyj4EnCyzzAt-QOBJyKUUnw3KpLZQUX8hhw==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAMU68NTVQw&list=RDAAMU68NTVQw&start_radio=1</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I pray you experience the Grace of God</span></p>
<p><span>and give it away too,</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>Coming back from heaven, he told me...tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-26:1383940:BlogPost:19355352024-02-26T14:27:56.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>"It’s all about the love," he said.</span><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Come and let me tell you bout a man named Michael.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f3e5936/coming-back-from-heaven-he-told-me-this-romans-14">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f3e5936/coming-back-from-heaven-he-told-me-this-romans-14</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Like yesterday, I remember it. I stepped up to the Post Office…</span></p>
<p><span>"It’s all about the love," he said.</span><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Come and let me tell you bout a man named Michael.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f3e5936/coming-back-from-heaven-he-told-me-this-romans-14">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f3e5936/coming-back-from-heaven-he-told-me-this-romans-14</a></span></p>
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<p><span>Like yesterday, I remember it. I stepped up to the Post Office window and asked, ‘do you by any chance have any lavender stamps to match these invitations? See, they are for Bible study, and women really like when things match…’you know what I mean?’ I asked without looking up.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>‘Bible study, huh?’ the postal worker asked. To which he said, ‘You know, </span><span>Heaven is a place of wonder, color, and beautiful music</span><span> …’ </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>‘Uh-huh…I need about 120 stamps,’ I said, approving of the lovely stamps he showed me. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>‘You know, </span><span>Heaven is beyond your wildest imagination</span><span>!’ </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>‘That’s what Scripture says … so, do you have enough stamps there?’ I queried, counting my money. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>‘Yes, but </span><span>when you get to Heaven, you will feel so loved… so warm, you won’t even believe it</span><span>!’ </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Okay, he got my attention, so I looked up and said, ‘Sounds like you’ve been there.’ </span></p>
<p><span>‘</span><span>Yeah, I have</span><span>,’ he replied.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Such was the gist of my first conversation with Michael several years ago. After his comments that day, I ventured, ‘Do you think you would sit down and tell me what happened to you—what you experienced?’ He hesitantly agreed, and we established a time to meet at a nearby Denny’s Restaurant. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And so began my friendship with a humble Christian man who said he had been ‘</span><span>on the other side</span><span>’, following a horrific motorcycle accident about 22 years before, which he should not have survived, and was in a coma for three weeks. In several coffee shop meetings, I asked leading questions, and he would answer … sometimes apologizing for getting emotional … sometimes having to regroup and collect himself. Whatever I wrote on my lined paper, I would go home and stack it up against Scripture---did anything Michael claimed to have experienced ‘fly in the face’ of the Word? Actually, no, it did not. I camped in Revelation 21 and 22 … and became absolutely enraptured by what we can grasp of Heaven.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Of all the things Michael said—he said that in Heaven, </span><span>everything surrounds the Lamb of God</span><span>, and in Heaven, </span><span>it’s all about the love</span><span>.</span><span>’ </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>For the Christian … whether in Paul’s day in the first century or today, it surely must be all about the love. Looking at Romans chapter 14—we should not judge our fellow believers on </span><span>non-essential matters</span><span> of the faith, but rather love them. And now, Paul takes it another step---- </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span> “Each of us will have to answer to God.</span><span> </span><span>For that reason, we should stop judging each other. </span><span>[again, Paul is talking about fellow believers] </span><span>We must make up our minds not to do anything that will make another Christian sin.</span><span> </span><span>I am in the Lord Jesus, and I know that there is no food that is wrong to eat. But if a person believes something is wrong, that thing is wrong for him.</span><span> </span><span>If you hurt your brother's or sister's faith because of something you eat, you are not really following the way of love. Do not destroy someone's faith by eating food he thinks is wrong, because Christ died for him.</span><span> </span><span>Do not allow what you think is good to become what others say is evil.</span><span> </span><span>In the kingdom of God, eating and drinking are not important. The important things are living right with God, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Anyone who serves Christ by living this way is pleasing God and will be accepted by other people. Romans 14.13-18</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Essentially, Paul is establishing a new standard. While you personally may not have an issue with a certain ‘gray area’ of behavior—things like having a glass of wine, gambling, etc. We must consider those who struggle and 'take the high road'. When Paul talks about the weaker brother here in Romans 14, he is talking about the legalist, for goodness sake! How about masks and vaccines--do you remember how divisive all of that was? and in the Church, no less. There are certainly doctrinal matters as well--things like predestination, baptism, speaking in tongues, women preaching, end-times prophecy...pre-Trib, mid-Trip, the Rapture, etc.. Friends, if these things matter to us and I do believe they ought, we must search the Scripture and know our biblical footing. But in all things, love--not arguing or divisiveness in our church or our Christian communities--including those on-line, my friends.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Why? Because as Michael said, </span><span>it’s all about the love</span><span>. Hmmm, yes.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>New song:</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001N7BQyuxfbVY9MDWi2FeqZXd2oMOhz5g4qOvFzWL0acedKV9KmJtg3MwDyWgoPjnFV-PnJVYnFtT2qo5IEdX9kwRIwt88KDelUMLE0nqcjT_2_OYkGw-fpTo_RVZsRWcUU3lTVzHkEIlJb_WbuI93XGSIm3_QgFk4gHQuG3FXhJiOMqCXhR94cw==&c=fSl5hipW_y9AxhwPkkqvISJKj1G8ZOxj68dgpugRKxZZx6Q9rMobuQ==&ch=vMDGpMRyCBVaumir0V2wDS47GOsZqxn6Zm4DOW2Vlaf6XrW2D3Si2g==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=li0kzbe9cr8</a></p>
<p></p>
<h2>My<span> </span><span>love</span><span> </span>to you,</h2>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>I hope you have one of these shirtstag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-23:1383940:BlogPost:19352272024-02-23T15:10:24.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>The mental image has </span><span>danced </span><span>in my head all week. . .</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Reading through the letter to the Romans can be challenging; understanding takes a little work, but it is worthwhile.</span></p>
<p><span>Ha, this morning I taught on Romans chapter 14 via livestream, sitting on the floor of the Salt Lake City Airport. </span><span>(no paparazzi for my glam moment) </span><span>The chapter takes some understanding of the culture of the young Roman…</span></p>
<p><span>The mental image has </span><span>danced </span><span>in my head all week. . .</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Reading through the letter to the Romans can be challenging; understanding takes a little work, but it is worthwhile.</span></p>
<p><span>Ha, this morning I taught on Romans chapter 14 via livestream, sitting on the floor of the Salt Lake City Airport. </span><span>(no paparazzi for my glam moment) </span><span>The chapter takes some understanding of the culture of the young Roman church--its pressures and peculiarities and how it yet relates to us today. But first, back to my dancing head.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Sometimes my simple mind grabs ahold of something and takes me with it... like it did this week. Paul said,</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>"</span><span>clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ</span><span>..."</span><span>1</span></p>
<p><span>a line from the middle of Romans chapter 13.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Clothe, clothe, clothe ...hmmm. My mind went for a trip to my closet, thinking '</span><span>what if I could put on a shirt that would make me like Jesus?'</span><span> Hmmm--what a concept! Like Batman's cape kinda thing? Not finding one, I went to the thrift store, bought a man's dress shirt and made my own. And I like it.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Picture an oversized man’s dress shirt that you could put right over the top of whatever else you are wearing for the day. Before you encounter anyone, you grab your ‘like Jesus’ shirt, and put it on. Get this--with the shirt comes his character.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The shirt represents so much of what we know about Jesus' kind heart and character. One sleeve has the word </span><span>SERVANT</span><span> . . . the other sleeve, </span><span>COMPASSIONATE</span><span>... across the back is </span><span>KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS</span><span>, and the shirt pocket has the </span><span>ARMOR OF GOD</span><span>, which serves as a great reminder to me, that I better put it on daily! You know, Paul talked about it in Ephesians 6--</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In random spots, kinda like large polkadots are the words </span><span>JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, and GENTLENESS</span><span>. On each cuff, the words </span><span>SELF CONTROL</span><span>. Around the collar on the inside: </span><span>TRUSTWORTHY,</span><span> visible on the outside of the collar? </span><span>FAITHFUL</span><span>, just above the antique lace I sewed.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>If we could put on a Jesus shirt each morning, it would remind us who we are, and </span><span>whose</span><span> we are. It would be a little like Orthodox Jewish men and the phylacteries they wear on their foreheads and left arms, which contain little parchment slips of verses from the Torah. Visible reminders, and statements.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Now I have never seen anyone don a Jesus shirt like the one I made, of course, but you and I could be just that intentional </span><span>EACH NEW DAY,</span><span> choosing to live in such a way as to honor God.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Because while it was an initial singular decision for each of us to place our trust in God, it is ours to intentionally follow the path of Jesus Christ each day, walking in the dust of our rabbi.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>That is the reason I so often turn my heart toward heaven and utter the words, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart--that is, let my words and my thoughts--be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."</span><span>2</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>But I still think I am on to something with this Jesus shirt. Are you in a small group? Why not make Jesus shirts together? Great talking points for your little community. MOPS? Make Jesus shirts, and then the moms can make them with their chillens'. THRIVE,OC at Megan's in California--make Jesus shirts! It is a way to think of our </span><span>character</span><span> and that of Jesus, a recalling of the </span><span>fruits of the Spirit</span><span>--do I have joy, peace, patience, kindness,</span><span>3</span><span> etc? It is a visible reminder to put on the </span><span>armor of God</span><span>, as Paul taught the people he loved in Ephesus: the belt of truth, helmet of salvation, and six more...</span><span>4</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Let's put on Jesus - whaddyasay?</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 - Romans 13.14, NIV, one phrase</span></p>
<p><span>2 - Psalm 19.14. Memorize it.</span></p>
<p><span>3 - Great check: is the work of the Holy Spirit in me shown by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control? Galatians 5.22-23</span></p>
<p><span>4 - The armor of God: Ephesians 6.10-18, </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0018V4a-ODkcA5CIidYSqen3e7Jq5tFFKyCTP34cx25WSnd1NjLSkgjw5CYJRaSIanZk-14PERaHWp73tJGX7lBngGtxVo2248ZZbOAFg-XmpG33OyH9PMQeN7R1KwsfJi_XZBvVcGRqQ9Zx4h2rptRHIjU2sq8fLs80ZrF2xZpQelttH2D4hUgqXG6U5lr8bQ-&c=WwgMc5v_F9htyl3o9RpnUhTIcPVBjt0NCshpXZ5fZtDO-7wfrDeutg==&ch=RQlle1-IdjHuTei2eTXjm2jMK2HKKiqgQTrK5kk74-Is5hbKRRVirA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/armor-of-god</a></p>Check her out - This is lovetag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-21:1383940:BlogPost:19352252024-02-21T14:13:58.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<h2><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001vsh5ZhtLAhmJWInRPfsXVdElyVC3OD2OZIvyN4vDtb3r6hTUjyWXoEKJ73SpoAiwJ_vybITeSernL3hYdzF2z67TGlcgSvtGytvRAYWFzZZeD6sGRKzMZbVOIx6DomPXJRdvhHWnuDFklpudBa5u3XE07UH4gDOUn7k3mzYinu9XJwYcUEROI-EDxhYrTEoO9O-LI4iAm7PdygQ5UUXxBAxZ4oIOjgrN&c=PM46G9S97PKimhyTtQh4rWJpj6iI7JGajJddaST4_o1bYkJEaXes8w==&ch=phPVmsVrdntHOP-W53zoRz2VmE0h92s53cg2eE_hF48TmRjP0i6fVg==" rel="noopener" target="_blank">THE STORY OF MABEL</a></h2>
<p></p>
<p><span>Since we are considering…</span></p>
<h2><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001vsh5ZhtLAhmJWInRPfsXVdElyVC3OD2OZIvyN4vDtb3r6hTUjyWXoEKJ73SpoAiwJ_vybITeSernL3hYdzF2z67TGlcgSvtGytvRAYWFzZZeD6sGRKzMZbVOIx6DomPXJRdvhHWnuDFklpudBa5u3XE07UH4gDOUn7k3mzYinu9XJwYcUEROI-EDxhYrTEoO9O-LI4iAm7PdygQ5UUXxBAxZ4oIOjgrN&c=PM46G9S97PKimhyTtQh4rWJpj6iI7JGajJddaST4_o1bYkJEaXes8w==&ch=phPVmsVrdntHOP-W53zoRz2VmE0h92s53cg2eE_hF48TmRjP0i6fVg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THE STORY OF MABEL</a></h2>
<p></p>
<p><span>Since we are considering love . . . especially loving as Jesus loved, I think of his words, </span><span>“</span><span>A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.</span><span> </span><span>By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another</span><span>.” John 13.34-35</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>This is an absolutely amazing, inspirational story about Mabel, and it's true.</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>“The state-run convalescent hospital is not a pleasant place. It is large, understaffed, and overfilled with senile and helpless and lonely people who are waiting to die. On the brightest of days it seems dark inside and it smell of sickness and stale urine. I went there once or twice a week for four years, but never wanted to go there, and I always left with a sense of relief. It is not the kind of place one gets used to.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>On this particular day I was walking in a hallway that I had not visited before, looking in vain for a few who were alive enough to receive a flower and a few words of encouragement. This hallway seemed to contain some of the worst cases, strapped onto carts or into wheelchairs and looking completely helpless. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>As I neared the end of this hallway, I saw an old woman strapped up in a wheelchair. Her face was an absolute horror. The empty stare and white pupils of her eyes told me that she was blind. The large hearing aid over one ear told me that she was almost deaf. One side of her face was being eaten by cancer. There was a discolored and running sore covering part of one cheek, and it had pushed her nose to one side, dropped one eye, and distorted her jaw so that what should have been the corner of her mouth was the bottom of her mouth. As a consequence, she drooled constantly. I was told later that when new nurses arrived, the supervisor would send them to feed this woman, thinking that if they could stand this sight they could stand anything in the building. I also learned later that this woman was eighty-nine years old and that she had been here, bedridden, blind, nearly deaf, and alone, for twenty-five years. </span><span>This was Mabel. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I don’t know why I spoke to her-she looked less likely to respond than most of the people I saw in that hallway. But I put a flower in her hand and said, ‘Here is a flower for you. Happy Mother’s Day.’ She held the flower up to her face and tried to smell it, and then she spoke. And much to my surprise, her words, although somewhat garbled because of her deformity, were obviously produced by a clear mind. She said, ‘Thank you. It’s lovely. But </span><span>can I give</span><span> it to someone else? I can’t see it, you know, I’m blind.’</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I said, ‘Of course,’ and I pushed her in her chair back down the hallway to a place where I thought I could find some alert patients. I found one, and I stopped the chair. Mabel held out the flower and said, ‘</span><span>Here, this is from Jesus</span><span>.’</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>That was when it began to dawn on me that this was not an ordinary human being. Later I wheeled her back to her room and learned more about her history. She had grown up on a small farm that she managed with only her mother until her mother died. Then she ran the farm alone until 1950 when her blindness and sickness sent her to the convalescent hospital. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>For twenty-five years she got weaker and sicker, with constant headaches, backaches, and stomachaches, and then the cancer came too. Her three roommates were all human vegetables who screamed occasionally but never talked. They often soiled their bedclothes, and because the hospital was understaffed, especially on Sundays when I usually visited, the stench was often overpowering. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Mabel and I became friends over the next few weeks, and I went to see her once or twice a week for the next three years. Her first words to me were usually an offer of hard candy from a tissue box near her bed. Some days I would read to her from the Bible, and often when I would pause she would continue reciting the passage from memory, word-for-word. On other days I would take a book of hymns and sing with her, and she would know all the words of the old songs. For Mabel, these were not merely exercises in memory. She would often stop in mid-hymn and make a brief comment about lyrics she considered particularly relevant to her own situation. I never heard her speak of loneliness or pain except in the stress she placed on certain lines in certain hymns. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>It was not many weeks before I turned from a sense that I was being helpful to a sense of wonder, and I would go to her with a pen and paper to write down the things she would say …</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>During one hectic week of final exams I was frustrated because my mind seemed to be pulled in ten directions at once with all of the things that I had to think about. The question occurred to me “What does Mabel have to think about – hour after hour, day after day, week after week, not even able to know if it’s day or night? So I went to her and asked, ‘Mabel, what do you think about when you lay here?’</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And she said, ‘</span><span>I think about my Jesus</span><span>.’</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I sat there, and thought for a moment about the difficulty, for me, of thinking about Jesus for even five minutes, and I asked, ‘What do you think about Jesus?’ She replied slowly and deliberately as I wrote …:</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>‘I think about how good he’s been to me. </span></p>
<p><span>He’s been awfully good to me in my life, you know</span><span>.…</span></p>
<p><span>I’m one of those kind who’s mostly satisfied. … Lots of folks wouldn’t care much for what I think. Lots of folks would think I’m kind of old-fashioned. But I don’t care. </span><span>I’d rather have Jesus</span><span>. He’s all the world to me.’</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And then Mabel began to sing an old hymn:</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Jesus is all the world to me,</span></p>
<p><span>My life, my joy, my all.</span></p>
<p><span>He is my strength from day to day,</span></p>
<p><span>Without him I would fall.</span></p>
<p><span>When I am sad, to him I go,</span></p>
<p><span>No other one can cheer me so.</span></p>
<p><span>When I am sad He makes me glad.</span></p>
<p><span>He’s my friend.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>This is not fiction. Incredible as it may seem, a human being really lived like this. I know. I knew her. How could she do it? Seconds ticked and minutes crawled, and so did days and weeks and months and years of pain without human company and without an explanation of why it was all happening – and she lay there and sang hymns. How could she do it?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The answer, I think, is that Mabel had something that you and I don’t have much of. She had power. Lying there in the bed, unable to move, unable to see, unable to hear, unable to talk to anyone, she had incredible power.”</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>You and I can have that power to live and love well– if only we will surrender ourselves to God and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us to over-flowing. This is what we learn from Paul as he teaches us about the Christian life in the Spirit. This is what we learn from Mabel! How good, how rich it is.</span></p>
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<p><span>Our Savior, Mighty to Save!</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001vsh5ZhtLAhmJWInRPfsXVdElyVC3OD2OZIvyN4vDtb3r6hTUjyWXoEKJ73SpoAiw9YlbCze_mHTlNcOobsIR2wF3RlvuSgZwl5GNNw7B_mPPptmLnhX3BZMeI4kxgy1Gd9v7CxaRBsCGb1BYhb7D7f1JlPfKIahvDEwiFs5ZwCPGjQcPsCW5Dg==&c=PM46G9S97PKimhyTtQh4rWJpj6iI7JGajJddaST4_o1bYkJEaXes8w==&ch=phPVmsVrdntHOP-W53zoRz2VmE0h92s53cg2eE_hF48TmRjP0i6fVg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1jmqVU4RDo</a></p>
<p><span>"Here, this is from Jesus!"</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Christine</p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Mabel</span><span> borrowed from a terrific book called </span><span>The Life You’ve Always Wanted</span><span> by John Ortberg.</span></p>how do you love?tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-19:1383940:BlogPost:19353222024-02-19T15:30:29.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
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<tbody><tr><td align="left" class="m_4531801913381874057text_content-cell m_4531801913381874057content-padding-horizontal" valign="top"><p>Listen to this podcast here: …</p>
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<tbody><tr><td class="m_4531801913381874057text_content-cell m_4531801913381874057content-padding-horizontal" align="left" valign="top"><p>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/30ac3966/do-you-love-well-21824-romans-129-21">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/30ac3966/do-you-love-well-21824-romans-129-21</a></p>
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<p><span>What I mean is … if you were to take a personal inventory, how would you fare? </span><span>[look at the following items Paul references**]</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Looking at Romans 12.9-21, I notice how counterculture are these principles--and yet, we are meant to love Jesus and also love. like. Jesus. by living this way. There is a reason the 'he gets us' ad campaign shows the unnatural/well, </span><span>supernatural </span><span>love of Jesus demonstrated for those you and I might just not 'get'--those we might look right past.</span></p>
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<p><span>Yes, you and I are the called out ones who are meant to love differently, even sacrificially.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>As for your relationships with others, Paul says:</span></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Love sincerely</span><span>. Don't just pretend. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.</span></p>
<p><span> </span><span> </span></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Love each other with </span><span>genuine affection</span><span>, and take delight in honoring each other.</span></p>
<p><span>Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.</span></p>
<p><span>I love that take on verse 10. How often do you and I honor others? What a thought.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>As for your relationship to God:</span></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Never be lazy, but work hard and </span><span>serve the Lord enthusiastically</span><span>. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Be joyful in hope, patient in trouble, and keep on praying.</span><span> </span><span>How faithful are you in prayer? Do you give up when answers do not come readily? Do you continue to trust God, and experience his peace--even in the middle of a trial? </span><span> </span></p>
<p><span> </span><span> </span></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Hmmm...</span><span>Are you a generous person? </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Bless those who persecute you. </span><span>v.14</span><span> Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.</span><span> </span><span>Hmmm... Do you enter into the joy of others and celebrate with them? On the other hand, are you willing to share others' pain--to sit with them, listen, be silent and love, maybe even offer to help?</span><span> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. </span></p>
<p><span> </span><span> </span></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>If it is possible, </span><span>as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone</span><span>. </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Paul writes,</span><span> "</span><span>Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.</span></p>
<p><span>Are you willing to let the Lord ‘settle the score’? Or do you carry within yourself the very real desire to ‘get even’? </span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>-Rather,</span></p>
<p><span> If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. </span><span>Be gracious toward those you oppose, and to those who oppose you!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12.9-21</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I find this to be an immediate ‘check’. As I type, my back is against the wall, and I need God to come and do the miraculous in a family member's life--to mercifully do the thing that only he can do. And yes, I am crying out to God, praying continually as Paul taught and also </span><span>giving thanks</span><span>, just as he taught the Thessalonians. Remembering always that God is good and his will is good as well. And in my difficult situation, I am endeavoring to </span><span>love well.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>How are you doing? As a child of God, is it natural for you to love, to forgive easily, to give generously, to live at peace with everyone? If not, give yourself again to God, and ask him to help you live and love as he does, as he wills, and as he would have you.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Then, by God's spirit, you can say, '</span><span>I love well</span><span>.' Amen.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And how worthy is He of our love? song: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001gJzz4HdSBEjvhbF38XauOCdarBWaO4NltSbDNizbyRYx8-ao1rzaQUxTwVqbFIjP2SsNL5rjF6N3f_DDghKqSYVqnRhbKeRgZ--5mLN1-Ze4Lh9hembTaJI2JM2mi258r_FgWnC2H8Q1s6wlmbnhV2SUhONYwj20JNwKG_9Q2w3IRfLrjJm-cA==&c=7vpEoYOflEyex1ZGb8osJw0b-JO07xcQP4l6SrH_dla2fqeIlNVG5Q==&ch=86WioQYaYxICWG42oJhBKfxBl1cLxpxnjlcw_vW7JNaaVcFkL7SfJQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVumVrkbq4s</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>**scripture link for today: </span><span><a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A9-21&version=NLT,ESV" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2012%3A9-21&version=NLT,ESV</a></span></p>
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</table>What's next?tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-16:1383940:BlogPost:19355272024-02-16T13:51:33.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2e3f564f/whats-next-romans-123-8-february-15-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2e3f564f/whats-next-romans-123-8-february-15-2024</a></span></p>
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<p></p>
<p><span>In a number of weeks, our Footsteps of Paul group will be on the ground in Greece in search of the man, Paul, who unpacked the gospel and taught us what the Christian life is meant to be. We will actually be in the city…</span></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2e3f564f/whats-next-romans-123-8-february-15-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2e3f564f/whats-next-romans-123-8-february-15-2024</a></span></p>
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<p><span>In a number of weeks, our Footsteps of Paul group will be on the ground in Greece in search of the man, Paul, who unpacked the gospel and taught us what the Christian life is meant to be. We will actually be in the city of Corinth where Paul wrote this letter to the church in Rome, the city he longed to visit. Unlike other letters he wrote to churches he had established, like Ephesians and Philippians for instance, he could not visualize the faces of the people in Rome, and yet we sense his passionate conviction for them to 'get' Christianity right.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In Romans 12, verses one and two, finds Paul </span><span>pleading</span><span> in the strongest terms possible for Christ followers to give themselves over as living sacrifices to God. Yes, a living sacrifice could indeed climb off the altar…of that, Paul is well aware! In reality, that is our problem, isn’t it? With our mouth, we talk of our love for God, and then we give more time and mental space to many other things before him.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In one Bible translation, Paul </span><span>urged</span><span>, in another, he </span><span>beseeched</span><span>, and here, he</span><span> begged</span><span>. Take a look at these two unparalleled verses, Romans 12.1-2, from the Phillips translation: </span><span>With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him and acceptable by him.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Don't let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>‘Present yourselves,’ Paul pleads, ‘be transformed, do not be conformed.’ God wants our commitment, he wants our dedication, and total devotion to him and his way of seeing the world—his way of doing things. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Hmmm . . . it seems we can dedicate ourselves to eating well, we can dedicate ourselves to getting more physically fit, but dedicate ourselves wholly to God? Hmmm, not so sure. Really, what Paul says God is after is surrender. The funny thing is, though, when you tell a single mom who has ‘done it all on her own’ that God is asking her to surrender herself to him, she backs up. When you tell a ‘self made man’ that God requires that he surrender his will, he bristles. Yet that is what God wants from you and me.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Are you IN? Oh, it seems the choice is easy…of course, I am IN—no one has ever loved me like God; no one sacrificed for me but Jesus Christ. To that, yes, I can surrender. Yes, I am IN … I surrender.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>‘Okay, then what comes next?' she challenged from across the room. Hmmm.... </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul answers, beginning in verse three: “</span><span>Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly</span><span>.” Romans 12.3-8, </span><span>New Living Translation</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>As fully committed to God, Paul says we must think rightly about ourselves, not thinking more highly that we ought. But in that humility, recognize that God has given each of us a spiritual gift or gifts when we made him our Lord, and with those unique gifts, we are meant to serve the community of believers, the church. Can you spell p-u-r-p-o-s-e?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Because he loved us first and gave himself for us, we can choose to love him in return, embarking on a forever relationship with him. God grows us, gifts us and commissions us to tell others about him and serve heartily.</span></p>
<p><span>Loved by God -> we surrender to him -> are gifted by him -> to serve.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>So that's it . . . that's what's next!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>a little country 'Go' song: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001hWMSKZ9WtiChVg5T-J0D6WNK2mLlt24zbSItaSyx7h1atVmEpgkHV1MLW-XiFupmcboo9X7G5fxTzKM3I2vXtWEHwQeI8IZ704C21IkxsQRXawctZ8KDNDGIWPKqNxAF9bjbQcEJFKwdp_ZGo1dd1h5Ln2WpH3pVXOqid-lcDTK7ouIT4YKOxg==&c=7IwHqjIQ--4hHVP6OGc4Ov9DcjEqo6EfONV-8SDhzqeixDhuhmWROQ==&ch=VTYO9CUUYnaBhVufgK58C4EsgeYVQozeb8QLRuNiEFNeOBhb3ccsUg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z1E2pz3Xzk</a></p>
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<p></p>
<p><span>Oh, and the April Footsteps of Paul tour? W</span><span>e have a few seats because a couple travelers had to cancel, should you like to join us.</span></p>
<p></p>Happy Valentine's Day, Godtag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-14:1383940:BlogPost:19350202024-02-14T14:31:58.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Since Valentine's Day is an opportunity to express love and affection, what kind of expression might I offer to God, the Source of true love? Hmmm.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1c6f6aa3/happy-valentines-day-god-21424-romans-121-2">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1c6f6aa3/happy-valentines-day-god-21424-romans-121-2</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Coffee in hand, I opened my Bible to where I…</span></p>
<p><span>Since Valentine's Day is an opportunity to express love and affection, what kind of expression might I offer to God, the Source of true love? Hmmm.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1c6f6aa3/happy-valentines-day-god-21424-romans-121-2">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1c6f6aa3/happy-valentines-day-god-21424-romans-121-2</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Coffee in hand, I opened my Bible to where I left off, and got my answer.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>One day, I will get to sit down and talk to Paul the apostle, who loved and gave all for God, but for now I learn so much from him. Consider with me these thoughts of his toward God:</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>For from him and through him and for him are all things.</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>To him be the glory forever! Amen.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 11.36-12.2</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Because God is the source of all things, because he loved us first, because he gave us Jesus that we might live with him forever, the best valentine we can give to our loving Heavenly Father is ourselves. But wait--there is a caveat here--we do not just offer him our leftovers, our half-baked intentions, no - it is more than that. Paul writes that we are to offer ourselves as living sacrifices.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>For millennia, God's people had offered animal sacrifices for their sins, so the people to whom he was writing would have been well familiar with the proper way of offering a lamb on the altar before God. Your attention? That lamb was not alive when it was put on the altar, so this is something different. Back to Paul, "offer your bodies as a living sacrifice" . . .</span></p>
<p></p>
<p align="center"><span>he is calling for us to offer our bodies,</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>souls, minds and spirits to God,</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>all of who we are, to live for him.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>This is true worship, Paul says. 'But wait - I thought worship refers to going to church?' 'I thought worship means the 20 minutes we sing praise songs and hymns in church?' Not according to this. Both of those notions fall short.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I am actually really taken with these three verses--the last verse in Romans 11 and first two in chapter 12. The words are so grounding and instructive. Write them out for yourself - ponder them. Here is a link to see and learn from three different translations: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tav34gwGk5LoMutQK0U0ZgLpCkOLY49Mka3VXUgJrbXkEgrmtQy8R6guDCfiXGRe0QXhMcz_2-w9NIN3e2jbuJXIUe18qHHzgUX2TsfxUdwW6TO4ITf3azW7JE_23FYrH7m-Y-BaZNIP0Z0ZhYduT34cC8VkfGinmruuB1C6_fNzmjeQ_w8biMhPlJEazQtgY1L9H3tsXxRuhr8OPCsSAR3F00cvD7S9HIrOcOQjYpHSsjn-BbbesQ==&c=DTjxMGXpbKLhws8nKlgohD_1FdTqAymYVclIfHVuhBQIvJeHtsnBUw==&ch=viEhZxwGDaFr7VWxAzd0P4Xyi8i9iNdwBMImTInr43bwoQbd0VSM3A==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011.36-12.2&version=NIV;NLT;ESV</a></p>
<p><span>[I find that when I write out the words of Scripture, I learn more.]</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>So, on this Valentine's Day,</span></p>
<p><span>->because God is the source of all that is, seen and unseen, I want to live fully for him</span><span>, just as Paul teaches us. Then he breaks it down by saying the world/the culture should not be our lord. Not social media, Fox News, Netflix... no</span></p>
<p><span>->with intention, I aim to be mindful, not conformed to the world's way of thinking or interpreting things, but transformed</span><span>/made new to live righteous and holy before God. Holy, righteous--seriously?</span></p>
<p><span>You and I can do this by fixing our gaze firmly on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, while the Holy Spirit teaches us, and helps us in our weakness, praying for us. In so doing, we will be fulfilling the will of God for our lives.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p align="center"><span>Happy Valentine's Day, God!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>May these words be your thoughts toward God: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001tav34gwGk5LoMutQK0U0ZgLpCkOLY49Mka3VXUgJrbXkEgrmtQy8R6guDCfiXGReQ-TOLcDbu_bzuNuPqRyNcUR9sVtFn6rusd9OdpE66b7VIuKqg97otsA5q-5GHxwmDy_1mQxhZT1kUPbtxpJGkL1pZoomaDl-NGFOKsZ9afId7a_EHQDGAg==&c=DTjxMGXpbKLhws8nKlgohD_1FdTqAymYVclIfHVuhBQIvJeHtsnBUw==&ch=viEhZxwGDaFr7VWxAzd0P4Xyi8i9iNdwBMImTInr43bwoQbd0VSM3A==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AwLTeMyq20</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>With love,</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>Greatnesstag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-12:1383940:BlogPost:19356232024-02-12T14:39:01.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Greatness Defined.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to the podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f93951d/greatness-romans-11-21124">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f93951d/greatness-romans-11-21124</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>What a lot of hype for today's </span><span>Super Bowl! While I hope to see my hometown Forty-Niners get the 'w', flashbacks of Montana and Steve Young, about one thing I am clear: no matter the winner, no matter…</span></p>
<p><span>Greatness Defined.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to the podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f93951d/greatness-romans-11-21124">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f93951d/greatness-romans-11-21124</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>What a lot of hype for today's </span><span>Super Bowl! While I hope to see my hometown Forty-Niners get the 'w', flashbacks of Montana and Steve Young, about one thing I am clear: no matter the winner, no matter the level of play or play calling, any level of greatness will be truly limited.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Only One is not limited</span><span> - in scope, definition, ability, knowledge, power and love.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>As we turn the page to Romans chapter 11, we see Paul consider his 'unsaved' fellow Jews once again. And in so doing, he asks questions about the ways of God. Sometimes I wonder if Paul's questions are truly his, or if they are questions he knew others would ask . . . questions the Holy Spirit who inspired his writing would know that centuries later would jump off the page at us.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Here's the thing: if you could answer all of your questions about God, he would not be eternal. If you could understand all of God’s thinking, </span><span>he</span><span> would not be </span><span>infinite</span><span>, and </span><span>you</span><span>r thinking would not be </span><span>finite</span><span>. If you could figure out all of his ways, and what he would do next, then you would not need faith, whereas the writer to the Hebrews clearly states that, “without faith, it is impossible to please God.”</span><span>1</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>There is a reason that God’s ways are often called mysterious, because his ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts.</span><span>2</span><span> Indeed, his thinking is beyond our capacity to comprehend—he is God, and we are not. So, while Paul agonized over the hard-heartedness and the arrogance of the Jews’ rejection of Jesus, in the end, he trusted God. He knew the Lord’s heart, and he trusted his ways. He knew the holy Scriptures that spoke of the Lord’s goodness. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>We saw Paul pour out his heart, expressing his anguish over how many of his Jewish brethren had spurned Jesus the Messiah. Yet, he highlights the truth of the sovereignty of God over all things. And then Paul the teacher, becomes Paul the poet, as he expresses the feelings of his heart and his own concrete thinking about God being the origin of all things. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>“</span><span>Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable </span><span>are</span><span> His judgments and His ways past finding out!</span></p>
<p><span>“For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?”</span></p>
<p><span>“Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”</span></p>
<p><span>For of Him and through Him and to Him </span><span>are</span><span> all things, to whom </span><span>be</span><span> glory forever. Amen. </span><span>Romans 11.33-36</span><span>, NKJV</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Oh yes, Paul knew the Scriptures! In this short passage, he quoted the prophet Isaiah and he quoted Job. He anchors his Christian teaching to the Old Testament truths which he had studied and loved since his childhood. Paul knew Job’s biography well--that though Job lost everything of consequence and value in his life, he trusted the heart of God. “Naked I came from my mother’s womb; and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”</span><span>5 </span><span>Ah, blessed be the name of the Lord.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>What a charge to you and me—that whatever comes our way, we can say, “Blessed be the name of the Lord.”</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul knew what it was to suffer, because he was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, imprisoned—and all for the cause of Christ. Strangely, each time his commitment to Jesus just grew stronger. O, that you and I might be like him!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>There are times when the difficulties of life defy real description, and any earthly consolation. And yet because our Lord suffered, he knows our suffering and does not leave us alone in it. He is there with us in our pain. HE GETS US. When we do not understand, he yet bids us, ‘trust in the Lord, and do good.’</span><span>6</span><span> And then in the very next verses in Psalm 37, he invites us to move still higher, still deeper: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to him, trust in him, and he will do it.”</span><span>7</span><span> For it is in him we live and move and have our being.</span><span>8</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>So with Paul, join me and say aloud, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him </span><span>be</span><span> the glory forever. Amen.” Indeed, great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised!</span><span>9</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>P.S. </span><span>--did you see the '</span><span>He Gets Us</span><span>' commercials? I confess that I did not know much about the advertising campaign, but then learned of the impact it has made . . . wow! More than 600,000 people signed up for Bible reading campaigns, more than a 100,000 found their way to local churches--these things for starters. </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001aCo5V0JkgOqeJuKRPYX_OtsdIJrSZ8BhKPunoo_TY5H8SiYZrdghf5NG3DROAMuAnbSxQeezj2kpZ0Dc7WGNH8GZRUkJvEufc0-H5onEFemYnZqaNgatFaJSdJKndWU2h3bEx2h9yt5TDfx7rqwLMQ5ebrI-c9zw&c=vJ9j2uXHWbmzYEGiuJ6zEOYaq84I4A455MDd9kUKOvcWkUnS3shkVw==&ch=8GZ8_Nrl7RC_avdKsF3kpLeOSnNK-iOnU8qcaC_g4h0dagDN2z5-0Q==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://hegetsus.com/en/connect</a><span> </span><span>It seems that our culture is increasingly wanting to know about Jesus Christ, and this campaign gives them direction on just how to do it.</span><span>10</span><span> And you? What's your part? You could ask someone at work what they thought about it . . . and then, 'well what do you know about Jesus?' and the next question and so on. Open the door. Set the table. Invite folks into a conversation--the most important one they will ever have.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Throwing it back - Great is the Lord, </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001aCo5V0JkgOqeJuKRPYX_OtsdIJrSZ8BhKPunoo_TY5H8SiYZrdghf5NG3DROAMuA_9BDfksRnUEHbSB3t337CkSzbxwazMPNLA8ptt3YACCxWXNz8aK4oc6WJhltmSMCfcvRWF7g9-2V1czq_skv2pCvZ-z2HR2ndBlwFxbRx19RJeqPtWUvpA==&c=vJ9j2uXHWbmzYEGiuJ6zEOYaq84I4A455MDd9kUKOvcWkUnS3shkVw==&ch=8GZ8_Nrl7RC_avdKsF3kpLeOSnNK-iOnU8qcaC_g4h0dagDN2z5-0Q==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVL0aka7Bho</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Just contemplate God's greatness~</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 Hebrews 11.6</span></p>
<p><span>2 Isaiah 55.9</span></p>
<p><span>3 Isaiah 40.13</span></p>
<p><span>4 Job 41.11</span></p>
<p><span>5 Job 1.21</span></p>
<p><span>6 Psalm 37.3</span></p>
<p><span>7 Psalm 37.4,5</span></p>
<p><span>8 Acts 17.28</span></p>
<p><span>9 Psalm 48.1</span></p>
<p><span>10 - great podcast that talks about He Gets Us: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001aCo5V0JkgOqeJuKRPYX_OtsdIJrSZ8BhKPunoo_TY5H8SiYZrdghf5NG3DROAMuApEKTa4JZccn_3P7DR67bAMWLjwVDwLX6fv1MrWUbBKaWhnmDlItkXuKiqzScznpSXorT-Ly1jNEdUunNH3HKChaZod4MXGtrDAFF-MNMCXuQxXnkCRmdKw==&c=vJ9j2uXHWbmzYEGiuJ6zEOYaq84I4A455MDd9kUKOvcWkUnS3shkVw==&ch=8GZ8_Nrl7RC_avdKsF3kpLeOSnNK-iOnU8qcaC_g4h0dagDN2z5-0Q==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpD9up9XHPY</a></p>Because we need it . . .tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-09:1383940:BlogPost:19356192024-02-09T14:07:22.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><i><b>Grace, freely given.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">podcast:<span> …</span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><i><b>Grace, freely given.</b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">podcast:<span> </span><span><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n xd10rxx x1sy0etr x17r0tee x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1f6db958/because-we-need-it-grace-romans-1014-15-20824?fbclid=IwAR1xzAU9UpxhKfdY7Bi1XBrUcUszDHgh4pb7c9EFGbuZzh7WeZmM3IAi7f0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.pastorwoman.net/.../because-we-need-it-grace...</a></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Saturday morning, I returned to my car after working out at the gym, and saw a text message on my cell phone. “Please Christine--my best friend’s mother is dying; she may not make it through the night. I am driving to see her and the family, and pray with them. I do not think she knows God. Can you send me some verses and something to share with her?”</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Of course, since I am no stranger to bedside prayer and visitation. It is a sweet time, an intimate time. I put together some Scripture and suggested prayers, and sent them off. I prayed along with my friend that the mother would be coherent enough to hear what my buddy had to share with her, and then continued to pray for him throughout the day and into the evening. About 10 p.m., I got a text message from him that our prayers had been answered…she had heard him, and the whole family had been comforted as well. I just had to call and hear more—he was exhausted, but jubilant, realizing what God had used him to do. God had used him to extend His grace to the dear woman, bringing her and her family the peace of God.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">And so we consider Paul’s words:</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">We urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">now is the time of God’s favor,</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">now is the day of salvation from 2 Corinthians 5</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">God’s grace is in vain if man does not take a hold of that grace . . .</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">But it may still be in vain if we do not give God’s grace away, because then apparently, it has not made enough impact on us that we would want to share it with others! In some way, we have failed to recognize how desperate we are without the grace of God, and how it can radically change everything in our lives. Grace is God’s gift to us, and we must see the need in sharing it with others; we must look for ways to give God’s grace away.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">“I believe that dispensing God’s grace is the Christian’s</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">main contribution.” Philip Yancey</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">One way we dispense God’s grace is by</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">telling others how our lives have been changed by him.</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">So often, we think that people do not follow God because they are not interested; truthfully, many have never heard. Yes, more and more, even in America. I shall never forget when I asked a neighborhood friend who was attending my Bible study what she thought about Jesus. “Well really, I am new to all of this.” Thinking she meant ‘new’ to Bible study, I asked, “Did you grow up with faith?” “No, and actually, this is the first time someone has told me about Jesus, and what he did.” I probably did not guard my shock very well. Oh Friends, we must share what we know and have experienced!</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">“But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10.14-15</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">How else can you offer God’s grace, especially when unsure of what to say?</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Let’s say it is a work colleague, or a parent on your boy’s basketball team,</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">or a neighbor who is going through a difficult time…</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">~Pray faithfully for the guy</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">~Invite her to some place she will hear of God’s wonderful works …</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">~Extend kindness and generosity to him</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">~Care genuinely about him, and what he cares about</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">~Be quick to forgive, ready to believe the best in others</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">I’m sure there are a myriad of other ways to extend the grace of God to other people. The main thing is to start thinking about it, and then begin to do it. Let us not take God’s grace in vain. Come on--let’s grow in it, then let’s let it overflow from us to others . . . what do you say? Let's tell them about Jesus!</span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">Amazing Grace, the song:<span> </span><span><a class="x1i10hfl xjbqb8w x1ejq31n xd10rxx x1sy0etr x17r0tee x972fbf xcfux6l x1qhh985 xm0m39n x9f619 x1ypdohk xt0psk2 xe8uvvx xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r xexx8yu x4uap5 x18d9i69 xkhd6sd x16tdsg8 x1hl2dhg xggy1nq x1a2a7pz xt0b8zv x1fey0fg" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogxLNlgKM8c&fbclid=IwAR2lSMfM6xtac9iPKlljkvWK4Ss_wLzJv1juiI3VS2M87Up7KMoYlw9WyHA" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><u>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogxLNlgKM8c</u></a></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u"><span><i><b>Christine</b></i></span></span></div>
<div class="x1e56ztr"><span class="x193iq5w xeuugli x13faqbe x1vvkbs x10flsy6 x1f6kntn xvq8zen xo1l8bm xzsf02u">PastorWoman.net</span></div>Saved?tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-07:1383940:BlogPost:19355172024-02-07T14:25:47.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
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<tbody><tr><td class="m_-7663146668984070375text_content-cell m_-7663146668984070375content-padding-horizontal" align="left" valign="top"><p><span>Have you been </span><span>SAVED? </span><span> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2135c0b5/saved-romans-101-10">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2135c0b5/saved-romans-101-10</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Growing up in the Baptist church, I heard folks say things like, “I was saved when I was 12 years old,” or “Where did you get saved?” or “I am praying that he will be saved.” In every case, they were talking about when (or if) someone came to faith in Jesus Christ. But somewhere along the line, the word “saved” has gotten a bad rap. Is it because people associate it with loud, finger-pointing televangelists? Perhaps. Is it because people think of ‘getting saved’ with legalism or judgmental religious behavior, or God forbid, hypocrisy? Hmmm.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>No matter, it is important for us to get this right. Jesus explained to the Jewish religious leader, Nicodemus, what it meant to be born again.</span><span>1</span><span> In almost the same breath, Jesus said, “</span><span>For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him</span><span>.”</span><span>2</span><span> ‘See the word ‘save’? Hmmm... And don’t forget that ‘Jesus, J-e-s-u-s’ was not the given name of the Messiah. Jesus is the ‘English-ized’ (anglisized) name for the Aramaic name ‘Yeshua,’ meaning simply, the source of salvation.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul continues his heartfelt sentiments to the Roman church in chapter 10, expressing his earnest desire that his Jewish brethren be saved:</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>“Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be</span><span> saved</span><span>. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>For Moses writes that the law’s way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith’s way of getting right with God says, “Don’t say in your heart, ‘Who will go up to heaven’ (to bring Christ down to earth). And don’t say, ‘Who will go down to the place of the dead’ (to bring Christ back to life again).” In fact, it says,</span></p>
<p><span>“The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.”</span></p>
<p><span>And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: </span></p>
<p><span> </span><span>If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord </span></p>
<p><span> and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, </span></p>
<p><span> you will be saved</span><span>. [powerful!]</span></p>
<p><span>For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are</span><span> saved</span><span>.” Romans 10.1-10 </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>“Thank you, Brother Paul. That seems so straightforward. Now may I ask you a couple questions about this ‘saved’ thing? Do I need to go to a synagogue or a church to, as you say, be ‘saved’?”</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>“No? Well then, how do I get saved? Or as Nicodemus put it, how can I become ‘born again’? And is that the same thing that people say today, ‘asking Jesus to be my personal Savior’?” </span></p>
<p><span> [sidebar: “Personal Savior”? Really? Is that like a</span></p>
<p><span> Polly Pocket doll that I can carry with me? Can I</span></p>
<p><span> buy clothes for him somewhere? </span><span>[smiley-face emoji here]</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Oh this terminology has been so misused and misunderstood! It does not say anywhere in Scripture that you ‘must receive Jesus as your personal Savior’, but when we make a personal decision—not one made by our parents or anyone else—an individual decision, to invite Jesus to lead our lives …. Well then, we enter into a friendship with the living Lord, and that, my friends, is personal!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Cool! Where do I go to sign up? Do I need to call in, or fill out an entry form? Paul had it right 2000 years ago—</span><span>confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…</span></p>
<p><span>Just tell God,</span></p>
<p><span> “I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was,</span></p>
<p><span> That I need what he did for me on that cross, </span></p>
<p><span> and that through him, I can know you, God. </span></p>
<p><span>Please forgive me of my sins and</span></p>
<p><span> help me learn to follow you. Amen.”</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>Did you pray that prayer? Well then… Yes! Yes, you 'got </span><span>saved'</span><span>.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I Got Saved</span>, the song<span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001qPTbZZRqpwVSVj_tnqJ_rSmghm243IFpk68jMyPBV3rD92XN28-dy9o5FH2JjUsdlVfTwzJyWoLwPdy4gpJQMfRAkX88rUdZtB-cEtZTVQRASopjPDBU4BqUnyQHZR_VExjMovXbhsbNf_5u8TfiYut4bxOsIXqkGwE5oLfpCyGpigkehV-maQ==&c=eDDdUr-kWcu6hwdVxB8rUOzN5DNHa1r69cY52jzMweEJV5u7XAtPsQ==&ch=9CFr5DBGm-jaF9tloc4rKrCNL3JAKvOae56qnFT6rfoh7kHKYX2imw==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9UdI0CXbm0</a>. says it all!</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>
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</table>Let's make this day great!tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-05:1383940:BlogPost:19351162024-02-05T14:26:52.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Mindset is just about everything. So what is your mind </span><span>set</span><span> on?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f734f73c/lets-make-this-day-great-2042024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f734f73c/lets-make-this-day-great-2042024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>When awakening, </span><span>if we think about it, </span><span>we have a choice about our thoughts. As a small child, (okay…</span></p>
<p><span>Mindset is just about everything. So what is your mind </span><span>set</span><span> on?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f734f73c/lets-make-this-day-great-2042024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f734f73c/lets-make-this-day-great-2042024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>When awakening, </span><span>if we think about it, </span><span>we have a choice about our thoughts. As a small child, (okay maybe as a fully grown woman too), I remember waking up and thinking 'what do I have to be excited about today?' Once I hit on what it was, I was ready to set about the business of the day. hmmm.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And now, what do I think about? I think about my thoughts and my attitude at the start of the day. So morning after morning, </span><span>before my mind can run away with what is wrong, </span><span>I choose to think what the psalmist did,</span></p>
<p><span>This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!</span><span>1</span></p>
<p></p>
<p align="center"><span>And then I grab my hot cup of Italian Roast and my Bible</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>and start my day with Jesus.</span></p>
<p><span>Because I have recently been asked how and what I pray, it is something like the following... oh, and I write my prayers daily as I have a </span><span>squirrel</span><span> problem.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Here you go, Hailey. You could pray like this:</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Dear loving Heavenly Father,</span></p>
<p><span>Hear my prayer for I will be ‘less than’ today if I do not connect with you. You are my strength…my rock, my fortress, and my savior ~ my protection.</span><sup>2</sup><sup> </sup><span>You are God, my only safe haven.</span><span>3</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Search me, O God and know my heart…point out anything in me that offends you,</span><sup>4</sup></p>
<p><span> </span><span> </span><span>[be still a moment… is there anything you should say ‘sorry’ for?]</span></p>
<p><span>I know that the psalmist said you will not hear my prayer if I have sin in my heart,</span><span>5 </span><span>so forgive me, Lord, and create a clean heart in me, O God.</span><sup>6</sup></p>
<p><span>Fill me afresh with your Holy Spirit.</span><sup>7</sup></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Lord, I ask you for your wisdom; help me to see things as you do. Would you bless my life as well, and let me be a blessing to someone else today? Rather than worrying about disturbing trends and occurrences, remind me to hit my knees and pray--and by all means, to guard what I watch and listen to!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I pray for those who are far from you, who do not even know they are lost without you. O God, draw them to yourself, I pray. Put someone in their path today to speak of you please. </span><span>[say their names]</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I pray O God for those who need your healing touch today. </span><span>[names] </span><span>You are a miracle-working God who commands us to pray continually because you are listening, you never forget our prayers and you love us. You never grow weary of hearing from us and you do not fall asleep on us either.</span><span>8</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>God, I lift up those who need your protection </span><span>[names]</span></p>
<p><span> I lift up those who need your strength and peace</span><span> </span><span>[names]</span></p>
<p><span> I lift up those who are grieving and lonely </span><span>[names]</span></p>
<p><span> I lift up those who are caught in addiction…set them free! </span><span>[names]</span></p>
<p><span>I pray protection for our military men and women--</span><span>[names]</span></p>
<p><span>I pray for all of those poor people in Israel, Gaza . . . Ukraine ... O God, help.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And for our country, I pray - O God, draw people back to you! Forgive us for how we have turned our backs on you and your ways. Draw our president and vice president and other elected officials to yourself, soften and change their hearts, Lord God, to see things as you do. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Lord, I commit myself to you. I want to honor you God, with my thoughts and words and deeds. “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”</span><span>9 </span><span>Help me be a little more like Jesus today than I was yesterday.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>And now Lord, I just gotta look around and say thank you. Lord, I thank you for my eyesight, my hearing and my mind. Lord, I thank you for Heaven, freedom, the Word of God, ______, ______,_______.... Remind me all day long to thank you for the good things I see and people I encounter--cause me to be a grateful person, dear Lord. Remind me to give thanks in all circumstances because I know this is your will for me.</span><span>10</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Okay, well I guess that is all for now, God. Thank you for hearing my prayer--and thanks that I can pray all of these things in the power that is in the name of Jesus, Amen! Talk to you later, Lord, I am sure of it.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>"Talking to Jesus"...listen: </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXsxw1fRHMA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXsxw1fRHMA</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Talking to Jesus draws us closer to him and makes us better people too,</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p></p>
<p><sup>1 - Psalm 118.24</sup></p>
<p><sup>2 - Psalm 18.1-2</sup></p>
<p><sup>3 - Psalm 43.2a </sup></p>
<p><sup>4 - Psalm 139.23-24 </sup></p>
<p><sup>5 - Psalm 66.18</sup></p>
<p><sup>6 - Psalm 51.10a</sup></p>
<p><sup>7 - Ephesians 5.18</sup></p>
<p><sup>8 - Psalm 121.4</sup></p>
<p><sup>9 - Psalm 19.14</sup></p>
<p><sup>10 - 1 Thessalonians 5.18</sup></p>She said she did not like Paultag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-02-02:1383940:BlogPost:19354162024-02-02T14:23:56.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>A Look at Paul’s underbelly. Romans 9.1-5</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2ee43c1b/she-said-she-didnt-like-paul-that-was-before-she-saw-this-2124-rom9">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2ee43c1b/she-said-she-didnt-like-paul-that-was-before-she-saw-this-2124-rom9</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>On Tuesday morning, while our little neighborhood Bible study group was meeting, I got distracted by the…</span></p>
<p><span>A Look at Paul’s underbelly. Romans 9.1-5</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2ee43c1b/she-said-she-didnt-like-paul-that-was-before-she-saw-this-2124-rom9">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/2ee43c1b/she-said-she-didnt-like-paul-that-was-before-she-saw-this-2124-rom9</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>On Tuesday morning, while our little neighborhood Bible study group was meeting, I got distracted by the cutest thing out the window.. Somehow a squirrel had gotten himself up on our deck rail, standing on his hind legs, eating out of the bird feeder. Now squirrels eating birdseed is not unusual, but what I saw was---his underbelly had lateral stripes from top to bottom. I couldn't look away!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In our last Morning Briefing, we saw how plainly, how passionately Paul articulated the value of God’s love in his life . . . and that, no thing and no one would ever separate him (or us) from the unconditional, all-consuming love of God. Reading further, I have to ask myself if Paul was crazy, as he now says he would be willing to forego his relationship with God . . . IF it would mean that the Jewish people would come to saving faith in Christ. </span><span>Let go of his relationship with Jesus Christ?</span><span> Let go of the unfailing love in which he trusted? Yes. That is how much the salvation of the Jews meant to him! </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Embarking on chapters 9 through 11 is a whole different journey than where we've been. As we turn the page to Romans chapter 9, you can see how Paul’s mood changed from one of joyous elation to furrowed brows and deep concern, exposing his tender underbelly. History seems to indicate that Paul was dictating this letter . . . and you can almost see him, full of emotion and joy over God’s life-giving love, then shifting to worry about his Jewish brothers and sisters’ spiritual fate. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen with me:</span></p>
<p><span>“</span><span>I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, the people of Israel.”</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Wow! Such love . . . such empathy. And then Paul shifts to explain the ‘chosen-ness’ of the Jewish people by highlighting eight different elements God bestowed on them:</span></p>
<p><span>1. “Theirs is the adoption to sonship” – they were children of God</span></p>
<p><span>‘You are the sons of the Lord your God.’ Deuteronomy 14.1</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>2. “theirs the divine glory” – The splendor of light (glory) when God was visiting his people—which was recorded numerous times in the Old Testament. Exous 16.10, et. al</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>3. “the covenants” – Again and again, God pursued Israel to enter into agreements with her; ours is not a God who is far off.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>4. “the receiving of the law” – God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses; therefore, Israel could never plead ignorance about what the Lord expected of her.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>5. “the temple worship” – Through the Temple, God had given the Jews a direct route to himself. Any distance was on the part of the people, not their God.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>6. “the promises” – God had made promises to Israel; he told them what was in store for them, so they knew their destiny. They knew that God had great things planned for them.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>7. </span><span>“</span><span>Theirs are the patriarchs” – The Jewish people had the tradition and history of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph . . . a rich heritage indeed!</span></p>
<p><span> </span></p>
<p><span>8. “and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised!</span><sup> </sup><span> Amen.” Romans 9.1-5</span></p>
<p><span>What shall we say then? God sent Jesus through their bloodline. Yea, the promises were fully culminated in the promised birth of the Messiah, prophesied by Isaiah some 700 years before his birth. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Do you remember being a child and making your parent(s) angry? It wasn’t a good feeling, and might have even put a little fear in you. But do you ever remember hurting the heart of your mom or your dad? Or, let someone else hurt your mom’s feelings? And, man, you were ready to draw blood! That is what we sense in Paul here—his heart hurt because the heart of God was broken over Israel’s spurning of his love. And he hurt too as he thought of so many who would die without God. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>O, that our hearts would break with what breaks the heart of God! ‘Never seen this side of Paul, now have you? The Commission: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001Gut_M7wKx8nONeAcUSD_uUNv7EERos_-zN5prmmIscUVp8L2v5XBV5_Pdy9kJtv9C0UMtgYWqpW26KgDEQ8OV2whfFBIqMhmhMTcNBQFmGA7rF0FphjBPciWct4qJIAP4EGbJopnTqV6dxk2oivVmXqSKf4ZOTPZaD5akJMlesBEsEqYeOtbiQ==&c=NFYqhZU8Wc8dvyoEBqegHr5YDvvMOKbA8TPsFTEv9xVkmTwK9caKjg==&ch=dFkDaFPbaUPQUey7vfnm7SVBu9ZHcdDKKAYJzy3cpXIqhu5aVGjpOg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APATH3ea-D0</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>Hey New York, here is how we know...tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-01-31:1383940:BlogPost:19356122024-01-31T14:28:13.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
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<tbody><tr><td align="left" class="m_-2750095351916691082text_content-cell m_-2750095351916691082content-padding-horizontal" valign="top"><p><span>"So, what?"</span></p>
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<p><span>Listen…</span></p>
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<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/29f8c356/this-is-how-we-know-romans-826-28-34-35-39">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/29f8c356/this-is-how-we-know-romans-826-28-34-35-39</a></span></p>
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<p><span>A question I oft ask myself when some great statement or platitude is offered. What implications does it have?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In the last Morning Briefing, I stated that </span><span>knowing God is FOR us</span><span> is the best news we would hear all day. But is it? What difference does it make?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>You see, I could picture my reader, a trial attorney by trade, stepping back from the judge, gesturing to his opponent--'Come on, Counselor, what different does that really make? I mean, come on, you saying God is, what did you say, 'for me' is a game changer... get serious with the good people of New York right now.'</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>As the defendant's attorney, I am happy to proffer the evidence for such a claim.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>'Your Honor, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I will demonstrate to you the basis on which I stand.'</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Here it is. Paul, writing to the Christians in the church at Rome makes a bold statement: God is FOR US. And then he does such a Paul thing--he gives three truths that scream off the page, that have application for you and me today. These things reveal that God is not just interested, but also involved in our lives. Because why? Because God is FOR us.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>></span><span>The Spirit, that is, the Holy Spirit. helps. us. when we are weak</span><span>. Romans 8.26</span></p>
<p><span>Stop. What challenge are you facing? What is breaking your heart? Are you worn out? God is FOR you. We know this because the Holy Spirit of God helps us when we are weak.</span></p>
<p><span>-->one way he helps us is that </span><span>he </span><span>prays/intercedes for us</span><span> with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>What's more is that</span></p>
<p><span>></span><span>Jesus Christ, who sits at the right hand of our loving Heavenly Father, prays for us</span><span> as well. [wouldn't you just love a snapshot of what that looks like--right now, today? mmm, mmm, mmm. God is so great. I mean seriously - for some of you who are trying to beat Covid again, others who do not know how they will pay the bills, one who has fractured vertebra, still another who is recovering from a crazy serious back surgery, others who are trying to figure out a medical diagnosis ... could you just stop a moment and picture Jesus praying for you by name? ('your name? He knows it well because it is written on the palm of his hand-Isaiah 49.16)</span></p>
<p><span>Yes, </span><span>God is FOR you.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Another evidence that God is FOR us is the promise of Romans 8, verse 28.</span></p>
<p><span>></span><span>God works all things together for good for his children</span><span>. Paul writes, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." The promise of the redemption of all that has </span><span>come before</span><span> in our lives--struggle, hardship, even pain and loss. Our great and good God can redeem it all, if we but submit it to him. O, what a gift is this truth! Nothing is lost, nothing is irredeemable in God's economy.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul finishes out this portion of his letter to the Romans in most emphatic terms—expressing that</span></p>
<p><span>></span><span>NO ONE and NO THING can ever separate us from God’s love.</span><span> Take a look:</span></p>
<p><span>“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:</span></p>
<p><span>“For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” </span><span>[from Psalm 44, where the psalmist refers to Israel’s suffering as a nation ... again, another timeless message]. </span><span>No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.</span></p>
<p><span>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.” Romans 8.35-39</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>So if you are wondering about what God thinks of you . . .</span></p>
<p><span>remember that </span><span>God is FOR you</span><span> and nothing can separate you from his incredible love for you. Dang, that's good news. Listen: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001idkAL2jZGcl3gg6Uofty-M969MnTKhCGbJYIh-SnqMF1xz8VLHPvvOSoGu2oYisOxSPsqboEL45n-3Nq9UpsOVZVZFRmEYbbWVIAZtcyeSnnHkohMLgmB9x2ix-kJU2U1SFMyuPFtnYXSLQ8Y43oc4klK0Ix8bxsA7U1tjr2OG5W8KDfuY_65g==&c=A1CrfUtELaU5JoIPnKYHBP-mR6R4k-LRXSE0S3S3lOTHzgjhL-4yYA==&ch=xczfm81Wd-6kI_PENZYHMPD3WQyVyOhZYuHl6obCvDUtmERh7ZgnZA==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqQPkEy0tLc</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>A lot of people want to talk about all that is wrong with the world. So, what?! Let's consider how being loved by God changes how we look at the world, the people around us and how we choose to live each day, no matter what.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Amen!</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>
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</table>This is life givingtag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-01-29:1383940:BlogPost:19354112024-01-29T14:18:07.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>But first . . . a little context for this radical message.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/35649253/this-is-life-giving-28-january-2024-romans-831-34">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/35649253/this-is-life-giving-28-january-2024-romans-831-34</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The subject was friendship. I was speaking to a group of women,</span></p>
<p><span>describing the nature of a true…</span></p>
<p><span>But first . . . a little context for this radical message.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/35649253/this-is-life-giving-28-january-2024-romans-831-34">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/35649253/this-is-life-giving-28-january-2024-romans-831-34</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The subject was friendship. I was speaking to a group of women,</span></p>
<p><span>describing the nature of a true friend. </span></p>
<p><span>A true friend is</span></p>
<p><span>someone who says to another</span></p>
<p><span>I am FOR YOU.</span></p>
<p><span>I will cheer you on,</span></p>
<p><span>I will believe the best in you,</span></p>
<p><span>I will release you of my expectations of you,</span></p>
<p><span>I will pray for you,</span></p>
<p><span>I will hold you close in my heart, but not demand you be close at my side,</span></p>
<p><span>I will show up for you if you need me,</span></p>
<p><span>I will keep your confidences …</span><span> </span><span>1</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>To be FOR someone means I try my best to identify with him, celebrate his victories and mourn his setbacks. It means I deeply and sincerely wish him well. At its utmost, if I am FOR someone, it means I would get in the trenches and fight for him, sacrifice for him, and yes, I might even give my life for him.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>God is that kind of friend -- God is FOR us. What's more--our Father is that kind of God.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Again, Romans chapter eight:</span></p>
<p><span>“</span><span>What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us</span><span>.” Romans 8.31-34</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>That one line surely must scream off the page at you, doesn’t it?</span></p>
<p align="center"><span>If God is for us, who can be against us?</span></p>
<p><span>Rightly understanding this truth changes everything. If God is for us, who can be against us? We know ‘God is for us’ because he gave up his Son for us, which, if he did that, then he will graciously give us all that we need. God has chosen us, and then justified us, (made us right with him), so no one can condemn us. Jesus died for us, rose again, sits next to his Father in Heaven, and prays for us. Oh yes, I would say that God is FOR US!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Interestingly enough, any Jew who knew the Scriptures well, would identify with Paul’s wording about God ‘not sparing his own Son, giving him up’. ‘See, that was what God had said about Abraham in Genesis chapter 22, “You have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” Do you see how brilliantly Paul constructed these several verses? </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Packed with meaning, the gospel in brief, the heart of God displayed, and a clear way that Jewish Paul spoke to the heart and mind of the Jewish reader, in the first century until today.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Since our God is FOR us, no one can condemn us . . . is that true? Many of us forget that, and allow others to condemn us in various ways. We let others wag their long finger at us with the harsh sting of criticism, the shaking head of disapproval, the regular reminders of our failures; and the result is that it affects our thinking and we lose sight of what God thinks.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Regularly, I am reminded of Jesus' teaching in John chapter 10. Ever the brilliant teacher, master of the word picture, Jesus describes himself as our Good Shepherd </span><span> </span><span>who lays down his life for the sheep.</span><span>2</span><span> Whereas the enemy</span><span> </span><span>comes only to steal and kill and destroy, </span><span>Jesus comes to give us abundant life,</span><span>3</span><span> a rich and satisfying life.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Along with David, I shall add to my daily prayer this recognition, "Lord, </span><span>You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore</span><span>.</span><span>4</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I ask you, if God is for you, then who can be against you? </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Goodness Gracious, will you listen? </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pM3jUb4C2tyduZzu80NEMwbZyQvgyt-_l9A-Q5k453FHrvQET_7dexvC5RyuanYqZT2dN8dBezbw7AHtQdMMliha6uLv2fQDQcq_nxcNGRLTMrtWemn8taTte32hFScTL15nT3iGy1lMD5sSV-wX628gntujUf-adOYR9FYRi9MJGc0BSYhEeA==&c=VuB7AGFrx51Zv-DOtsnh_ksvWwFFdNEZhCs8VtRnwvKdYKfCTgi5Bw==&ch=6j9KFtY1S9R3VkPfd9kJ5gd8ZhF9u4ytJNppvKxYW9ufHNqrBMyM2A==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcfzM8yMaW8</a><span> </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>God is for you.</span></p>
<p><span>Christine DiGiacomo</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p></p>
<p><sup>1 - from a study I wrote called “Becoming the Friend You’d Like to Have” … also the subject of Women’s Retreat!</sup></p>
<p><sup>2 - John 10.11</sup></p>
<p><sup>3- John 10.10</sup></p>
<p><span>4 - Psalm 16.11, ESV</span></p>Does groaning have a place in our lives?tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-01-26:1383940:BlogPost:19351102024-01-26T14:38:07.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Three Things that Groan. </span><span>Romans 8.18-28</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/faac222c/does-groaning-have-a-place-in-our-lives-romans-8-12524">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/faac222c/does-groaning-have-a-place-in-our-lives-romans-8-12524</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>But those three things lead us to a place of great hope.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Things come in threes. Some say…</span></p>
<p><span>Three Things that Groan. </span><span>Romans 8.18-28</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/faac222c/does-groaning-have-a-place-in-our-lives-romans-8-12524">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/faac222c/does-groaning-have-a-place-in-our-lives-romans-8-12524</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>But those three things lead us to a place of great hope.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Things come in threes. Some say good things come in threes, others 'bad things come in threes'. Yesterday, today, tomorrow--tic-tac-toe--Father, Son, Holy Spirit; in baseball—three strikes, three bases, three outfielders, and so on. Again, I look to Paul’s observation that in our life, there are three things of which we ought be aware, things that </span><span>groan</span><span>. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>From Romans chapter eight:</span></p>
<p><span>“</span><span>Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope,</span><span> </span><span>the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. </span><span>” v.18-22</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thing number one -</p>
<p><span>(1) Creation groans</span><span>. Creation groans because, though it did not ask for it, when the first humans chose to rebel—chose to sin—and the sin condition entered the world, it did not just mean that men would physically die, but that all of creation would be corrupted as well. “Cursed is the ground because of you,” God said to Adam; while Adam sinned voluntarily, nature was involuntarily impacted. Hmmm . . . But in creation’s groaning, there is a sense of hope. Creation, as it were, is leaning forward, leaning inward, waiting for the day it will be perfected; and as in the pains of childbirth, it waits for precious delivery!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul continues,</span></p>
<p><span>“And we believers also </span><span>groan</span><span>, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,</span><sup> </sup><span>including the new bodies he has promised us. 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.” v. 23-25</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thing number two:</p>
<p><span>(2) We believers groan</span><span>. Followers of Jesus look forward expectantly to the day when ‘faith will be made sight’—when we shall see God face to face, and all of life’s woes will be behind us. Then, we shall no longer have to hope, because we will realize our full relationship as sons of the King. </span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul continues:</span></p>
<p><span> “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 </span><span>groans</span><span>. 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. v.26-27</span></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thing number three:</p>
<p><span>(3) The Holy Spirit groans</span><span> for us as he individually prays for us—going to the Father on our behalf! Picture that for a moment, won’t you? The Holy Spirit is your advocate before an all-holy God. </span><span>Especially when we are feeling weak and having a tough time on our own. </span></p>
<p><span>This reminds me of what John wrote: “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.” 1 John 2.1</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In this life, three entities groan . . Creation, believers, and the Holy Spirit. But one day, for Creation, for the believer in Jesus Christ, and together with the Holy Spirit, the groaning will be quieted in the presence of our Lord. Amen!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Be encouraged, Listen: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001HbZwzxruRndgS-aZvf3HvXWMvfvl2wcZTOT5jkhgs2gRNbxEiFJsZInDTu0Rm0OZ-WD5dWjrvhzgAerTrlipZaVGjkGMZQOEsFLYn674ZLa9L9PlXa7J5LYmiLMzp6JU49Ie5QOSZmUHGWuq0Cm7WlsLGxByWTmKj1vB9t8KZAhuKv1aoreK0g==&c=r48ur-p09KnpMvyKYTOBv6tPItTTf4TUoTYrTe2-m9xSHA-kGyYIfA==&ch=V58Bn06jqR6egwmImEsKG7_GGyhCMxsRNW0ZKn_ODkAYYU-q4Hyung==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uxFV9BOaAM</a></p>
<p><span>And again!</span><span> </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001HbZwzxruRndgS-aZvf3HvXWMvfvl2wcZTOT5jkhgs2gRNbxEiFJsZInDTu0Rm0OZ943Pqw1ABD_CFYWrV1DFKnxlvWDnyAGOjoD3fxOAeGb4gTB6429-iHe0io6T87xveJcaAJN4iPWGt3rnqQmycWGPfTS14CU8srDsmH0Q7kKgwl6wRwwMug==&c=r48ur-p09KnpMvyKYTOBv6tPItTTf4TUoTYrTe2-m9xSHA-kGyYIfA==&ch=V58Bn06jqR6egwmImEsKG7_GGyhCMxsRNW0ZKn_ODkAYYU-q4Hyung==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NueMKnU8qa0</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>For the love,</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>Identity matters.tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-01-24:1383940:BlogPost:19352122024-01-24T15:36:33.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f57779db/identity-matters-12324">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f57779db/identity-matters-12324</a></p>
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<p>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f57779db/identity-matters-12324">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/f57779db/identity-matters-12324</a></p>
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<tbody><tr><td class="m_4961385194650579813text_content-cell m_4961385194650579813content-padding-horizontal" align="left" valign="top"><p><span>There is a lot of confusion in our world today. Think of it--not long ago, questions that would never have been asked or given any airtime, have become issues of debate and argument in our schools, the Church, and even the political arena and government. The one I am thinking of just now is the matter of identity.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Who Am I?</span><span> </span><span>Put another way, I could ask, ‘Who are you?’ How would you answer?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>In thinking about it, we start with elements such as gender, ethnicity, and the various roles we play, but is that sufficient? Hmmm.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>No, those will stop short in telling me who I am. Step a little closer - I was the youngest, by a good margin, of four children, born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. My parents encouraged pride in our name/heritage. As such, I was corrected if I showed weakness. ‘You are a Todd </span><span>(family name)</span><span>—never let ‘em see you sweat.’ Yes, my Oklahoman dad and his siblings were a proud crew. So I would have identified as a girl and a Todd, and I'm not sure if I truly understood or could have articulated much more.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>We cast about trying to identify ourselves - sure, there's gender and ethnicity, family and birth order, roles, relationships and careers. There's what people say about us and to us, and the things we have come to believe about ourselves, but these fall so very short.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Yet it is vitally important we understand who we are as human beings as it is a critical piece in understanding the meaning of life and finding our place in the world.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>It was not long ago I addressed the question </span><span>Does God Exist?</span><span> One of the evidences for God is the intelligent design of the universe, including the miraculous design of the human being. In Genesis 1.26-27, we read, “Then God said, “</span><span>Let us make mankind in our image</span><span>, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” </span><span>So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them</span><span>.”</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>You and I were created by God, made uniquely in his image, fitted for relationship with him. Indeed Paul explains we are meant to be sons of God, adopted by him. "Y</span><span>ou received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”</span><span>1</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>No other relationship, no other religion in the world is offered or explained like this. Our Heavenly Father knocked down the barrier that our sin and guilt had between us and him through Jesus' death on the cross, then He chose us, tenderly adopted us to be his very own sons and daughters, and invited us to call him our Father. He made us his heirs, along with Jesus Christ, for eternity--that which can never be taken away.</span><span>2</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Only the Artist sees and knows what she intends when she shapes and molds the clay, and only the Creator can ascribe to the creature who he is and who he is meant to be. We </span><span>must look to the One who knit us together in our mother's womb</span><span>3</span><span>, who </span><span>will take great delight in us and rejoice over us with singing.</span><span>4</span><span> </span><span>Our identity is in Him alone, Friends.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Who Am I? A girl with a Father who loves her unconditionally, filled with hope and a smile on my face, desiring to live each day on purpose.</span></p>
<p><span>Listen: </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0019LMixeQY7iZGX6SJFRN0t72JXZMxOmdXdg6oyi-K_gpO7EgXC_L3mgIHobBK2Kry53PE89jKDqInIvhmQq4VviSibTJyKXxCFDGUShmgfyJhQjjJ6c0eW5FpjH2NtQN5H7_5wk5DxV0QOwrBB72s50VIC_EX36Q5dD-MJZ7Fm-T30RT6Oiqd3A==&c=T0HBAWD1hCV9M3wsOB40TlJ_4WVlXVBubBt5Nvpfu-sTnPXuG8dk5A==&ch=mtgXGGj8Liv07BsW4a3TwZsm_VwSlFmPuon3El4HW5HTASBTJ9Ppsg==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD-wdytFVz4</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p>PastorWoman.net</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 - Romans 8.15</span></p>
<p><span>2 - Romans 8.17</span></p>
<p><span>3 - Psalm 139.13</span></p>
<p><span>4 - Zephaniah 3.17</span></p>
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<table class="m_4961385194650579813image--mobile-scale m_4961385194650579813image--mobile-center" width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td class="m_4961385194650579813image_container m_4961385194650579813content-padding-horizontal" align="center" valign="top"><img width="153" src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/meips/ADKq_NZnaCsYriVElD_TGlM-VIElIs7xJ0rZfW84xqzQEmhdPd1sPKiOnx1BhxQKcWdGSNzpkvN9hdfDcN4xUjd3BdGaAl5W3GdLzwtbAZD8h-b3Hb1PmytuB6Kp-qNphYbg4cl-Xaew8yiTEPHXQA=s0-d-e1-ft#%3Ca%20href="/>https://files.constantcontact.com/b4297a65501/c373a307-2aa6-4ce8-a075-94198d1bd6a6.jpg" alt="" class="CToWUd a6T" data-bit="iit" tabindex="0" /></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>Listen to this podcast here: https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1cfc77df/fixing-your-mind-january-21-2024
My mom was born in Missour-ah, as she said.
I'm not sure she knew there was an 'i'…tag:www.allaboutgod.net,2024-01-22:1383940:BlogPost:19356072024-01-22T14:04:51.000ZChristinehttp://www.allaboutgod.net/profile/ChristineDiGiacomo
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1cfc77df/fixing-your-mind-january-21-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1cfc77df/fixing-your-mind-january-21-2024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>My mom was born in Missour-ah, as she said.</span></p>
<p><span>I'm not sure she knew there was an 'i' on the end.</span></p>
<p><span>While I have quoted her before, today I want to drill</span></p>
<p><span>down on one word she used…</span></p>
<p><span>Listen to this podcast here: <a href="https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1cfc77df/fixing-your-mind-january-21-2024">https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1cfc77df/fixing-your-mind-january-21-2024</a></span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>My mom was born in Missour-ah, as she said.</span></p>
<p><span>I'm not sure she knew there was an 'i' on the end.</span></p>
<p><span>While I have quoted her before, today I want to drill</span></p>
<p><span>down on one word she used regularly. </span><span>Fixing</span><span>.</span></p>
<p><span>As in, 'I'm fixing to go downtown and do a little shopping.'</span></p>
<p><span>Interpretation: I am getting ready to, or I will soon be ...</span></p>
<p><span>And then there is </span><span>fixing</span><span> as we use the word today. Being a logophile</span><span>1</span><span> </span><span>the word </span><span>fix</span><span> is quite rich and varied. Who knew?</span></p>
<p><span>From Merriam Webster, we get the following definitions for </span><span>fix</span><span>:</span></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>to make firm, stable, or stationary</span></p>
<p><span>-to set or place definitely : </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010AZgY_6Ao-WIfB_t4eVHumxin93LayVlwZiY6CN3bDe3NCfbKxHJ02NvyYikKZbxRsbygP5gbLChFeIEBS2P1AjeYLcPTt73L9AEclBy0bITrqqH8uC373lHnjnY4wOOIy9QGRIBjhp42J7l3jbeXEdwUDaI5HUrc9vKxJaO6QkOv0tNALCskg==&c=4U3eN1pO5Q-maJE5SCkep6_k9P8I2JfLwdGwGPdlzTtJ42Mv2U1ywA==&ch=z5qbCnMRK2gA4QJOG_LiKa4jn1HvUtpx37h9UKeNMgGfDQfnArJbaQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ESTABLISH</a></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>to set in order : </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010AZgY_6Ao-WIfB_t4eVHumxin93LayVlwZiY6CN3bDe3NCfbKxHJ02NvyYikKZbxzMEA1hvVX_CstPe4z3AjtNUg_B-1Q2U7yoxQK7eVBsBBuRLYYlKCnMlUC-oXmnsLZqFUOTCzZ-SOVJi2aDZuNbia76_ocre5HxiEVeVnrcJNYoElmv3KqQ==&c=4U3eN1pO5Q-maJE5SCkep6_k9P8I2JfLwdGwGPdlzTtJ42Mv2U1ywA==&ch=z5qbCnMRK2gA4QJOG_LiKa4jn1HvUtpx37h9UKeNMgGfDQfnArJbaQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ADJUST</a></p>
<p><span>-</span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010AZgY_6Ao-WIfB_t4eVHumxin93LayVlwZiY6CN3bDe3NCfbKxHJ02NvyYikKZbxJ6-fnWssedTaV4MJ7QT9Esd6EsSNkj9EuJEfSsL4S2ywq3HDNnld97mqI4N4bgORZ_3Kshbna-lVtZPeFaX83J6FPFTAaeYvHOhNlFhNiWUbFYQ66Z16zw==&c=4U3eN1pO5Q-maJE5SCkep6_k9P8I2JfLwdGwGPdlzTtJ42Mv2U1ywA==&ch=z5qbCnMRK2gA4QJOG_LiKa4jn1HvUtpx37h9UKeNMgGfDQfnArJbaQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REPAIR</a><span>, </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010AZgY_6Ao-WIfB_t4eVHumxin93LayVlwZiY6CN3bDe3NCfbKxHJ02NvyYikKZbxSK-BfA7UINnEIua69OMvS_bpemsR-HhKqJCif1Cs3MXupLonRLz9GWn1x2aSu3zHQCgaSr5uLj3SY3RyNXgANKT7Ay-8ZFk4rUWcHrklR9ENPhfUDSWeBQ==&c=4U3eN1pO5Q-maJE5SCkep6_k9P8I2JfLwdGwGPdlzTtJ42Mv2U1ywA==&ch=z5qbCnMRK2gA4QJOG_LiKa4jn1HvUtpx37h9UKeNMgGfDQfnArJbaQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">MEND</a></p>
<p><span>-</span><span>to direct one's attention or efforts : </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010AZgY_6Ao-WIfB_t4eVHumxin93LayVlwZiY6CN3bDe3NCfbKxHJ02NvyYikKZbxIiTvJI-A5m-89gJnPMF-53MUfB8cAHRq_BpZj5lOojGNtsdgiPmoqRN7u_s_ToGqREhqz1oPDAkzYmocJFvrQv24hEuwiGmtAhF6kTzArto-_X8s-vhFTg==&c=4U3eN1pO5Q-maJE5SCkep6_k9P8I2JfLwdGwGPdlzTtJ42Mv2U1ywA==&ch=z5qbCnMRK2gA4QJOG_LiKa4jn1HvUtpx37h9UKeNMgGfDQfnArJbaQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FOCUS</a></p>
<p><span>and then of course, there is spay or neuter!</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>All that from one little word.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Here's the point: </span><span>we all ought be </span><span>fixing our minds</span><span> on the right things</span><span>, certain of the true and right things.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Consider this - One evening a Cherokee grandfather was teaching his young grandson about the internal battle that each person faces. “There are two wolves struggling inside each of us,” the old man said. “One wolf is vengefulness, anger, resentment, self-pity, fear ... The other wolf is compassion, faithfulness, hope, truth, love...”</span></p>
<p><span>The grandson sat, thinking, then asked: “Which wolf wins, Grandfather?” The grandfather replied, “The one you feed.”</span><span>2</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Paul identifies those two wolves in Romans chapter 8: </span><span>the things of the flesh</span></p>
<p><span>and </span><span>the things of the Spirit</span><span>.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The apostle Paul laid himself bare in Romans chapter 7, explaining his struggle with sin, and his lack of self control (though he stops short of naming the monkey on his back). And then he speaks to believers, possibly making a mental note to himself as well, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."</span><span>3</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>”Phew ...we can exhale! Believers are not condemned because Jesus paid the debt for our sin and guilt. God's goodness and mercy on this count cannot be overstated here. Having established that, Paul clearly lays out the choices of our free will, well represented by the notion of the good wolf Spirit, and the bad wolf Flesh. One wolf is always going to win, and conversely, the other one will lose. We can </span><span>choose</span><span> to walk in the Spirit, or in the flesh.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The Greek word Paul uses for ‘flesh’ </span><span>sarx </span><span>refers to the baser side of man’s nature, not his physical body or skin--a life dominated by the dictates and desires of sinful human nature instead of a life fixed on that which honors God out of our love for him. In an earlier writing Paul described the acts of the flesh--“sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. ”</span><span>4</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Were you surprised to see </span><span>jealousy</span><span>, selfish ambition, discord and </span><span>envy</span><span> on that list? Hmmm... Sin is sin in the heart and mind of God.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The contrast is glaring as he describes the character of the man or woman who seeks to live by the Spirit, (or, in the view of the Cherokee, feed the wolf named Spirit): “the fruit of the Spirit, is </span><span>love</span><span>, </span><span>joy</span><span>, </span><span>peace</span><span>, </span><span>patience</span><span>, </span><span>kindness</span><span>, </span><span>goodness</span><span>, </span><span>faithfulness</span><span>, </span><span>gentleness </span><span>and </span><span>self control</span><span>.</span><span>5</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>So how does one feed the flesh? Give into temptation, indulge your every whim, do whatever it takes to get what you want, make excuses for yourself again and again. Feed your mind with what the world values. Ponder that a moment.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>“But if I want to feed the Spirit, what then? What should I do?” Read the Word and let the Word read you. A synonym for FIX, the verb, is SET. So if you and I want to honor God, we will reorient our thinking to set our thoughts on him, his will for us, and even </span><span>his best for us</span><span>.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>The other day I was texting with a young man who I have known for a long time. After exchanging a few words, I thought to ask him, 'Is there some way I could pray for you?' Believe it or not, he answered, saying he needs God to help him quit smoking. So, of course, I am praying. But, stay with me here--how can he help himself ? It comes back to </span><span>fixing</span><span> and </span><span>reorienting. </span><span>This would apply to any besetting sin or regular temptation ... when the thought/desire comes, we have a choice what we do with it. 'Fan the flames, dwell on the thing...or something else?</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>I submit to you that our highest and best thoughts at that time come by doing what the writer of Hebrews suggests '</span><span>let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles...'</span><span>6</span><span> W</span><span>hile the thought may not be sin, it sure as a world might hinder and then lead us into the entangling sin.</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>IT IS A CHOICE: bad wolf or good wolf--life in the flesh or life in the Spirit . . . all depends on which one you feed--oh, and what you feed it! Listen: God, Help Me! </span><a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0010AZgY_6Ao-WIfB_t4eVHumxin93LayVlwZiY6CN3bDe3NCfbKxHJ02cWgdFRFb3r2YOvjzskVw8-KJzM0RuG6ml2R3XubjZQ1W-gJR0w4-V77JaOPP8jRBCfdGFzRa_Ng4WHqvcfAUEitaETM2bdO0FJC67wcmOoCKRla079hQxBsgTkqOodAA==&c=4U3eN1pO5Q-maJE5SCkep6_k9P8I2JfLwdGwGPdlzTtJ42Mv2U1ywA==&ch=z5qbCnMRK2gA4QJOG_LiKa4jn1HvUtpx37h9UKeNMgGfDQfnArJbaQ==" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_pgGgHVxPg</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>Fix well,</span></p>
<p><span>Christine</span></p>
<p><span>PastorWoman.net</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><span>1 - logophile: a person who loves words</span></p>
<p><span>2 - </span><span>Cherokee wisdom from “Harmonies of Liberty” (January 21, 2009 National Prayer Service sermon), The Rev. Dr. Sharon E. Watkins William Barclay</span></p>
<p><span>3 - Romans 8.1</span></p>
<p><span>4 - Galatians 5.19-21</span></p>
<p><span>5 - Galatians 5.22-24</span></p>
<p><span>6 - Hebrews 12.1-3</span></p>