Another week begins...life goes on, even when you think the world should stop, it doesn't. You continue to grieve, but through the days, knowing that God is walking with us and feeling His love along with the love of family and friends, we some how continue on. You realize that you are still here, in the land of the living, for a reason...a reason that is hard to determine at times, but you know that if you are here, you are to be of purpose. That is what I think I am feeling now...still dazed, still confused, still heartbroken...but understanding that while I am here on this earth, I am to seek God's purpose for my days.
Part of God's purpose for me seems to be this blog...it directs me to His Word, and it allows me to proclaim my faith. There have been so many faith-affirming verses through these weeks. I wish I truly had all 77 to date at my ready recall...I am sorry to say that I don't at this point. I have determined that when we reach the end of our 100 week journey, that I will have to go back and retrace my steps and focus again on memorization, having the luxury of not leaving a verse until I have it down pat....that process may take me another 200 weeks! And if it does, so be it! What better way to travel through life than with God's word as your travel companion!
At the beginning of this 78th week, let's review our most recent verses:
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
We follow with Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."
You almost have to recite Romans 1:16-17 together, for if you just state verse 17 by itself, you don't know what "it" is. "It" is the gospel...and the gospel reveals God's righteousness, or as Robert J. Morgan puts it, "That is, He tells us how we can share His righteousness and be restored into good standing with Him."
Apart from Jesus, we have no hope to be seen as righteous before God. But through His atoning death and the power of His resurrection (the gospel), we can now stand before our Father clothed in His righteousness, all of our sinfulness removed. And what does that miraculous cleansing require from us? Faith. Faith, beginning to end...faith to faith. That's how we come to life, and that's how we live forever.
Part of God's purpose for me seems to be this blog...it directs me to His Word, and it allows me to proclaim my faith. There have been so many faith-affirming verses through these weeks. I wish I truly had all 77 to date at my ready recall...I am sorry to say that I don't at this point. I have determined that when we reach the end of our 100 week journey, that I will have to go back and retrace my steps and focus again on memorization, having the luxury of not leaving a verse until I have it down pat....that process may take me another 200 weeks! And if it does, so be it! What better way to travel through life than with God's word as your travel companion!
At the beginning of this 78th week, let's review our most recent verses:
The Holy Spirit's Role in our Lives (6)
Ephesians 5:18 "And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless actions, but be filled with the Spirit."
Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music in to the Lord in your hearts."
Ephesians 5:20 "Giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 5:21 "Submitting to one another in the fear of Christ."
Galatians 5:22 "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."
2 Timothy 1:14 "Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you...guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us."
Joy: God's Kind of Happiness (12)
Psalm 118:24 "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
Philippians 4:5 "Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near."
Philippians 4:6 "Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God."
Philippians 4:7 "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Romans 15:13 "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit."
James 1:2 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds."
James 1:3-4 "Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you will be mature and complete, lacking nothing."
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice always."
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
Faith: Trusting God and Resting in His Word (12)
Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift."
Ephesians 2:9 "Not by works, so that no one can boast."
Ephesians 2:10 "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."
Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."
Colossians 3:17 "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."
Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God's power for salvation to everyone who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."
We follow with Romans 1:17 "For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith."
You almost have to recite Romans 1:16-17 together, for if you just state verse 17 by itself, you don't know what "it" is. "It" is the gospel...and the gospel reveals God's righteousness, or as Robert J. Morgan puts it, "That is, He tells us how we can share His righteousness and be restored into good standing with Him."
Apart from Jesus, we have no hope to be seen as righteous before God. But through His atoning death and the power of His resurrection (the gospel), we can now stand before our Father clothed in His righteousness, all of our sinfulness removed. And what does that miraculous cleansing require from us? Faith. Faith, beginning to end...faith to faith. That's how we come to life, and that's how we live forever.
1 comment:
You have so much faith. I know you will not waiver from Jesus Christ. I am proud to be your friend and I am proud to proclaim Christ is my Savior. Prayers continue for you and Robert and for Michael's family. So many good verses to draw strength from. Our faith is our fortress. I look forward to seeing you tonight.
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