Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:34-39
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11
The sun rises and sets. You’re sure to see it if it’s a clear day. Most certainly, you can plant after the final frost expecting a harvest a few months later. Just as sure as leaves turn color and fall, buds will return in a few months and new leaves will grow. If you wait long enough, the rain will stop and the sun will return. Life is full of certainty.
Often, though, life is unpredictable. The uncertainty life brings can be unsettling. I’ve learned that no matter how much you brace yourself, life has blind sides. In my own life, I sometimes carefully wait for the other shoe to drop. I’ve found myself holding the shoe for dear life, hoping the shoe won’t drop as to keep from being caught off guard.
I’ve noticed, though, when you get a firm grip on the shoe, hoping it won’t drop, it opens the door to fear. No matter how careful, we can’t control the shoe. Sometimes we get so focused on what might happen or what could happen, that we waste the here and now.
What shoe are you holding? Isn’t it time you put it down and pick up God’s word? Isn’t it time you put it down and have a discussion with your heavenly Father? What we do between shoe drops matters. Our relationship with God, and time spent in His word are way more important than guarding “the shoe.” If we’re rooted and grounded in Jesus when we are blindsided, we will be fully equipped when life throws a curve.
I can’t predict the future, but I know The One who holds it. I know The One that says we’re the apple of His eye. I know The One who gives hope and a future. I know The One who will supply all needs according to His riches in Glory through Christ Jesus. I know The One who gives strength when we feel our weakest and I know that no matter what happens, He makes everything beautiful in its time.
To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: He has made everything beautiful in its time. Ecclesiastes 3:1, 11
Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5
Genuine – deep, layered
God- Pleaser- Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Proactive
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being.
“Dear children, let us not love with words or speechbut with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18
“Love must be sincere. Romans 12:9a
“Search me, God, and know my heart;Psalm 139:23
“The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincerefaith.”1 Timothy 1:5
Transparent-Open and honest; without secrets
Clear
Candid
Frank
Sincere
Unambiguous
Forthright
Direct
Genuine
Aboveboard
Straightforward
Authentic– not false or imitation; true to one’s own personality, spirit, or character
genuine
original
real
actual
true
Sincere– free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings:
Heartfelt
Honest
Candid
The Lord has led me to the word “Authentic” over the past few weeks. Sometimes I often need to be reminded. I pray I can always be authentic. I want to be real, transparent, and sincere, with love. It’s not about flowery words. It’s about authenticity in every aspect of my life. He is showing me He can only work in an authentic me. Sometimes authenticity feels vulnerable.
What does your true, honest, sincere, and authentic self-look like?
I know He desires complete transparency from me. I pray I understand what that truly means.
When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:4-5
I became a Nonna (grandma) almost a year ago. A few months ago, while watching my grandson, I decided to take off my glasses. It’s not a conscious thing. I normally leave my glasses on. I happened to take them off for whatever reason. I noticed as my grandson was staring at me that he had a very worried look on his face and almost started to cry. It occurred to me he didn’t recognize me without my glasses. I started talking to him in a reassuring tone and he immediately began to smile. I quickly found my glasses and while I had his attention, I began taking my glasses on and off. He stared at me intently. Now we’ve made it into a game, and he gets a big smile on his face when he sees me both with and without my glasses.
My grandson didn’t recognize me for that moment, but he did recognize my voice. He had spent enough time with me that he knew simply by the sound of my voice that I was someone safe. Any fear he had was wiped away by the simple sound of my voice.
Sometimes we hear a voice that isn’t our heavenly Father. It’s the stranger’s voice. It causes confusion, negativity, and fear. It can cause a bad attitude and poor judgement. It’s a voice contrary to God’s word and who God is.
Sheep don’t recognize or follow a stranger’s voice. The more we get into God’s word and the nature of God, the easier it is to tell when the enemy (The stranger) is trying to tell us lies. It’s important we don’t give the stranger’s voice recognition. It’s important to run away from the stranger.
The Shephard’s voice is the opposite of the stranger. The stranger’s voice we do not follow. Today I want to be more like sheep. How will you devote2day?
When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” John 10:4-5
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy,for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:3-11
Confident- assured, secure, optimistic
Discernment-perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual guidance and understanding: insight
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23
Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies Psalm 103:4
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life John 3:16
God is merciful. Sometimes I need reminded how He has been merciful toward me. He has randomly placed these verses in my mind this week. He has saved me not only from spiritual death, but from physical death. I am so grateful. I’m thankful His mercy is new every morning. I guess He knew we needed it.
