Sword Fighting Class – An Eternal, Personal Relationship with God

God is doing an awesome thing as he helps us memorize Romans 8!  This is a long and difficult chapter to memorize but God is blessing our efforts as we repeat his words over and over and over.Romans 8; 1-9

“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. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin sacrifice. And so he condemned sin in sinful man in order that the righteous requirements of the law be fully met in us who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the spirit. Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what nature desires but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. The sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s laws nor can it do so. 

Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  You, however, are Romans 8 - 10 - 28controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit when the Spirit of God lives in you.  If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.  But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.”

Thank you, God!  Here is the next verse:

And if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies, through his Spirit who lives in you.”

When we have accepted Jesus as our Savior, his Spirit lives in us.  He gives us an eternal, personal relationship with God.   When we let him transform us, he gives us a new nature filled with grace and faith.

Thank you, Abba Father.

 

A Discerning Heart

Wisdom.

W e can use all the wisdom we can get.

So many decisions to be made.

So many options available.May 12 2016 a discerning heart

Things are moving and changing so quickly…and its all just going to get faster.

We need wisdom.

Solomon asked God for a ‘discerning heart’ and he got wisdom.  God made him the wisest man who has ever lived.

God tells us in the book of James that he will give us a generous amount of wisdom if we ask for it.

So let’s ask:

Dear Father.  Thank you for giving your Word to us.  Thank you for guiding our steps through your truth.  We are asking for your wisdom, God, so we will do things and say things that honor you.  Please help us know and understand your truth so that your wisdom can grow inside of us.  Change us, dear Father.   Transform us.  We are your children and we are asking for wisdom for today.  And more wisdom for tomorrow.  Please help us grow wise, Abba Father.  In the awesome name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Psalm 27, 2016

The Lord lights up my life!

He has saved me!  I’m not afraid of anything.

The Lord is the rock that my life is built on.  I have nothing to fear.May 10 2016 psalm 27

When people turn against me, trying to hurt me, they are the ones that get hurt.

Even when it feels like I’m surrounded by problems and trials, I am not afraid.  I am confident God is on my side.

There is only one thing I ask.  Only one thing I desire with all of my heart.

And that is to know God all the days of my life.

To know his beauty and majesty.

To understand his truth.

May 10 Psalm 27 2016 bWhen I am in trouble, he keeps me safe.  He holds me close and gives me hope.  He helps me rise above my problems where I can find joy and success again.

I sing praises to God!

I know you hear my voice when I call, Lord.

You are merciful and you answer.

I want to know more about you, dear God.  Help me see you.  Help me understand.

Sometimes I feel angry even though I know you will always help me when I call.

I sometimes feel rejected by the people who are most important to me, God.

But you never reject me.

Teach me your truth, Lord.

Lead me on the right path.

Keep me away from those who would do harm to me or tell lies about me.

I am confident of this – God is good and I will experience his goodness for the rest of my life.

I will be strong whenever I am waiting for God to speak.

I will have joy as I watch for God to move.

I will have confidence in God every day, forever.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Psalm 139, 2016

You know me well, LORD.

You know where I am and what I’m thinking about.

You know where I go and when I stay – you know all of my habits.

Before any words come out of my mouth, you know what I’m going to say.

You walk close beside me, with your hand guiding me.

I don’t understand you – you are too awesome!May 5 psalm 139 2016

I know I am never alone – you are always with me.  Where ever I go – you are already there.  My life is in your hands.  You are constantly guiding me, protecting me and loving me.

Sometimes, in the middle of the night, I feel alone and everything seems very dark.

But you are there –

you are always there.

Darkness is not dark to you.  Your light shines through.

For I know you created me, dear Father.May 5 b psalm 139 2016

You knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you for how unbelievably wonderful you are!

You create masterpieces!  I know – because I am one of them.

You knew me before anyone else.

You saw me.

You formed me.

And you made plans for my life before I was even born.

Your plans are precious to me, God.

Please show me the path you have designed just for me.  I want to spend each day with you, Abba Father.

Psalm 100, 2016

All of the earth shouts because you bring us so much joy, LORD!

We worship you with smiles on our faces!May 2 psalm 100 2016

We sing praises to you because of the joy you give us!

We know you are God.  You made us.  We are yours.

We are your people.  We belong to you.

We are so grateful that we have the privilege of having a personal relationship with you, God!

When we come together in your house, we are filled with praise!

Thank you, Father!

You are so good to us!  Your love will never end.

We praise you for your faithfulness to us and to our parents and our grandparents and everyone that has lived before us.

And we praise you for your faithfulness to our children and our grandchildren and all of those who are yet to come.

We know we can always count on your faithfulness, dear God.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Sword Fighting Class – Made Right with God

With God’s help, we are memorizing Romans 8.  This is a tough chapter – it’s definitely one verse at a time.  But it’s happening!Romans 8; 1-9

“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.  For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin sacrifice.  And so he condemned sin in sinful man in order that the righteous requirements of the law be fully met in us who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the spirit.  Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what nature desires but those who live in accordance with the spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.  The sinful mind is hostile to God.  It does not submit to God’s laws nor can it do so.  Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.  You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit if God’s spirit lives in you.  And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”

Romans 8 - 10 - 28Thank you, God!  Here’s the next verse –

“But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin but your spirit is alive because of righteousness.”

Our bodies will die because of our sin.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, he makes us right with God and his Spirit brings eternal life to our spirit.

This is the Good News.

Amen!  Hallelujah!

Psalm 93, 2016

The Lord is our King!

He is majestic and strong.May 1 psalm 93 2016

He created the world – firm and secure.

He is eternal – forever – no beginning and no end.

The seas shout your praise, LORD, as their waves pound on the rocks.  You are mightier than the thunder of the great waters!  The LORD in heaven is mighty!

Your commands are clear and unchanging, LORD.

You are our Holy God, set apart from everything else – forever.

Thank you, Abba Father.

 

Psalm 19, 2016

Just look around!

Creation shouts out how awesome our God is!

Look up in the sky!

This was all created by God.April 29 psalm 29 2016

Every morning as the sun rises, it proclaims the faithfulness of God.

Night after night, the moon and stars reveal God’s protection over us.

They have no words – yet their voice goes out over all of the earth.

The sun appears each day at God’s command and crosses the sky to give warmth to all of God’s creation.

God’s law is perfect – it gives us peace and joy.

God’s word can be trusted to make us wise.

God’s directions are perfect for us.

God’s commands light our way.

When we respect and obey God, our lives are lined up with him.

God’s directions are always correct and they never change.  They are more precious to us than anything else.

When we obey, there is great reward.

Forgive us for our disobedience, dear Father.  Sin that we know about and those we are unaware of.  Help us stay away from sinful desires and actions so that loving you can be the most important desire we have in our lives.

May our words and thoughts please you, Lord.

Our Rock and Redeemer.

Psalm 121, 2016

I lift my eyes up to the sky.  I lift my hands up!

Who loves me?April 25 psalm 121, 2016

Who cares for me?

My God loves me.

The Creator of the Universe cares for me.

He does not let me out of his sight.  He never sleeps.  He is always watching…

and caring…

and loving.

My God stays so close to me that he is like my shadow.  He protects me during the day and he guards me through the night.

My God lovingly watches over every part of my life – every day and each night.

Now and forever.

Thank you, Abba Father.

Psalm 71b, 2016

‘As for me, I will always have hope;

I will praise you more and more.”

I can talk about your goodness and your grace all day long, Lord, even though it’s often hard to describe how great you are.

I tell everyone I know about you.  I share with them how awesome you are!

All of my life, God, you have taught me your truths.  I know you and I tell others about how marvelous you are.  psalm 71b, 2016

I know you will be walking closely beside me for the rest of my days.  I will fulfill my obligation to pass on your truth to the next generation – to those who are to come.

You are perfect!  Your greatness fills the universe and never ends!  There is no one like you, God!

Yes, I have had bitter trials and troubles in my life.  But you were always there to guide me….

and comfort me….

and restore me.

I will never stop praising your faithfulness, my God!

I will sing praise to you!

I will shout for joy!

You have saved me and I cannot stop talking about you!

No one and nothing can truly harm me when I have you!

Thank you, Abba Father.