On the way to meet some friends yesterday morning this thought came into my mind. Wow, God! This is such a great reminder that I am not in this world alone. I struggled with yesterday being Valentine's Day. I know it is just a man-made holiday or as Doc used to call it, a 'Hallmark holiday' to make the greeting card companies money. But even when we know such things it does not make the day any easier. Having God speak life over me helped my day along with friends who brought laughter into my life and many who checked on me throughout the day. Every morning I pray for God to cleanse me so He can fill me. I expect Him to answer my prayers. Therefore, I expect results. I expect Him to love on me with His love in ways I can only receive from Him. I expect Him to provide His wisdom with decisions being made. I expect Him to give clarity in all situations. I expect because I have hope in Him. Paul's writing in the first five verses of Romans 5 are powerful. They read in the NIV:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
It was no mistake God spoke to me yesterday nor was it a coincidence He took me to these verses this morning. He is crafting Sunday's sermon. In my humanness I prefer Sunday's sermon to already be done at this point in the week. But I have to remember God's timing is what it is all about. His timing to complete the sermon is perfect. It is not about what I want but needs to be about what He desires. His desire is to pour His love into everyone in a way that will fill us up with more of Him. That is the only way we can love with His love in the manner He desires. I look forward to continuing the sermon writing today as He continues to pour Himself in me. I love the last part of these verses that tell me He pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. We all have the opportunity to have the Holy Spirit in us. All we have to do is walk in obedience to His will. Francesca Battistelli's song "Holy Spirit" is going through my head this morning....
There's nothing worth more
That could ever come close
No thing can compare
You're our living hope
Your presence, Lord
I've tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
Your presence, Lord
Dear Jesus, Thank You for the blessings of yesterday and the ones ahead today! Thank You for loving me so greatly that You speak to me! Thank You for Paul's words in Romans 5 that remind me of the peace a life with You provides! I pray that peace over many going through difficult days. My Momma; my sisters Linda, Sally, and Mary; my brother Richard; Ben and Colleen; Pete and Delores; Steve; Marion; Cait; Rhonda; Mike; Norma Hall; Sharon Sebolt and her parents; some young ladies with anxiety; a young man out of rehab who needs strength in his daily walk; Mary Lilley; a husband/father separated from his wife; Brooklyn; Kristen Batten; April; Ashley Foor; families in turmoil; Gay and Doug; Sherry; and many others. I also pray healing prayers over many who are dealing with 'c' and/or going through treatments...Katelyn; Chrissy's cousin; Shirley Jones; Cait's friend with leukemia; my pastor friend with daily chemo; Little Ivy; Little Judson; Little Roselynn; a young girl in our community; a lady whose breast cancer has returned; a lady diagnosed with stage two breast cancer; a lady diagnosed with throat cancer; Sue Danhoff's husband Harv; and Michele with breast cancer. I pray for: the Long Family, Becky, Russ, a couple contemplating divorce and another couple having serious issues. Thank You for continued healing for: Pastor Tommy and Pam and Darryle and his family. I praise You for continued reconciliation for a father and his prodigal daughter. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me. May people see/hear You through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. Thank You for being My Filler! Amen.
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