Doxology in Romans….

  Doxology in Romans…

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 them?” 

For from him and through him and for him are all things.To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Rom.11.33-36

This is the Doxology in Romans 11…

It caught me this am…the “who has”…going back through the scriptures…there are a lot of “who has “…a few follow…God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit…the “who”….

We sing the Doxology often, I have since I can remember…sometimes too much by just pure memory without thinking of the words…

“Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host;

Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Amen. “

When you add the “who has “; thoughts behind it…it is amazing…all those blessings…the “all” really means “all”…not some, or a few…

Thank YOU….

 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?

 Who can fathom the Spirit of the Lord,or instruct the Lord as his counselor? 

Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,and who taught him the right way?

Who was it that taught him knowledge,or showed him the path of understanding?

Isa.40:12-14

 “Who has stirred up one from the east,calling him in righteousness to his service?He hands nations over to him and subdues kings before him.He turns them to dust with his sword,to windblown chaff with his bow. 

Who has done this and carried it through,calling forth the generations from the beginning?I, the Lord—with the first of them and with the last—I am he.”

Isa.41.2,4

 Who has a claim against me that I must pay?

Everything under heaven belongs to me.

Job.41.11

 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

 for,“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”But we have the mind of Christ.

1Cor.1.9,1Cor.2.16

 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations.

 His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 

For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Eph.2.14-18

The Doxology….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQUTvMtUhw4

https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-best-known-hymn-in-history

The great divide….

 The great divide…

 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.

Rom.10.9-13,17

Reading through the book of Romans, still, (there is sooooo much in this book…)

As I quickly read various headlines this am, this one popped out…”belief in God, devil falls lower”…concluding paragraphs follow…I usually don’t get into politics, but this was interesting…since I fall into some of these categories…as there seems to be an attempt to divide and pit one against another…

We each get to make the decision of where we stand…that freewill that we are given…I so appreciate God’s patience with us…

 

“Lower income Americans, older Americans, women and those without college degrees were also more likely to say that they believe in such spiritual entities.(God, the devil, heaven, hell, angels)

Republicans (87%)more likely than Democrats(66 %)or Independents(68%).”

https://www.yahoo.com/news/belief-god-devil-falls-low-164300978.html

 “Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,a pot among earthen pots!

Does the clay say to him who forms it, ‘What are you making?’or ‘Your work has no handles’? 

Thus says the Lord,the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:“Ask me of things to come;will you command me concerning my children and the work of my hands?

 I made the earth and created man on it;

it was my hands that stretched out the heavens,and I commanded all their host.

Isa.45.9,Isa.45.11-12

 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2Pet.3.9

 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 

They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 

These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.

Jude.1.17-19

Thank YOU….

These are the days of Elijah ….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6woSL6yC9wA

A battle within…

  A battle within…

Writing the Book of Romans, the author, write of a battle in chapter 7….

 For I do not understand my own actions. 

For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 

Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 

So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.

 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. 

For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.

 For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 

Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.

 For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 

Wretched man that I am! 

Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

 So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Rom.7.15-25

I don’t know about anyone else, but this resonates with me…I delight in the Word, wanting to be obedient moment by moment, being led by the Spirit all the time, but …it is hard to be “good “ all the time…my thoughts wander, I wander, I don’t listen sometimes…am off doing “my” thing…independent rather than dependent…

 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Rom.8.5-6

Paul follows up with chapter 8…encouraging…live by the Spirit…walk by the Spirit…set our minds on things of the Spirit…and what happens…life and peace…so much better than the battle …

 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 

What then shall we say to these things?

 If God is for us, who can be against us? 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom.8.26-31,Rom.8.37-39

What hope we have…I have… each day that He is with me…guiding when I listen, teaching, even praying when I can’t…giving life, peace, love, victory, working for good….

Thank YOU… 

To do your will….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IxQGD5Wli8

Seek ye first…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsBpM9IcBts

 The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. 

Day to day pours out speech,and night to night reveals knowledge. 

There is no speech, nor are there words,whose voice is not heard. 

Their voice goes out through all the earth,and their words to the end of the world.

In them he has set a tent for the sun,     which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. 

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,and its circuit to the end of them,and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Ps.19.1-6

 One of my daughters took this morning’s sunrise…

The intricacies of the inside of a larkspur flower, the sunflowers tracking the sun, the other sitting in an sunbeam…a minute piece of God’s handiwork .

Thank YOU…

He’s everything to me…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMVmJjbjh0w

Romans…

 Original blog had short video from movie, Gods not dead…

Romans….

A friend shared this video from a movie …in a way it goes along with these words penned in Romans…the pastor taking the stand and making a stand for right…

When I watched this movie the first time, I thought about our trips to the capital…the Scriptures written in stone, a solid foundation for our country…

Monuments everywhere with Bible verses chiseled deeply into them…like the Word should be engrained into  our minds , hearts and souls…but as time has passed, some have forgotten and turned away from that foundation, not only as a country, but as human beings…

The author of this small New Testament book does not mince words…he says in the beginning that he has wanted to come in person to deliver his message and minister to these people, but was prevented…I wonder if he had been able to make it, the book may not have been written by him…God wanted these words in His scripture…so here they are…

 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Rom.1.16-17

 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. 

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

RomRom.1.18-23, Rom.1.28-32

 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Rom.3.22-24

 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom.6.23

Thank YOU….

Blessed assurance…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPZMlvgN1Hw

Marbled memories…..

 “Marbled memories “….

I inherited my dad’s glass marbles which I mixed with the marbles I had acquired as a child…they sit in a glass canning jar that is older than I am…sparkling reminders of past days…

This week, I was reminded over and over of answered prayers…and I had the privilege to remind others of their answered prayers as well..what a joy to remember and see God’s answers…

The Title of this is from an article in Multnomah University’s president’s report of 2008…written by the late Daniel Lockwood, a friend and former president of Multnomah University…I saved this particular report because of this article…a visual used in everyday life of God’s provision and care…

“He wants us to remember His great accomplishments in the past so we will trust Him for the challenges that lie ahead.” Daniel Lockwood…

We get prayer requests frequently and we have our own …but there are times to look back and see how God worked in those…reading through Acts and the epistles, there are numerous times when Paul or others, or Jesus in the Gospels speak of answered prayers…when they are praying…or others are praying for them …sometimes we see the answers in the Word and other times we don’t…but we know that God has worked, is working  and will work, taking care of those requests, desperate pleas, whispered words, silent cares, public announcements…

Sometimes it takes a jar of marbles to remind us that God cares for our every need…spoken and unspoken….

 Give attention to the sound of my cry,my King and my God,for to you do I pray. 

The Lord has heard my plea;the Lord accepts my prayer.

Ps.5.2,Ps.6.9

 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

Mark.14.32

John 17

 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Acts.12.5

 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Rom.12.12

 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 

At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison…..

Col.1.9,Col.4.3

Thank YOU…

The Lord’s Prayer…two renditions…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKaUf7QiU5Y&t=21s 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4Kp6S5smnE

 

Everything….?….

 Everything…..?….

I was reading our women’s Bible study book this am. The chapter was on kindness and goodness.  Near the end, the author shared the 10th verse of 1 Peter 4. I had to read on to capture the rest of the thought…it included the word, “everything “…

That word is so descriptive…in the ESV translation, it appears 135 times, so I had to find a few of those verses…everything means everything, not partial, or a few, or something incomplete…but the the whole…

 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1Pet.4.10-11

 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Col.3.14, 17

A few “everythings”….such ramifications…the completeness…nothing lacking…

 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. 

And God saw that it was good. 

And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

Gen.1.25,30, 31

 The hail struck down everything that was in the field in all the land of Egypt, both man and beast. And the hail struck down every plant of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel were, was there no hail.

Exod.9.25-26

  “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.

Deut.12.32

 “God understands the way to it,and he knows its place. 

For he looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. 

When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure, when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder, then he saw it and declared it;

he established it, and searched it out.

 And he said to man,‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom,

and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Job.28.23-28

 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!Praise the Lord!

Ps.150:6

 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Eccl.3.11

 I will bring upon that land all the words that I have uttered against it, everything written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied against all the nations.

Jer.25.13

 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”

Matt.19.27

 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,

Luke.24.44-45

 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.

 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.

John.17.7-8

 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Acts.17.24-25

 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Phil.3.8-10Phil.4.6-7

 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Heb.13.20-21

Thank YOU….

God of my everything….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Inhz4Z1cyhU