This week we have been challenged by NANCY MERRIL to bring a photo that displays our thoughts on LIGHTS. You can see what others came up with by clicking on the underlined link above.
The photo I am sharing this week reminds me of the story in Exodus 3 about Moses and the burning bush.
To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 1:7
We have missed a few days in our study through the book of Romans. If you missed any of our previous discussions or if you just want to refresh your memory about the things we have talked about you can find all the posts in this series on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.
Up until now we have been talking about Paul the author of the Book of Romans and his calling (and by extension our own callings).
Today we turn our attention to Paul’s audience, the recipients of this letter, the Romans.
Paul says they are, loved by God and called to be his holy people:
You know I am sure this was news to the Jewish believers of the time. Jewish men used to thank God daily that they were not Gentiles because they considered the Gentiles (everyone who was not Jewish) an abandoned people, a people rejected by God.
But here Paul says the people of Rome, a primarily Gentile people and for the most part pagan, are loved by God. He goes further to say that God is calling the people of Rome out of their paganism into a holy life, a life separated unto God.
No matter who we are or where we come from God is calling us into His love. The only questions is will we answer the call.
Are you hearing His call today? What are you prepared to do about it?
This week Cee has challenged us all to bring buildings and trees together. The man-made and the God-made in one place. Check out the mix of man-made and natural at CEE’S PLACE
HERE IS MY TREE/BUILDING GALLERY
I have once again lost time. My goal was to write this post on Sunday night or Monday morning at the latest.
BUT
Christmas season has begun and this week is the first of the Christmas Shows! “The Chosen Lambs” goes up Saturday and Sunday and I am in final rehearsals this week for this wonderful children’s piece.
But before I dive back into the waters of drama and music practice, I wanted to take some time and share my world with all y’all.
If you would like to learn about the lives of other interesting bloggers you can do that at CEE’S SITE.
Here are Cee’s questions for the week interspersed with my answers:
Are you a hugger or a non-hugger?
I am most definitely a non-hugger. My personal space bubble is night unto invincible, truly. I am known to give a hearty and very loving handshake.
What is your favorite toppings on pizza?
When it comes to pizza I am afraid I am not very exciting. I like extra cheese and sometimes pepperoni. However I do like to eat my pizza with either ranch dressing or peanut butter slathered on the top.
If you were the original designer of one existing corporate logo, which one would you select?
I really lke our church emblem and it is one I have chosen to live by for many years.
Complete this sentence: Where I can seek my solace is…
…In the arms of Jesus. He is my peace who has broken down every wall.
Bonus question: What are you grateful for from last week, and what are you looking forward to in the week coming up?
I am so grateful for a wonderful Thanksgiving with my sister, my mother and my daughters and son-in-law. I didn’t even destroy anything in the dinner (usually I have at least one item which is an epic fail).
Do you like my apron?
This week, I am looking forward to sharing the gospel with hundreds of people through the children’s story, The Chosen Lambs.
Christmas at its heart is about coming home. It’s about coming in, out of the cold of the world, and finding our place around the hearth of God.
The message of Christmas is that there is a place in the kingdom of God for everyone. God has a purpose, a plan for all people. That plan involves our gifts, talents, abilities, opportunities AND our weaknesses, failings, disabilities and trials.
The Christmas message tells us that God sent His only Son to Earth to give everyone an opportunity to find a place in His kingdom, to give everyone the chance to fulfill the plan of God for their lives, to help everyone come back home to God where they belong. All we are asked to do is believe that God wants to help us. We are asked to start making room for Him in our lives so that He can work out His plan and purpose to bring us Home.
So what say you this Christmas? Will you make some room for Jesus in your heart. Will you let Him bring you home where you belong?
We are moving through the book of Romans a verse at a time and today we come to verse 6 of chapter 1. If you have missed any of our previous discussion they can be found on THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.
Romans 1:6 reads,
And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.
I don’t know what growing up for you was like. My experience was echoed in the movie Diary Of a Wimpy Kid. Only for me there never really was that moment where I exploded onto the hero’s stage. I was just a wimpy kid. I was the overweight guy, who got good grades, played flute in the band and got picked last in every gym class line up (not even kidding there).
One time in volley ball I got placed on the team and was told “if the ball comes to you just step out of the way. We don’t want you to foul up our game.”
I left the game and sat on the sidelines and that seemed to make everyone happy. I immersed myself in a book and went to that place all misfits go to when they are hurt, the imagination.
I share that to relay to you one of the reasons I am a Christian today. Like many others I know I found it hard to fit in to a world that valued certain attributes I didn’t have and downplayed other attributes I did have. When I came to Christ I found a place to belong. I found Someone who accepted me for who I was and what I could do and who actually valued it. More than that He told me that He was the One who made me this way and that I was CALLED TO BELONG TO HIM AND USE MY GIFTS FOR HIM.
Maybe I don’t fit in with the world. Maybe I don’t even fit in with most of the church. That is OK because I fit in with Jesus and He likes me just fine. I have discovered that, I can serve the world in the church on the basis of His acceptance. I don’t need any body else’s.
How has belonging to Christ healed your self-perception?
Our discussion through Romans is going strong. Kim just joined in and has caught up. You can too by going to THE ROAD THROUGH ROMANS PAGE.
Today we are finishing up with verse 5 in chapter 1. It reads:
Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. Ro. 1:5
Belief in our society had become a passive thing. We believe in lots of things, that is we give mental assent to lots of things. We believe in freedom of speech. We believe in the right to bear arms. We believe in the red, white and blue. We believe in apple pie, mom and we believe in Jesus!
But biblical faith or belief isn’t just mental assent to the reality of something. James says it this way, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” James 2:18,19
Paul tells us that faith (real faith) creates an obedience, a willingness to support and fight for the things we have faith in. How much you actually believe in Jesus is displayed by how well you live for Him. Strong faith creates right living. Weak faith creates careless living.
What mindsets, in our culture, does the teaching about “obedience that comes from faith” confront?
Hey there folks! Here is a new challenge for all my Sunday readers. Every Sunday I will post one quip or quote that struck me during the week. You can join along in the quipping and quoting. Here is what to do.
Publish a post of your own, using one quip or quote that grabbed you during the week. You can add a picture to it if you like or even photograph the quote from it’s source.
Link back to my post
You can include the Pastor Wrinkle’s Q& Q photo in your post if you think my mug worthy of your blog.
Here is my quote for the week.
“When Jesus walks into the room…there is always a response.” Barry Risto
Yesterday we began talking about what it is that Christians receive from their Christianity. We receive grace but there is something else too.
Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake. Ro. 1:5
We receive “apostleship”…a commission…a send off…a release or permission to go and do the things Jesus did.
Did you get that?!?
We don’t need permission to do the things Jesus did. We don’t have to beg Him to do miracles in and through us. We don’t have to pray unceasingly for supernatural power or ability to be better witnesses.
We can fully expect miracles to take place in and around us. We can expect that people around us will start coming to Christ and becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus… because we have been sent off to be miraculous people so the gospel will be proven when we speak.
The only reason this doesn’t happen is because we don’t expect it to. We don’t take hold of it intentionally (which as we said in an earlier post is what receiving really is. If you missed that post find it HERE) . Apostleship is the natural position of every Christian (not being an apostle but being apostle-like).
So have you taken hold of your apostleship? What does that look like?
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers, the place where 100 authors gather to share 100 words apiece to describe a photo offered by our hostess Rochelle. My story is below the photo prompt but you can find 99+ other stories by going to Rochelle’s blog HERE
Photo by: Sandra Crook
The Waves Won’t Wait
by JE Lillie
Every day I scrabble up to the top of the cliff. I sit on the ledge and let my feet dangle over the waves crashing below. They are like the people in my life: Angry, noisy, promising a nasty end if I let them touch me.
I sit alone at the top of the world beyond their reach, sealed away by the emotional distance I have placed between us.
I wait until sunset then clamber down the slope. As I hit the beach I can hear my parents screaming at each other. I go home anyway. The waves won’t wait.
