I have modified the Devotionals Forum description making it open to any RTI member who feels so moved. The only requirement is that the devotional content have a distinctly Reformed flavor.
I have removed my previous devotionals so we can start with a clean slate. Anyone wanting copies of past devotionals can email me: amr AT askmrreligion DOT com for copies.
I still plan to work my way through Acts and Romans, but a slower pace, so I wanted to offer the opportunity for others to share their thoughts with the membership in the interim. My health is slowly declining and the stress of the situation at home, running this forum, and other obligations is taking its toll on me. Preparation time for my devotionals is becoming more and more difficult to manage. It is time for others to step in a fill the void with blessings we could all benefit from.
Please review the Devotionals forum description before posting in this forum.
Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers,
Rom 8:39 nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Call me an optimist
Whenever I asked a friend of mine, "How ya doin'?" He always responded, "Fantastic."
One day I pulled him aside, "How can you be fantastic each and every day? For a year now I've asked you how you've been and the answer is always the same?"
"God has saved me. My future is assured. I have Christ!"
Wow! This simple conversation changed my life and perspective forever.
Once asked "How ya doin'?" a parishoner responded to Chuck Swindoll, "Well, under the circumstances..." Chuck cut him off, "What are you doing under there?"
My response would have been:
Quote:
Jam 1:2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials,
Jam 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Jam 1:4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything.
Jam 1:5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.
Or in my own words: "I'm under circumstances to become more like my Savior :p
The problem of pain
So, we live this existence with a dichotomy. James isn't crazy to tell us to consider trials as joy (though I once thought so). We are born with a reality of our 5 senses.
The problem is this reality is a recreation of God's intention for us. His reality is obscured.
We are reborn into a different reality.
Thanks be to the Lord Jesus Christ for invading our Matrix-like existence!
Quote:
Rom 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6 For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace,
Rom 8:7 because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so.
A change in focus
Quote:
Rom 8:11 Moreover if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit who lives in you.
Rom 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, "Abba, Father."
Rom 8:18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.
Romans 8 is about hope and refocus. It is about a glass half-full and on promise soon to be filled with every tear, sickness, sadness, removed.
Where are you at brothers and sisters? I admit my glass is half-empty, but it was totally empty before I came to Him and He promises full glasses soon!
Quote:
Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,
Rom 8:29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Rom 8:30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
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Who is "the seed" of the woman mentioned in Genesis 3:15
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