Gracious God Gives Power to Share 10/23/26

“If God is real, then why did He kill my brother?” That is what a girl said to my daughter, Sarah, during a break at a Detroit Opera Youth Chorus rehearsal the other day. Sarah tried to explain that sin, not God, results in death. She then found her older cousin, Mark, to help her explain the gospel more clearly to a hurting and confused girl.  

Paul always seemed to know exactly how to explain the gospel, and he was eager to share it with anyone. He knew that no one was saved by human strength, but salvation was entirely by God’s power.

Romans 1:14-17  I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. ¹⁵ That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Paul is an amazing example of someone who truly loved God, loved other people, understood God’s power, and humbly relied on that power to do what God had called him to do–preach the gospel! By faith, Paul was empowered by God’s gospel. By faith, God’s gospel can empower you and me to speak and share truth with others.

Where do you get the strength to speak truth? Do we rely on our own knowledge or preparation? Or are we afraid because we don’t feel knowledgeable or prepared? It is God’s power and His revelation that brings salvation. Like Paul, let’s rely on God’s power, giving Him the glory. His power is far greater than our abilities!

I’m praying Sarah, Mark, you and I will rely on God’s power to eagerly take opportunities to speak truth lovingly and share His gospel.

Alice

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Be Our Lamp (4/16/26)

Yesterday, a severe storm hit Michigan, leaving many without power, and the rest of us concerned about losing ours. We have a generator that usually comes on when we lose power, as our sump pump must keep running so that our basement doesn’t flood. However, it doesn’t power every light in the house and is a less-than-ideal substitute. In the new Jerusalem, we won’t need to worry about power or light or floods! Jesus will be a far better substitute.

Revelation 21:22-27 ²² I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. ²⁴ The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. ²⁵ On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. ²⁶ The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. ²⁷ Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The beauty of the magnificent new Jerusalem, as described last week, will be accentuated by the glory of God the Father and Jesus the Son. Imagine the streets, walls, and foundations bathed in bright sunlight. It will be even more grand by the pure and perfect light of God’s glory, making the sun and moon unnecessary.

This glorious place is our guaranteed inheritance for those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Do you know if your name is written in the book? You can be certain.

Ephesians 1:13-14 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Those who have believed in God’s salvation through Jesus, our perfect sacrifice, are included with Christ as children of God and heirs of His glorious kingdom. Let’s praise Jesus as our worthy source of salvation, eternal life, and eternal light!

Grace to the Embarrassing

I have not posted to this blog in a very long time, and I apologize for that. Now, my last day with Thomson Reuters is January 2, so this has become my only means of sharing with my colleagues still at TR. My intent is to post here and on my personal blog. I hope these bless you. 

Family history can be fun, or, depending on who’s in it, embarrassing. Did you have someone to be proud of or ashamed of in your genealogy? Mine is a mess of both. No sense being embarrassed, ashamed, proud or confused. I have Zachary Taylor and the Martin clan (West Virginia feuds) in mine. All distant, all confusing, and not sure which is important.

For some cultures, ancestry is crucial. In some it’s important. There are probably some who don’t care, honestly, but I don’t know of any. For the Jews, knowing which tribe you came from was important. Knowing your Levitical lineage was important. It became more and more difficult over time, but even in Jesus’ day, it was a major part of their lives.

Which makes Jesus’ genealogies in Matthew and Luke very interesting. As was said before, purpose drove who was on it and where they started. Matthew and Luke both include the same names from Abraham to David, but it is interesting who Matthew notes in addition.

This is the record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah (by Tamar), Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz (by Rahab), Boaz the father of Obed (by Ruth), Obed the father of Jesse, and Jesse the father of David the king.
Matthew 1:1-6 NET

This translation notes the additions in parentheses. Obviously Matthew doesn’t call out all the various mothers, only the ones where there’s an interesting story in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Tamar was having trouble with the “levirate marriage” rule and finally deceived the father of her former husbands into having a child with her. Rahab was the Canaanite “prostitute” who betrayed Jericho into the hands of Yahweh’s people. Ruth was the Moabitess who should never have been accepted by the people of God, not for ten generations.

Tamar’s story is found in Genesis stuck in between two parts of the story of Jospeh. It kind of…makes everyone look bad, so let’s jump to Rahab.

Rahab has “the prostitute” as her last name throughout English translations of Scripture. There’s a lack of clarity about her “role” as the labels are…not precise, a common problem when the topic is indelicate, inappropriate, or embarrassing.

First, let’s look at what she did. When the spies are sent out by Joshua (Joshua 2:1), they enter Jericho and stay with Rahab. When the king is informed that he has spies in the city, he immediately goes to Rahab. Rahab tells the king that, yes, the men came, but they left immediately and he can still catch them before they cross the Jordan. She has hidden them on her roof.

But why? Why lie to her king? Why betray her city? Why help the enemy of her people? But even more important, why be faithless to her gods? Well, let’s look at what she says.

Now before the spies went to sleep, Rahab went up to the roof. She said to the men, “I know the LORD is handing this land over to you. We are absolutely terrified of you, and all who live in the land are cringing before you. For we heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan. When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you. For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below! Joshua 2:8-11 NET

The adventures of the Israelites made it into the local papers in Jericho. Even more, Yahweh made it into the local papers all over Canaan. From the crossing of the Red Sea forty years ago, to the defeat of the local kings across the Jordan just recently, word was getting out.

Look carefully at what Rahab says about Yahweh. Yahweh is Elohim. That is the confession of faith of the Hebrew Scriptures. That confession is an expensive confession of faith. It rejects Rahab’s culture, her people, her city, everything she has known to this point.

She has looked at what is happening in the world around her, just like everyone around her, and made the decision to leap into what Yahweh is doing. The rest of her people resist what they see Yahweh doing to threaten their culture. She repents; they do not. And that makes all the difference.

Prostitute, innkeeper, or whatever, embarrassing, inappropriate, or shameful, it doesn’t matter. Yahweh accepts this confession of faith from this Canaanite woman and uses her to fulfill the promises He made to Abraham. She becomes part of His salvation of all humanity, warts and all.

Now seriously, what is holding you back? This world, our cultures, successes, failures, families, or friends; what can hold you back from your confession of faith in the Creator of the universe? Are you really that successful? Have you truly made that many mistakes or are they that significant? Why not influence your friends rather than the other way around? Why not become the catalyst for your whole family coming to faith?

Make the leap. Take the step. Drop the luggage and jump into His arms.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Call Witnesses Home (6/26/25)

As teens, my parents told my sisters and me we could always call home to get out of a sticky situation. They would come and get us (if we didn’t have a car) or tell us we had to come home (if we were driving ourselves). I never had to use the “call home” tactic, but it was reassuring to know we had a safety net, a way out of a bad or uncomfortable situation.

Last week I reflected on a grim scene: two witnesses lying dead in the street for 3 ½ days after powerfully and faithfully witnessing for Jesus for 3 ½ years. They had been given physical protection until their work on earth was done. Then, as we will see in the following passage, miraculous spiritual protection enveloped them while their enemies shook in fear. After that, another remarkable thing happened - Jesus personally called them home!

Revelation 11:11-14         ¹¹ But after the three and a half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. ¹² Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.

¹³ At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.

This passage is a powerful reminder that Jesus is the only One to fear, serve and obey. In the end, He will show the world that His followers are the only ones with real security and eternal salvation. What will Jesus say to us at the end of our lives? Will He say “Come home!” or “I never knew you?” As the Creator and sustainer of life, He wants to welcome us home! Let’s pursue Him this week, so His voice is a welcome presence rather than a cause to tremble.

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy of Praise for Salvation (3/27/25)

My nephew, Michael, had a scary medical crisis this past weekend with very low glucose. As I was crying out to God for help, I recalled all His miracles in Michael’s life in the past. Also, we as a family had just reviewed some of our Revelation memory verses which helped me focus on Jesus’s attributes. He sees all, knows all, has all wisdom, has all power and saves us eternally!

We’re still on this side of Heaven, awaiting complete fulfillment of our salvation. However, the great multitude in Revelation 7 already finished their suffering on earth and perfectly praised God and Jesus for their eternal salvation.

Revelation 7:9-12    ⁹ After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice:

“Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb.”

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,¹² saying:

“Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!”

Have you ever heard or sung the praise song – Salvation Belongs to Our God? It has a catchy chorus “Be to our God, forever and ever, Amen.” (Several different Christian singers and groups have recordings of it.) Well, the words to this song (in bold above) come right out of Revelation 7!

The multitude in heaven, the angels, elders and four living creatures used these words to praise God right after He sealed His servants that were still living on earth (see last week’s devotional). So, the next time you and I hear or sing this song, let’s remember that as followers of Jesus Christ, we are also sealed for eternity. God has guaranteed our eternal salvation through Jesus the Lamb, no matter what happens to us in this life.

I love how these words of praise are focused on God and His work and not the singer. With their palm branches, they were celebrating victory - Jesus’s victory over sin. Their white robes represented the forgiveness, cleansing and righteousness Jesus gave. Their salvation and security rested on Jesus’s power and work and not their own. Worthy is Jesus!!!

Thursday Devotional – Jesus is Worthy to Seal His Children (3/20/25)

My kids have lots of questions about the symbolism in Revelation (and sometimes me too!). I can’t answer all their questions, but I can give them assurance that as children of God, they are on the winning team! Jesus promised that those who believe He is their Savior will live with Him forever in Heaven. His seal is our guarantee.

Ephesians 1:13-14   ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Are you a child of God? Have you believed and received His seal? If so, then we have nothing to fear in this life because we have a guarantee of a far better life to come!

The same is true for the servants of God referenced in Revelation 7.

Revelation 7:1-8      After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. ² Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ³ “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” ⁴ Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.

⁵ From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed,

from the tribe of Reuben 12,000,

from the tribe of Gad 12,000,

⁶ from the tribe of Asher 12,000,

from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000,

from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,

⁷ from the tribe of Simeon 12,000,

from the tribe of Levi 12,000,

from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,

⁸ from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000,

from the tribe of Joseph 12,000,

from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.

Some scholars think this number of 144,000 is symbolic while others think it is literal. Some think it is specific to Israelites who follow Christ in the last days and some think it represents the larger body of believers across the ages, the Church (including Gentiles). Revelation chapter 14 gives further details about this group of 144,000. Whether this number is literal or symbolic, it does signify completeness and God’s special care for His children.

Last week we saw how all kinds of people tried to hide from God to no avail. His final wrath and judgment will fall on all those that don’t belong to Him. However, God’s servants will be redeemed from the final judgment! God has a plan in place so that none of His children are lost.

II Corinthians 5:1 & 5         For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands… ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Jesus is worthy to guarantee our security! Let’s praise Him for our permanent belonging!!!

Thursday Devotional - Jesus is Truth – Offering Salvation to All Who Believe (10/12/23)

This week God helped me prepare a lecture on John 3. Nicodemus came to Jesus with questions about who Jesus was, but Jesus turned the conversation around to be about who Nicodemus was in the family of God. He needed to be born again to see, enter and enjoy the kingdom of God! Jesus also highlighted that anyone who believed could have eternal life.

John 3:1-7, 9-10, 14-15   ¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. ²He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." ³In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."  ⁴"How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"  ⁵Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. ⁶Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' ⁹"How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.  ¹⁰"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? …¹⁴Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

In studying this passage, I was reminded of the day my son, James, was born again. It was a Monday night at dinner - Sarah looked outside at the darkness and said she was scared. I asked what she could do about being scared and she said “go to church.” James then interjected and told her she could talk to God and Jesus. I confirmed “Yes!”

 

Then, James stopped eating and said he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. Unprompted, he said “Jesus, will you come into my heart?” [pause] “Jesus said yes!” We then talked through what having Jesus (through the Holy Spirit) in our hearts means - He forgives our sins and helps us love and obey Him. James was able to tell me what some of his recent sins were. At some point in the conversation I asked James what he wanted Jesus to do for him (to test the genuineness of his faith) and he said “forgive my sins!” So, I said he could also pray and ask Jesus to forgive his sins and help him love and obey God. He immediately and voluntarily prayed on his own in his own words about all that!!!

 

I hugged James and told him he was a child of God! After dinner was over, James got down and hopped to the bathroom to wash his hands, chanting “I’m a child of God! I’m a child of God!” Yes, he was born again and adopted into God’s family! 

Have you responded to Jesus’s offer of salvation? Have you believed in Him, His testimony, His words, His work and His authority? If so, are you and I enjoying abundant eternal life now? Who else might God be leading us to share these truths with today and this week? 

Alice

Thursday Devotional - God is With Us to do the Impossible 2/24/22

I love knowing God can do the impossible!!! The “greatest” impossible feat He has accomplished is that of our salvation.

Matthew 19:23-30       “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With human beings this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.’”            Matthew 19:23-30

Beyond the impossible feat of saving us, God has also done the impossible to elevate the lowly, reward the sacrificial, and give an inheritance of eternal life to His followers. All of that is seen in these few verses. Maybe you even saw more!

Let’s remember that we know the true God of the impossible who has already provided the best “impossible” blessings!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Pure and Permanent Priest

We’re two months into 2020!!! How are you doing with your 2020 goals? There are a few I’ve done well and a couple I haven’t.

Jesus had a goal for His life on earth and he completed it perfectly. His goal was to provide eternal salvation to all who will receive it. He perfectly and permanently accomplished it! Because of that, the writer of Hebrews calls Jesus our pure and permanent High Priest. The Old Testament High Priests couldn’t save anyone.

Hebrews 7:23-27  ²³ Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; ²⁴ but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. ²⁵ Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

²⁶ Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.

As we begin the season of Lent, there are so many encouraging promises to focus on from this passage about Jesus as our pure and permanent priest.

1.   He already provided complete salvation (to those who accept it)

2.   He is the only way to God

3.   He is alive and interceding for believers daily

4.   He is and has the answer for every need

Which truth will you and I appreciate and focus on today?

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Clearing up Confusion

At the tower of Babel (Genesis 11), God confused the people’s languages because of their disobedience. They had refused to scatter over the earth as He commanded, so He made it so they had to scatter because they couldn’t understand each other anymore. However, on the day of Pentecost, God united the different languages.

Acts 2:1-6, 11-12      When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. ⁴ All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them.

⁵ Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken… ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” ¹² Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Peter boldly answered their question by sharing the truths about Jesus.

Acts 2:32-33, 36       ³² God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. ³³ Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear… ³⁶ “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

Peter then boldly called them to repent and turn to God for forgiveness and salvation. God brought all the different languages together. Jesus had died for all of them, no matter what their nationality or background. His plan of salvation is available to any who will accept it.  

Acts 2:21       And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Who do you and I know that is confused and needs clarity about God and His truths? Like Peter, we can clearly, lovingly and boldly share God’s plans with them by the Holy Spirit’s power.

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Love Letter

At the beginning of the month, the kids and I pulled out our Valentine decorations. James was curious why we celebrate Valentine’s Day. Sarah suggested I ask “Period” (which is what James use to call Seri, for some unknown reason! 😊) I looked up the origin, but there isn’t anything concrete and no one knows for sure. It could possibly stem from the martyr of a St. Valentine. One was killed for secretly marrying people and the other wrote a letter to his sweetheart on the day of his death, supposedly February 14^th.  

After not being able to answer James’ questions, he continued decorating. With some heart sticks we pulled out (picture attached), James decided we should each hold one and then go around and say what we love about the other family members. Then, he suggested we wave the heart sticks up and down 3X chanting “God loves you, God loves you, God loves you!” It was a great way to start the “love” month. God is the perfect Valentine. He’s the One who first loved us!

I John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

I John 4:19 We love because he first loved us.

God gave us the best Valentine gift – Salvation through Jesus Christ.

God gave us the longest, most helpful and encouraging love letter – the entire Bible!

Last week we talked about the need to read and know the entire Bible. The Psalmist knew the importance of this, as well.  

Psalm 119:73-77      Your hands made me and formed me;
    give me understanding to learn your commands.
⁷⁴ May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,
    for I have put my hope in your word.
⁷⁵ I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous,
    and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
⁷⁶ May your unfailing love be my comfort,
    according to your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷ Let your compassion come to me that I may live,
    for your law is my delight.

Which part of God’s Love Letter will you read and delight in today? 

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Another New Sister!

Last Friday I came home from work to another new sister!

James and Sarah were playing together when James asked: “Do you want to be a Child of God?”

Sarah: “Yes.”

James: “You need to ask Jesus into your heart in order to be a child of God. do you want to ask Jesus into your heart?”

Sarah: “Yes.”

This wasn’t the first time James had asked Sarah similar questions. In the past, she had said no or ignored the question.

Joe overheard the whole exchange and stepped in to talk with Sarah about what it means to ask Jesus into our hearts and to ask about her understanding of what Jesus did for us. Sarah knew Jesus died on the cross for our sins and she was able to identify some of her own sins and her need for a Savior. She prayed in her own words, asking Jesus to forgive her and come into her heart! She is not only my daughter, but now my sister in Christ, a child of God!

Romans 10:9-13 ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Have you believed in your heart and professed with your mouth that Jesus is the resurrected Lord?

If so, you are saved from eternal destruction and a meaningless life and are a child of God!

If not, what is holding you back?

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Suffering in Anticipation of New Life!

Normally I write the devotionals on Wednesday evening after the kids go to bed. However, I was “in” Connecticut (via FaceTime) last night while my youngest sister gave birth to her 2^nd child (Heidi Elizabeth, 7 lbs. 15.2 oz, 21 inches and 9 days late). My sister, Mary, had complications with this pregnancy due to a large hemorrhage. They thought they lost the baby several times, but now they have a healthy baby girl that even nursed in the first 30 minutes!

It’s a huge answer to prayer after lots of concern and waiting. God graciously blessed Mary with strength for an all-natural deliver of only four hours of labor and 1-2 pushes!  Sarah has been praying for “Aunt Mary’s side not to bleed and the baby to live” for many months now! She will be very excited this morning when she wakes up!

As children of God, we are eagerly awaiting our complete salvation and fulfillment of eternal life! Just like childbirth, suffering proceeds blessings.   

Romans 8:16-25     The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. ¹⁷ Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

¹⁸ I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. ²⁰ For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

²² We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. ²³ Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

As God helped Mary focus on the impending blessing as she persevered through suffering, we can do the same as we patiently and eagerly await our full inheritance as God’s children!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Condemned or Not Condemned?

We can’t ever be good enough or meet God’s expectations. We are born sinners, sinful and condemned. That’s why God sent Jesus to live the perfect life we couldn’t. As the perfect human, He paid for our sins to save us from our condemned state.

John 3:16-18       For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

The only way we won’t remain condemned is by believing in Jesus’ work and letting His righteousness cover us. He then gives us the Spirit to help us live the life He intended us to live!

Romans 8:1-4      Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

How are you and I submitting to the Spirit, allowing Him to rule our minds? What areas of our mind do we still need help to give over?

Let’s praise God for His mercy to save us from condemnation and live in freedom by submitting to the Spirit!

Alice

Thursday Devotional - Merry Christmas from the Reas

For today’s devotional, I thought I would include our Christmas picture and letter. I wanted to send a Christmas letter out last year after our adoption was final, but life was too crazy! So, this year’s letter covered a little more than a year. :) 

Merry Christmas! God blessed us with two wonderful children (James and Sarah) a little over a year ago! We got them in June of 2016 and adopted them in October last year, so the past year and a half has been full of changes, new things, and firsts!

James (5.25) is outgoing, loving, friendly, excited, active and generous. He started a music class and swim lessons this Fall. Most importantly, he accepted Jesus into his heart as his Savior this past February, and the Holy Spirit’s work in his heart is evident!

(Romans 10:9-13               ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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. ¹¹ As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”)

Sarah (3.75) is reserved, strong, diligent, content, cuddly and petite. She enjoys library time with James each week, singing (even if she doesn’t know the words), and animals (especially horses). James and Sarah both enjoy playing anything and everything with each other and their cousins.

I’m still working at Thomson Reuters and keep an active CPA license. I work an early shift, switch places with Joe, and then he counsels clients afternoons and evenings most days. We both continue to enjoy leadership in Bible Study Fellowship (studying Romans this year).

Love,

Alice

Romans 5:1-3      Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² 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.

Have a great Christmas!

Thurs Devo: Servant Seal

Last week we saw how all kinds of people tried to hide from God to no avail. His final wrath and judgment will fall on all those that don’t belong to Him. God’s servants will be redeemed from the final judgment, though. God has a plan in place so that none of His children are lost.

Rev 7:1-3      After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. ² Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: ³ “Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.” 

Are you a child of God? Are you a servant of God? Do you have His seal?

Ephesians 1:13-14    ¹³ And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

For those of us with God’s seal, we have a guarantee of a far better life to come!

II Corinthians 5:1 & 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands… ⁵ Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Praise God for our seal, deposit and guarantee!!!

Alice