Nothing excites me like talking about Jesus.  I love to hear testimonies of how the Lord absolutely rocks lost souls and brings hope where only despair once thrived.  I love seeing how God fixes broken lives and causes His people to transcend circumstances to see the reality of Christ (not the skewed view we perceive with our eyes and minds, as through a glass darkly). 

I mean, think about it: the God of the Universe – the Creator and Sustainer of all – the One Who has always been and always will be, Who is indeed Existence Itself – the Great I AM… He has known me for all eternity.  For uncountable eons before I was formed in my mother’s womb, the Lord has known me, intimately, because I am part of His plan – no matter how small and insignificant that part might be, I am a part nonetheless.

So are you, dear one.

You are God’s child.

He has always known you, always loved you.  He has always had a slot for you in this life, and sent His Own Son – Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Man, God Incarnate Who walked this earth for such a short time yet, through the Holy Spirit is still with us – to prepare a place for you with Him for all eternity.

Stop for just a moment and consider the very real ramifications of it all.  This is reality.  Not your circumstances.  Not your troubles.  Not your bills.  Not your ailments.  Not the bullies in your life or the job that drives you up a tree.  Not the family troubles that plague you or the perceived weakness and failures you have endured in this life.  The way you see your life, your situation, yourself, is not quite 20/20. 

Understand this, if you are a child of God – if you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and chosen to make Him Lord of your life, you are no longer lost.

You are not helpless.

You are not hopeless.

You are not Fatherless.

You are not cursed.

You are not your circumstances.

You are not what others blame you of being.

You are not the sum total of your sins.

You are not a failure.

What you are is the child of the One True God. 

12 So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16  The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 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. 27 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. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 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. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34  Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 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. – Romans 8:12-39 (ESV)

Let all that soak in for awhile.  It is a lot to take in.  And I plan on digging deeper into these verses over the next several weeks.

Can we talk?  God loves you.  I don’t know what you are facing, but He does.  I don’t know the circumstances that led you to where you are now, but the Lord understands.  I do, however, know that the answer to whatever ails you is Jesus Christ.  You can find it in His Word.

So, please… repent and ask for forgiveness.  Seek God first.  Pray.  Rest in Him.  Ask.  Seek.  Knock.  Love the Lord and those around you. 

And know that you are loved.

Sleep well, brothers and sisters. 

And get excited to talk about the Lord and all the wonderful, amazing things He has done in our lives – in your life.  Let Him stir you up.  Let your faith flame burn bright and hot!

More again soon. 

Good night, dear ones.