To the philosophers of Rome (the elite), a little Jewish tentmaker coming to preach about a poor Jewish carpenter who was crucified was almost humorous.
But the apostle Paul wasn't ashamed to preach the powerful gospel message that changes lives. It had transformed his own life.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The Gospel of Salvation delivers sinners from the penalty and power of sin. Salvation is the greatest need of the human race.
It's one thing to theoretically believe that God knows about you, and another to be personally aware of His presence. Of the six plus billion people in the world, The Lord sees and cares about you.
Psalm 33:13,14 The Lord looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of man. From the place of His habitation He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.
Does this bring you comfort or is it sobering? There are times in our lives when we count on no one watching. Sometimes we literally cry out for someone to know, someone to see and care.
God is watching and feels our pain.
Psalm 56;8,9 Thou tellest my wonderings; put Thou my tears into Thy bottle; are they not in Thy book? When I cry unto Thee, then shall mine enemies turn back; this I know, for God is for me.
Today we can go to Jesus in the hour of our greatest need and suffering, knowing that He sees and understands. We can find victory.
The pages in God's word are soaked with hope and rich with promises that always come true. If we are not reading our Bibles, we are not feeding our hope and are in danger of losing hope.
1 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. . .
People and peers my disappoint and discourage us, but God has never lied to us. We can believe His Word and embrace His truth. We must believe that God works all things together for our good and His glory. Believe that God can turn your present misery into future ministry. Believe that there is a way up and out of your hard times.
We must look up and lean forward as we patiently wait, and to believe in a bright future. God will not abandon you. No matter what you are going through, God is your only real hope.
Mother's Day isn't the best day for some. Those who want children and can't have them struggle to get past this day. They need our prayers. Those whose mothers' actions ruined a family (some addicted -- some not) also need our prayers.
Whether a birth mother or one by adoption, Mother's Day is a time of honoring the bond between mother and child. I thank God for my own mother RIP, my children, and the blessings they've been in my life.
I saved a poem written by my daughter when she was six years old. It was a school project and she spent a lot of time on it. When she married a few years ago, I framed a copy and gave it to her new husband with the admonition to take care of her. Here it is:
I've gone through teething and learning to talk
Drinking from bottles and learning to walk
From bumps in the night to runny noses
From afraid of the dark to frozen toses.
Through trips to the doctor and the dentist too;
Through eating fried okra and having to chew
From being sad and happy, joyful and blue;
Who's always by my side? Mother, it's you
Laura Davis, Age Six
