Thankful for Romans 4:16–25

"That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness." But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification."
Romans 4:16–25 (ESV)

Nuff said... This is the promise of the Gospel and for what I am most thankful.

Cheers.

Hating God... John 15:23

He who hates Me hates My Father also. John 15:23

"I don't need Jesus, I have my own relationship with God."  That is a dangerous position to take.  You don't need Jesus.  I wonder why?

Is it His love and compassion? 
His call to social justice? 
Maybe it is the care He takes for strangers, or maybe even the respect He has for women...? 
Certainly it can not be His desire to see you made whole and restored to fellowship with God.  No I think I know the problem friend....

Jesus is more than a good man or a great teacher.  As C.S. Lewis made very clear, He would have to also be the Son of God.  That's the rub... You say, "I have my own relationship with God".  That is rubbish.  What you have is a god of your own creation... one who allows what you want to do and whatever consequences, if any, this deity bestows are mild.  No... you have a relationship with a being of your own creation, an imaginary friend.

(End rant.)

Friends, please listen to my heart.  I want you to connect (or reconnect) with God and that can only happen through the Lord Jesus Christ.  He loved you so much that He was willing to suffer the agony and shame of the cross.  If that is too far fetched to believe, I am sorry... but then again... many thought that the idea of the earth is not the center of the universe was absolute non-sense.

Think on these things....

Cheers