Thanking God

Romans 1:8  First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.

Many of us pray to God and are thankful for His blessings in our life. Paul takes it up a notch with this simple statement of how he prays for the Roman church.

He says, "First, I thank my God... "

First and foremost Paul thanks God...and not just any god...but "my God" Paul has a personal relationship with the All Mighty.  This is not just some generic prayer he is praying. It is a personal and very moving prayer to his God whom he knows and makes known in Spirit and in Truth. many times we hear prayers that are general and they seem as if they are intended for believers and non-believers alike.  When Paul prays to his God...it is a prayer that is intended for the believers ears alone.

He says, "...through Jesus Christ for you all"

Paul does not approach God the Father alone, but "through Jesus Christ". We have  a tendency to approach the throne of the All Mighty much tot flippantly. We need to have more respect. Jesus said, Luke 12:5 "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!" He was talking about the Father here. No other being has that authority but Him. And yes...fear Him and respect Him.

He says, "...for you all" 

Paul also does not single out people when he is praying about the Romans. "..for you all" There is an interesting story in 1 Samuel 30:21-25 where David confronts some men in his army who do not want to divide the spoils of war with some of the support people who stayed behind the lines to care for the camp. These were called wicked and evil men. When David hears of their plans, he tells them this. ” 23 Then David said, “You must not do so, my brothers, with what the Lord has given us, who has kept us and delivered into our hand the band that came against us. 24 And who will listen to you in this matter? For as his share is who goes down to the battle, so shall his share be who stays by the baggage; they shall share alike.”   You see, David understood that winning the battle takes everyone doing different tasks.  Some seem to be more important that others, but in reality, it takes everyone exercising what gifts God has given them and what He has called them to do to be successful.  In any church this is true as well.  The Romans were made up of many different types of people, but it was everyone who shared in the battle and they share in Paul's praise for what they have done.  May it also be so with us today.  It takes everyone of us working with Jesus as the head to make a church work

Finally Paul states, ..."because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world."

This is what it's all about, isn't it?  It's not about fame or power or money. It's because of Jesus and His love and sacrifice for us that we can proclaim faith. Oh that our FAITH would be proclaimed throughout the whole world! Not out Denomination or Church or pastor...or even what we do...only that our Faith be proclaimed as being true and honest and uplifting.  If that be true, then surely at the end of our journey we will hear God himself say, Matthew 25:23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Amen.

Blessings All!

Spring Tonic

Spring Tonic

You know what these are right?  These are Dandelion greens. Every spring my Dad would pick the first ones that came up before they had a chance to flower and he would make a salad of these. He claimed he ate them when he was a boy and that my Grandfather would tell him that they were a "Spring Tonic". I don't know if they are or not, but I pick them every year and have a couple of meals of them. My favorite way is just with a simple vinegar and oil dressing.

I introduced these to my boys when they were young, but it never caught on with them.  So I still have the salad all by myself...but seriously...these are good.  And I think that you can find them anywhere...they grow right on your lawn. :-)  Be warned however, they are not easy to clean...it takes me at least 4 washings with running water. They have a lot of "Dark Matter"...yes...this is the same substance that scientists are searching the cosmos.  All they really have to do is look at the roots of the lowly Dandelion and they could find all the "Dark Matter" of the Universe.  God has wonders all around us, doesn't He?

Give it a try.  Delicious!

Hallelujah

Hallelujah!

The picture above is actually the Fortune I got from my favorite Chinese restaurant where I went to have lunch today. Amazing, isn't it?

Hallelujah is actually a transliteration the Hebrew word which is a combination of You (plural) all Praise Yah [weh]. It is used primarily in the Old testament, especially the Psalms but it is also used 4 times in Revelations.

Psalm 117

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

A Psalm of Praise.

117 Praise the Lord, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!
2 For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the Lord is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!

Today I want to remind you to Praise the LORD. We get too involved with just living and sometimes we forget what is really important...seriously the MOST important thing that we can do. Give thanks.  And not just focused on just anything...but One Thing. The LORD.

Take a moment...right now...where ever you are and just think of how many things the LORD has done for you.  I am not even talking about what He has done for you in the past week or year...how about just thanking Him for today!

Don't worry about thanking Him for tomorrow.  We may never even be there.  Just thank Him for now, always now. If we arrive at tomorrow...well it won't be that any more will it?  And neither will we.

Blessings All!