Romans 5:12-21: Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned – ¹³sin was indeed in the world before the law, but sin is not reckoned when there is no law. ¹⁴Yet death exercised dominion from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sins were not like the transgression of Adam, who is a type of the one who was to come.¹⁵But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man’ trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. ¹⁶And the free gift is not like the effect of the one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification. ¹⁷If, because of the one man’s trespass, death exercised dominion through that one, much more surely will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness exercise dominion in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.¹⁸  Therefore just as one man’s trespass led to condemnation for all, so one man’s act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all. ¹⁹For just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰But law came in, with the result that the trespass multiplied; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, ²¹so that, just as sin exercised dominion in death, so grace might also exercise dominion through justification leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Have you ever thought of a life without God? I can’t imagine a world without God in it. I understand there are non-believers amongst us and for them I pray they will experience God’s love. Knowing God’s love gives me the courage and strength I need each day to face life. For me a world without God would be a world of darkness. It would be a world where birds did not sing, the stars would not shine and rainbows would be colorless but   the greatest travesty of all would be there would be no love.  It is God’s love that comforts me when I hurt, it is his spirit that walks beside me during a storm and it is his gift of grace that I thank God for every day. What kind of world could it be if everyone had God as the center of their world?

-Cindy Jones

Morning Psalm 27¹   

The LORD is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

How many times have you heard someone say with conviction I am a God fearing man? I love the Lord with all my heart. I try to do what is right but I am far from a saint. There are questions about The Bible I have struggled with through the years and loving a God I am suppose to fear has always been foreign to me. For me I can’t associate   fear with My loving, merciful God.

This is an issue I have prayed about over the course of time. At the beginning of the New Year I made a resolution to read my Bible every day. Though I must admit I have missed some days but this is a resolution I intend to keep. In my reading I found a verse in Proverbs, 8:13 that helped me reconcile my rebellion about a fearing God. Proverbs states to fear the Lord is to hate evil.  Although I can’t say if I really hate anything, I do know I don’t like the evil in the world. I wish everyone in the world could know the peace, happiness and contentment you feel when you and God walk as one. I know as I continue my daily readings more verses will touch my heart and I will gain a priceless gift in God’s wisdom.                     

Cindy Jones

Mark 2:1-12:  When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” – he said to the paralytic – “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them.”

In reading the above scripture I started thinking what would happen today if Jesus came back to earth as a man. What role would I play? Would I be a betrayer like Judas, a doubting Thomas or a self proclaimed Paul? Would I be amongst the modern day scribes or would I be one of Jesus’ followers? Would I have the courage to seek Jesus out so he would put his healing hands upon me?  Would I have the faith to open my eyes and see?

Of course I will probably never know the answer to these questions but I can  surmise what I would do. As I read Dick Sales’ writing the other day I realized then that I play different roles depending on life situations.  There are times when I am at the top of Know It All Mountain.  When I am high on that mountain, life is exhilarating, each moment of the day is exciting and I have a vast amount of energy.  I feel God’s presence in every thing I do — and then comes the fall — into the depths of humility.  In the depths of humility, I am asking God, “where did you go?” although it is not God who has left, it is me who has forgotten to ask God to come along.

In closing I want to say I can only hope that if Jesus came to my door, he would be welcome and when he left, he would say that mine was a home filled with love. 

-Cindy Jones