Tag: Romans 8

God Wins

On By sashakatzIn FemmeFuel by Sasha Katz2 Comments

I have a sister who knows in her heart that a mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. She knows that the Love in her comes from her God. The kind of God that Isaiah describes as the One who sits above the circle of the earth, the One who calls out the stars by name at night, the One who does not need counsel, but is Counsel. The One who is never weary or tired. The One whose ways are unsearchable. The One who gives power to the weak and gently leads those with young.

My sister headed to her brother’s wedding with a new born baby, a six year old, her husband, dad and her very sick mom. Although she would not miss her brother’s ceremony for the world, she was really, mostly there, to stand for Christ and His great love. She stepped into a place where there were present many other gods. Ancient gods who like to think they will not be rustled in the generational strongholds they claim as their own. My sister brought with her the power of the Spirit which does not disappoint. She spoke the Word of God – – which is Love – – in her designated platform. The one true God made it into the hearts of the other worshipers. And they were astounded by this kind of Love.

I didn’t know much of my sister’s wedding story until later. I only received a text in reply to my asking how the wedding went. My sister said, it was tough, but God wins. Sometimes words stick with you. God wins sticks with me. I think about how to live with the knowledge that God wins. That means that I can humble myself and wash feet. That means I can reach out to strangers that pass through my life everyday. I can pray for and love on those who are bound and those who are suffering. I can have faith that my marriage will last. I can go out of a limb every day because my God wins. The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man to do me? Hebrews 13:6.

It’s love that compels us to walk out on a limb. We have confidence to do all that God calls us to do because He wins. God, I pray that we remember that our God sits above the circle of the earth. He calls out the stars by name at night. He is wise Counsel. His ways are unsearchable and He never tires or grows weary. He gives power to the weak and gently leads those with young.

Romans 8:5-8: Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Consider reading Isaiah 40 to be reminded of his greatness.

Consider reading James MacDonald’s Devotional Absolute Authority on May 12, 2014.

Also inspired by Lynn Offerdahl’s bible study on Hebrews 13 on May 14 at the Calvary Chapel Sports Ministry

Without Self-Sufficiency

On By sashakatzIn FemmeFuel by Sasha KatzLeave a comment

I have a friend who has been my friend for a very long time. She knows me well and likes to call me little sis. I don’t really like that very much, but I take it as a term of endearment . . . and, she is, well, closer to 40 than I am, so technically speaking, she could be my big sister. Continuing with technicalities, my friend is intellectual, ambitious, causal in her thinking, legal in her arguments and without grey in many ways. She would probably call herself self-sufficient. She is a single mom, working very hard, raising two and doing her best to live well; travel well; stay mentally well; stay well connected. Read well; fight for what’s best for her kids well; be the best she can be well. She would probably call herself self-sufficient.

I think about the differences between she and I and, I venture to say that, I am also capable. Put me on a desert island and I will survive. I’ll find food, shade and water and eventually plan to make my way home. Capable is a somewhat like self-sufficiency. But what it does not do is give you a flag to waive or a mantra to chant that you must do all things on your own. Self sufficiency is sort of like shutting a door. To your soul.

My friend in many ways has become so capable and so self sufficient that she has turned off the light switch to the very thing she desires most. Love. Her emotional walls consist of proficiency, skills, gifts and talents. Her defenses cause her to run to what looks like love and run from what actually is love. Self-sufficiency has become her idol. She worships what might feel like love instead of what promises to be love.

I love this friend with a love that never sleeps, skips a beat or ceases to be nearby. I love this friend with blinders because she needs this kind of acceptance. I love this friend with kind words because it is her love language. I love this friend and pray that she sees in the lovers of God in her life that God did not make her to be self-sufficient. He made her with a God shaped hole in her heart that only His love can fill. I pray that she sees in the lovers of God in her life that God did not create for her to do life on her own. I pray that, in her dreams, she will see the supernatural power of God at work in her; that He is sitting beside her every step of the way; waiting for the moment that she would turn her head to see His great love for her. Desiring for the moment that she would turn her head to see His great love for her.

Psalm 75:1: We praise you, God, we praise you, for your Name is near; people tell of your wonderful deeds.

Romans 8:5-8: Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

Consider reading James MacDonald Devotional on May 5, 2014 about self-sufficiency.

More Than Conquerors

On By sashakatzIn FemmeFuel by Sasha Katz2 Comments

The ground shakes and your chest pains. And your gut ties itself up. That is shock and pain twisted up together. As you still feel the aftereffects of the quake, the wind blows and you look for the substance in which you used to feel in the wind. And, you say to your God, are you still here? In the place where the sins of man rocked Your congregation.

Instead of feeling Him in the mighty wind, you see that He has come nearer and it is His breath that has filled the place and moved across your cheek. You see and you know that Your God is ever present in time of need. He doesn’t leave His house. He is not surprised by the sin of man.

With your spiritual eyes, you see that He has sent legions of angels to stand on the ground that we walk. For the purpose of empowerment, grace and mercy to cover pain. The city walls are not damaged but even more so guarded by the power of His great hand. I can choose to believe many things about good and evil. But, I choose to believe that God is good and the extent of His greatness is yet to be fully seen. This is the hope of Christ. That until He is seen face to face, there is great victory in living, right now, for Him.

Satan may have set out to destroy this ground. But, covered in the redeeming blood of Christ, we walk on holy ground that is established on the Word of God. We are more than conquerors. Nothing shall separate us from the love of God.

Romans 8: 31-38: 31 What, then, shall we say in response 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, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Divorce and the Happily Ever After

On By femmefuelIn FemmeBytes by JMathis, May 2011 (Motherhood)Leave a comment

By JMathis

There was a time in my 20’s, where I spent almost every weekend going to a wedding. We would get decked out and dance the night away, being sleekly dressed accessories in the myth that every bride and groom’s “happily ever after” had finally arrived, as Bindu would say. The bride and groom were Mr. and Mrs. Prince Charming, and we guests were complicit in re-telling the story of this fairy tale for generations to come.

Now, in my 30’s, I am becoming a co-conspirator in the unraveling of fairy tales. I spend hours on the phone consoling my friends, and then analyzing the “he saids, she saids” with my husband (as he inevitably hears the guy’s side, while I am now only privy to the girl’s narrative. “Ladies and gentlemen, the lines in battle have been drawn! Boys on one side, girls on the other”). After all, this isn’t some college breakup, but a full-scale war where the casualties are often children.

The children. Innocence lost in one fell swoop. They, too, were complicit in the fairy tale. Seeing and hearing the nightly fights, but never believing that the ‘D’ word would actually sever their household.

Last night,  I heard the news again about another couple. I feel almost too sick to write this post in a week where we have kept it lighthearted on our blog.

But, yet, here we are once again, and the “once upon a times” are taking on the dark quality found in the sinister fairy tales of the the Brothers Grimm…decapitated heads, wolves in sheep’s clothing, children falling to their demise. 

I need strength, Lord. I can’t hear story after story without wondering if this is the fate of all parents, even Christian ones.

What words do I say to a couple facing this, Lord? What words do I say to myself and to other parents who are watching this horror movie where our friends are playing the lead roles?

I turn to Romans 8. I tear up to find a chockful of verses that give me hope. Hope for them, hope for their children, hope for me, hope for all of my married friends.

 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.

 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.

 31 What, then, shall we say in response 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, along with him, graciously give us all things?

33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36As it is written:

   “For your sake we face death all day long;
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]

 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Thank You, Lord, for hope. Thank You, Lord, that we do know how the story ends, and that is with You, triumphant, saving us from darkness, despair and the harmful effects of the ‘D’ word. Thank You, Lord, for allowing us to surrender our fairy tales at your feet, in exchange for restoring the “happily ever after” in our lives. A true “happily ever after”, where we are showered with Your grace, majesty and the hope of eternal life.

Most of all, thank You, Lord, for Your LOVE, that saves, heals, covers, purifies and makes all things new–even our “once a upon a times”…