Romans

Romans

by Paul, the apostle

written 57 A.D.

16 chapters, about 14 pages 

Recently (Feb 2014) I received a list of passages, from a friend that goes to The Grove, that help to give a Biblical identity of those that are in God's family. As a number of them were from Paul's letter to those in Rome, I decided today to read the 16 chapter letter and look for clues that show me my identity.  This is what I have found: 

 1:7       I'm beloved of God and called to be a saint

3:24      I'm justified by his grace and redeemed

4:7-8    I'm blessed as one forgiven

5:1        I'm made right in God's sight by faith and have peace with God through Jesus 

5:2       I'm able to rejoice in hope of the glory of God

5:3-5   I'm able to rejoice in troubles, for through them God is building and strengthening me

5:8       I'm loved

5:9       I'm saved from wrath

5:10-11    I'm rejoicing in reconciliation to God

5:20   I'm one who receives God's grace that far supersedes my sin 

6:7     I'm freed from sin

6:11    I'm dead to sin and alive to God 

6:19   I'm a slave of righteousness

6:23   I'm given the gift of eternal life

8:1      I'm freed of condemnation 

8:2     I'm freed from the sin/death cycle 

8:10    I'm one in which God's Spirit dwells

8:14    I'm a child of God, led by His Spirit 

8:15    I'm adopted!

8:17    I'm a co-heir with Jesus.

8:29    I'm able to be conformed to the image of Jesus

8:31    I'm protected. God is for me 

8:32    I'm freely given all things

8:35&39    I'm inseparable from God's love 

8:37    I'm more than a conqueror through Jesus.

9:26    I'm a child of the living God.

12:5    I'm one body in Jesus

12:6    I'm given gifts to use

14:8   I'm one who belongs to the Lord!

15:13  I'm filled with hope and peace.

Jesus Calling

Jesus Calling
by Sarah Young
382 pages
2004

I had never heard of the unique daily devotional Jesus Calling until a friend gave me a leather copy for Christmas 2012.  I began reading it the first day of January 2013 and it took me about a month to get used to the point of view of Jesus talking to me, as the reader, in each of the daily entries.  For a while I was reading out of discipline and I did not write in the book, as i did not know if i would really like it and maybe if not i might pass it along.  Somewhere in the year, it happened where I so looked forward to each of the days readings and as my prayer time with Jesus increased over the areas He was addressing through scripture, I knew it would be a journal I would read again and again.

This year as I read I underline the bits that are personal to me, and like last year I look the recorded scripture verses up in my Bible for further context, but this year I underline them in my NLT with purple and excited to see all the places where Jesus really cares for me!   Through the year, I have heard of more and more ladies share with me how this book has affected them for good too (some even have it on their i-phone).  I fully recommend it and so thankful for having my own copy and will not be giving this one away, but may purchase other ones to give as gifts.  :)  Thank you Sarah Young for being still to hear from Jesus and I pray for  that desire to grow within me as well.  Thank You Jesus for Your Presence, Your wisdom and Your continual loving care.