peace and hope

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom he has given us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Romans 5:1-11 (NIV) [emphasis added]

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wait

Once again, I am in a time of waiting. I can feel God testing me and my patience while I wait. This time I am in complete surrender. There is absolutely nothing I can do, except wait and rest in Him and His promises to me. Trust. Be still. Wait. Believe. Pray.

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phillipians 4:4-8

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" John 11:40

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Lift Up Ellie

Please join me in praying for this beautiful little girl, Ellie Potvin who was diagnosed with cancer (Rhabdomyosarcoma, Stage 4) on July 2, 2008 at age 6. In a post Ellie's mom wrote on her CaringBridge website today, hospice said Ellie may have about a week left. My heart breaks for her parents and her twin sister, Grace. Her mom has asked that everyone pray for a miracle for Ellie, because we know God can do immeasurably more than we can ask or image (Ephesians 3:20a). Pray for peace that surpasses understand for this family. Lift up Ellie.