'Amazing Love'

I am very thankful for all my friends who are believers, and I feel it is more than just being glad others believe like I do, but it is in the relationship that we have that transcends the current world situation, any trials or difficulties we are experiencing or anything else pertaining to this life on earth. We are the family of God, children of the Kingdom, brothers and sisters in Christ. I know how easy it is to dismiss all theological talk as just words, but I am impressed very much with the fact that we are an eternal family, we are strong, and as long as we are here, we are a force to contend with by anyone who prefers serving the god of this age. It is so easy to worry about everything that is happening, but we know worrying is futile. God has given us His word. We are to rejoice always, be thankful, encourage one another and keep trusting the Lord. I am going to home group tonight and I need to go to bed early, and I don't know how or if that will happen, but I know going to my weekly gathering is a vital part of my walk with Jesus, and it is something God values and blesses and is something He thinks is important, not just something else to do during the week. We are a small fellowship as the result of an unfortunate split that occurred in 2020, but, as a result, we have grown closer, tighter knit than we ever were before, "knit together" as the Bible says. I am glad not to have missed this. I started out going directly to Philippians, because it is so uplifting, and right away, Paul begins this letter to the Philippian church, after the "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ," that introduces a number of the New Testament letters, "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ. "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:2-11). The fact that one day we will meet the Apostle Paul is something I am looking forward to with great anticipation. With such love he writes to the churches, pouring out his genuine love and affection for them all through the New Testament, his love for God and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love poured through Him to us throughout all these hundreds of years, is simply astounding to me. I am so glad for the Bible, Old and New Testament, the life that is between those pages, and every time I allow the words to grip my heart through the power of the Holy Spirit I am amazed again at the wonder of the life we have in Christ and how He keeps pouring out His love on us and through us to others. Words of an old hymn, cry out across the ages: "And can it be that I should gain An int’rest in the Savior’s blood? Died He for me, who caused His pain? For me, who Him to death pursued? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! how can it be That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?' We are victorious, we have overcome, we are redeemed, we are free from the penalty of sin, we are no longer perishing, we are no longer condemned and underneath the wrath of God. And it's all because of Jesus, who came and died and rose again, and we are His special treasure here to give Him glory and honor, we have eternal life and we will be together with Him forever. It's just amazing, so I just pray that you are all rejoicing and thankful today for the gift of God in Christ, and I hope you are being blessed in abundance today, no matter what you are facing because know that you are not alone, and if you are with Jesus, you have hope and the expectation of greater things to come, even while we rejoice and can be thankful today. I am blessed to know all of you and how God has placed you in my life. . Maranatha, the Lord is coming. Love in Christ, Carolyn