life

DON’T STOP!

Tina K. Roach Christianity , , , , , , , , , , , ,


⁣“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”⁣
⁣‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬⁣
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⁣Yesterday was the National Day of Prayer – a day when we are called to unite our hearts as one and pray for our nation, our leaders, and our communities. I love that we have this set aside time to join together as a nation! It also is a reminder that prayer is important. It makes a difference. It is needed. ⁣
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⁣But, I also would like to take this time – the day following this National Day of Prayer – to remind us that EVERY DAY is a day of prayer! Prayer makes a difference and is needed every day of our lives. It is an ongoing, continual communication with our Lord. We are to “pray without ceasing.” In other words, DON’T STOP!!⁣
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⁣Don’t stop praying just because we may not feel like it. Feelings have nothing to do with it. We pray because God desires us to do it and also because it is through prayer that our lives and circumstances can be changed. WE are changed!!⁣
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⁣We are to rejoice (feel joy, celebrate, triumph) and be thankful in all circumstances! We may not feel joy or be thankful FOR the circumstances…but we feel joy because God is with us IN the circumstances. He is within us to enable us to GO THROUGH and to COME OUT victorious and stronger! HALLELUJAH!!⁣
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⁣May we come into alignment with the WILL OF GOD:⁣
⁣1) rejoice always⁣
⁣2) Pray without ceasing⁣
⁣3) Give thanks in all circumstances⁣
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⁣Thank You, Lord, for always being with us to enable us to carry out Your will. We do not have to rejoice, pray, and give thanks apart from You! YOU give us the words, YOU give us the strength, YOU give us the desire to walk in obedience to You. We join You in our journey… day-by-day, hour-by-hour, minute-by-minute. AMEN!!⁣
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~Tina Roach⁣
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MOVING FORWARD

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“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

As I was seeking the Lord about what my devotional would be for today, I felt that He was nudging me to not focus on what has happened and is happening in this time of COVID-19, but to look FORWARD to what He is calling us to.

I know you have probably heard, as I have, people saying that they can’t wait for things to get “back to normal.”  Well, I don’t think that as we transition through this season, God is calling us BACK to where we were before. I don’t believe He wants us to just pick-up where we left off.

Brothers & Sisters!  The Lord wants us to go FORWARD into a new season, a new reality, and a new “normal.”  It can be a little scary and a little unsettling not to know what to expect as we journey into the remainder of 2020 and beyond.  

BUT!  We are reminded by the Lord in Jeremiah that we have a FUTURE WITH HOPE!  The Lord has plans for us – and they are plans for our welfare. When I looked up welfare in the dictionary I was given the meanings:  health, happiness, and well-being.

WELL-BEING!  I am encouraged to know that the Lord desires for my being –  my body, my mind, my soul, and my spirit to be well. His plans are not to harm us!  When life throws us an unexpected “curve ball” the Lord still can use use it to work for our good!!  HALLELUJAH!!

“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 NRSV

LORD, we are so thankful that You have plans for us – plans that are in no way abolished because of what is happening around us. We put our whole trust in YOU, knowing that You desire our health, happiness, and well-being. We continue to journey forward knowing that You have already gone ahead of us preparing the way. We are ready to embrace the “new normal” and we know that YOU are moving in and through it all manifesting Your good and perfect will! ALL GLORY AND HONOR AND PRAISE IS YOURS NOW AND FOREVERMORE!! AMEN!

~Tina Roach

RESURRECTION SUNDAY

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I wasn’t really planning on doing a written post today.  To be honest, I woke up a little depressed. If it were a “normal” day, I would be getting dressed in a beautiful, colorful outfit and looking forward to joining my friends at church to celebrate this special day.  Of course, I know this day isn’t about me…I know that it is a day of focusing on our precious Jesus…I know this and yet I still find my thoughts drifting towards my isolation. Am I the only one?

So!  At this point, I CHOOSE to refocus my thoughts…I CHOOSE to trade in my depression for the oil of gladness!  I CHOOSE to celebrate the awesome resurrection of our precious Lord!

As I said, I really wasn’t planning on writing a post this morning – but the Lord had other plans. Thoughts of resurrection have been floating around in my mind and spirit. And I know I am to put it to “paper.”  

When we receive God’s Truth we are expected to react to it.  We know that the resurrection of Jesus is true! So what should our reaction be?  Hopefully, foremost our reaction should be to accept the NEW LIFE that Jesus offers to us through His death and resurrection.  If anyone who reads this has not made that salvation step – I would encourage you to stop…seek the Lord…and CHOOSE to accept what Jesus did for you. 

Again, what do we do with this Truth of the Resurrection of Jesus? We must DO something! I am reminded that “Faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26). We have faith that Jesus was indeed resurrected from the dead. What are we going to do with this knowledge? How will our lives be changed with this knowledge? How do we “walk out” this Truth?

Resurrection Power is within us! Through the Holy Spirit living within us, we walk in the same power that Jesus walked in on this earth. Sometimes it’s hard for me to wrap my brain around that Truth. But, Jesus confirms this Himself!

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” ‭‭John‬ ‭14:12‬ ‭NASB‬‬

CHURCH!  Are we walking this out in our ministries and lives?  Jesus is our example. Are we seeing the works that Jesus did being manifested in our families, in our church, in our communities?  

I believe that on this Resurrection Sunday, as we celebrate our risen Lord, He is calling us to be the expression of His Life on earth!!  BE the hands, feet, eyes, ears, and mouth of Jesus! HE IS ALIVE and HE LIVES IN AND THROUGH US!!

Oh Jesus! We thank You for dying on the cross for us. We thank You for the resurrected life we have in You. When we accepted You as our Lord and Savior – You brought us from death in our sins to eternal life in You!! We celebrate Your resurrection on this most high and holy day! WE CELEBRATE YOU!! Amen!

~Tina K. Roach

GOOD FRIDAY

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Good Friday…so why is the day that Jesus was tortured and crucified called “good?”

As we look at how Jesus was treated, I think we definitely can say that what He endured was not good. 

So again…why is this day called Good Friday?

There is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday. There is no Resurrection without the Cross.

Sometimes it’s difficult to understand that what we consider a “bad” thing could actually end up achieving good results.

Jesus chose to suffer the Cross to bring about our redemption…to reinstate our position with God that was lost in the Garden.  There are consequences to sin. What an awesome Love that Jesus chose to bear the consequence of our sin on the Cross.  No, the suffering of Jesus wasn’t a “good” thing – but it was necessary to bring about our good standing with God once again. The result of the Cross was definitely good!

Because Jesus understands the importance of being willing to lay down our lives for a new life, He instructs us to take up OUR cross and follow Him. 

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16:24-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

No, we don’t have to be nailed to a physical cross to be a disciple of Jesus – but, He does call us to be willing to exchange our old life for a new life in Him. And this can be a difficult thing indeed!

Are we willing to let go of our plans, our desires, our way and allow Jesus to place His life in us? If we want to have life eternal with God – then we must embrace the cross – His and our own.

Good Friday – a day to remember the GOOD that was accomplished through the absolute LOVE of JESUS!! He took our sins upon Himself so we could have eternal life with Him. And that was indeed a “good” thing!!

Ahhh, Jesus! I am overwhelmed with the revelation of what You were willing to endure for us. You chose the Cross. You chose the Cross for us so we wouldn’t have to pay the price/penalty for our sin. Lord, help me to choose to pick up my cross and follow You. May I place all of my selfish desires and my self-focus on the cross and follow in Your footsteps of humility and love. May I join You on this Day of the Cross and follow You to the Day of Resurrection! Amen!

~Tina K. Roach

Think About These Things

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⁣Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.”‭‭ Philippians‬ ‭4:8‬ ‭ESV‬‬⁣
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Well, the days of quarantine and staying at home continue. As we are separated from others physically and separated from participating in some things that give us pleasure, it is easy to dwell on those things that make us frustrated or angry or sad. ⁣
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We are instructed in God’s Word to take control over our thoughts! We are not to let our thoughts control us – to control how we feel – but we are to control what thoughts we allow to “hang around.” [2 Corinthians 10:5]⁣
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If we allow God to guide and direct our thoughts – we will discover that we can change our focus from thoughts of doubt, negativity, blame, frustration, and hopelessness to thoughts that focus on those things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. ⁣
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In other words, what are things that we are THANKFUL for? May we take each day and write down those things/people/circumstances that are commendable and deserve our praise. ⁣
Let’s not just write them down once a day, but let’s have a running list that continues throughout the day as we are proactive in bringing our thought life into alignment with God’s thoughts. ⁣
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LORD! We are so thankful that You are with us 24/7 as we journey through this quarantine season. Help us, Lord, to take control of our thought life. May our thoughts and our words be full of life and love and praise. Help us to see others through Your eyes and may we be vessels of honor and truth and love. Oh LORD!! YOU are the One at the top of our list who is worthy of our praise!! And we praise You each and every day! HALLELUJAH!!⁣
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~Tina K. Roach ⁣
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GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

Tina K. Roach Christianity , , , , , , ,

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”       ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:23-25‬ ‭NASB‬‬

I woke up on Palm Sunday feeling at odds because I was not getting ready to attend church on this special day.  As a matter of fact, it was supposed to be the day of our Easter Cantata. But, due to the quarantine/stay-at-home, we were unable to follow through in leading this worship experience. 

I know that once this separation is over, we will not only pick up where we left off, but we will pick up NEW ways to “stimulate one another to love and good deeds….and encouraging one another.”  We already have found ways that maybe we weren’t doing before as a Church or individually.  I would say that Church, as we know it, is being transformed!!  

We have also discovered that even though we have been unable to assemble together in our church building – we have NOT forsaken our “assembling together.”  Through phone calls, email, texts, and social media – we HAVE stayed connected!! Hallelujah!

In and through it all – 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful!!”

GOD IS FAITHFUL!!

Your Sister on the journey,

Tina Roach