Daily Devotional Day & Night

HAPPY MONDAY!

I pray all is well with everyone, and you're enjoying the beginning of another workweek. I'm doing well, had a good weekend, looking forward to a good week. I made the Tortellini with Crab and Gorgonzola cheese over the weekend, and it was wonderful. It's such an easy dish to make, and took me all of 20 minutes to do. Today is my Sister LaSheda's birthday, happy birthday sweetheart; my baby sister is growing up, the older she gets, means the older I get. My grandmother is doing well, she's looking good, and is up moving around, thank you for your prayers, I've planned a trip for us for the July 4th weekend, I pray she'll feel up to going. Have a wonderful day!

Today's scriptures are about our death and resurrection in Christ. It is written that we should be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), what does that mean to you? When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we die to sin, and receive eternal life in Christ. In that process we die to our old life, and lifestyle. In some cases it could be painful, because we're being refined. It could be very difficult to change a person’s ways. God has a lot of work to do, so we're going down with Christ, and then rose back up in Righteousness with Him. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all (Psalms 34:19). Think of Jesus' crucifixion, it was a lot of physical pain and suffering, but we rejoice in this act of great courage and strength, because it freed us from the penalties of sin. Jesus never complained, and lived a life full of peace. God is Who He is, and He never sugarcoats anything. As I read certain stories in the Old Testament, I see just how powerful and mighty He is, yet He's also merciful, kind, and very patient. We could see this in the sacrifice of His only begotten Son. This may seem like a heinous act, but the compassion behind it is the only thing we should be concerned with. The love of God is real, true, uplifting and comforting. The sacrifice of Jesus was necessary to free all mankind. Now He is the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, His hard work is done. Dr. Stanley wrote in his devotional today: The Lord’s ultimate purpose for each believer is that he or she will learn to think, act, and speak like Jesus (Rom. 8:29). This requires our old self to die, and our new self resurrected. We are the body of Christ, and He is one with us, as the Father is one with Him. We must commit to learning His ways, so we could complete God's will for our lives, with peace, joy, and happiness. We must have peace in knowing that God's Will shall be done, so it's easier for us to seek and follow Him. Jesus is the ultimate teacher and friend, and it’s because of Him that we're made new. Every new thing has to be created, there's a purpose for everything, and our rebirth in Christ happens at the right time, place, and season in our lives. Sin equals death, and before we find Jesus, we're dead to righteousness. We have no real connection with God, unless by the blood of Christ. I could say this everyday, and some people still don't get it. This is why we must constantly stay in the word, and exercise the Power of Christ that lives in us. If we don't live according to His word and His ways, then we sin, and when we sin something dies. Everything has its consequence, and we know that by our Earthly laws. If you break the law you're punished. Some crimes carry larger penalties than others, but they cost a price. Whether it's your freedom, time, or money, you will pay a penalty, and something is lost. Our main job is to learn the laws, and follow them. In John 3, Nicodemus was obviously curious about all that he'd heard and seen from Jesus and he went to Jesus inquiring about His role, starting in verse 2: This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus went on and questioned Jesus until he understood what He was talking about, because he just didn't get the phrase "born again". Jesus replied in verse 7-8: "Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” There are a lot of things that we cannot understand in the flesh, and that includes the word of God. Being "born again", is necessary to be able to understand, hear, see, and feel the Spirit. We cannot do anything without Jesus. Once we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we experience a rebirth, and start off as newborn Spirits. It doesn't stop there; we then need to learn whom we are in Christ, and start to rebuild. If you don't know Jesus, I suggest you get to know Him as soon as you possible because Sin=death, but Christ=Life. My favorite verse today is: If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

ENJOY! http://www.bible.com/scripture-detail.php?juli=2455005&dtype=Scripture
http://www.intouch.org/site/pp.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=4943197
http://www.intouch.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=cnKBIPNuEoG&b=5200573&ct=7048043

I love you!