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Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Rejoice In Suffering?!

"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."
[Romans 5:1-5]

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"
[Same passage--The Message]

2 comments:

  1. Hallelujah!!! What a rich passage of scripture. God is who he says he is and God can do what he says he can do!!! You are in my prayers, my wonderful girlfriend! God has wonderful things in store for the Ball family!

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  2. Okay....this comment has nothing to do with this post but I just had to say I'm #1 on your who's know you the best quiz! Although I should know you the best considering I've known you FOREVER...which is a really, really wonderful thing!!! Love you! :)

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