Today’s reading is Romans 15:1-20
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.15.13.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing”. God fills us with joy and peace. Worldly things promise joy and peace, but they only come from God. Please pray that we and our friends seek God first in all we do this year. Please pray for Bridget Hires. 

Today’s reading is Romans 12
“For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:4-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.12.4-8.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul’s says, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them”. I think that true joy comes from pursuing where your passion meets God’s purpose. When we find that intersection, we are able to depend fully on God and give our best at the same time. God has a purpose for all of us and we get to experience the fruit of the Spirit in that intersection. CS Lewis said we are closest to God when we live fully in the present. Please pray that we and our friends spend our time today where our passion meets God’s purpose. Please pray for Bridget Hires. 

Today’s reading is Romans 22-36
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:33-36‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.11.33-36.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!” Do we realize who we are talking to when we pray? I have to remind myself daily that God created all this. He created the earth and man. He created me. He created Bonni and the kids. He has seen today already. He has seen the next year already….. He allows us to be included in His purposes. Please pray that we and our friends enjoy the presence on God today in the present. Please pray for Bridget Hires. 

Today’s reading is Romans 11:1-21
“But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.11.17-18.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you.” Are we entitled to God’s love? Did we earn it somehow? It is ALL a gift. How grateful are we for the gift of His love? How grateful are we for Jesus transforming us through faith? Please pray that we and our friends are thankful today for our relationship with Christ. Please pray for Sonny Hires daughter, Bridgette, as the doctors are still searching for the cause of her pain. 

Today’s reading is Romans 10
“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:1-4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.10.1-4.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.” Paul was consumed with telling people the good news of Christ. He hurt for the people who were trying to save themselves or serve themselves. Do you have a friend that is trying to save himself or herself? Do you want them to have the fruit of the Spirit? Please pray that we and our friends “seek first to understand and then to be understood”. Please pray for Sonny Hires daughter(Bridget). She has been at Scottish Rite since Wednesday with a sickness they cannot identify. 

Today’s reading is Romans 9
“What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭9:30-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.9.30-32.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul’s says, “Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works”. What’s the difference between pursuing by faith and pursuing based on works? Faith puts the control in God’s hands and works puts it in our hands. Faith puts the trust in God and works puts the trust in us. Do you want to trust yourself or God? Jesus wants to transform us into His image and He will do it through trust and faith in Him. Please pray that we and our friends notice when we are trusting in faith or in works. Please pray for our friends who do not trust Jesus. 

Today’s reading is Romans 7
“What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.””

‭‭Romans‬ ‭7:7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.7.7.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.” Is there anyone who doesn’t sin? Identifying sin leads to repentance. Repentance leads to the fruit of the Spirit. If we choose not to identify sin, that doesn’t mean it still doesn’t separate us from God, it just doesn’t lead to repentance. The good news is Jesus comes to transform us into His likeness through repentance. Please pray that we and our friends ask Jesus to reveal any sins we harbor and repent. Please pray for all the people who have lost a loved one this last year. 

Today’s reading is Romans 6
“For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6:20-23‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.6.20-23.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.” Is your life fruitful? The world will tell you that money, sex and power will bring you Love, Joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control (Gal 5:22-23), but it doesn’t. Those are the fruit of the Spirit. They come ONLY from God and not from wealth, etc. Sin is enticing to us because it promises great fruit, but it ultimately deceives. It is understandable why so many people try to interprete the Bible so they can try to serve both sin and God. Jesus says we must deny ourselves before we can follow Him. Please pray that we and our friends ask the Holy Spirit where we have sin in our lives, then repent and serve righteousness instead of sin. Please pray for the victims of human trafficking this Christmas season. 

Today’s reading is Romans 5
“For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:17-18‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.5.17-18.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.” Do we realize how big this gift is? As Christmas Day is approaching, are we ever more aware of this unbelievable gift? As I go through the things I’m grateful for each morning, this creates a heart of gratitude throughout the day no matter the circumstances. Please pray that we and our friends “be joyful always” 1 Thes 5:16 as we remember this wonderful gift. Please pray for the men who are looking for jobs during this Christmas season. 

Today’s reading is Romans 4
“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.” Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭4:2-5‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/rom.4.2-5.esv
All,
This stands out because Paul says, “Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.” Does God owe us anything? Are we entitled to a certain lifestyle, wealth, friends, etc. if we go do certain works? This is always a tight rope for most of us. It’s tough to not get legalistic with our relationship occasionally. However, once I come to my senses and remember it’s ALL a gift, life is peaceful. I feel closest to God when I’m living in a state of gratefulness for ALL things because of what HE did as opposed to anything I did. Please pray that we and our friends are thankful for what Christ did for us as we celebrate His birth this week. Please pray for women in the Beloved house.