Who is at the center?

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. [For all things originate with Him and come from Him; all things live through Him, and all things centre in and tend to consummate and to end in Him]. To Him be glory forever! Amen (so be it). Romans 11:36 AMP

I don't pretend to understand everything in this verse. And I am okay with that because this I do know in my heart - God is at the centre of everything. The Message Bible has this to say,

Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out.

Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what do to? Anyone who has done him such a huge favour that God has to ask his advice?

Everything comes from him;

Everything happens through him;

Everything ends up in him.

Always glory! Always praise! 

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Romans 11:33-36 The Message

And not only that, I know that God is good. Look at what He did for us, for you and me.

You must know (recognise) that you were redeemed (ransomed) from the useless (fruitless) way of living inherited by tradition from [your] forefathers, not with corruptible things [such as] silver and gold, But [you were purchased] with the precious blood of Christ (the Messiah), like that of a [sacrificial] lamb without blemish or spot. 

It is true that He was chosen and foreordained (destined and foreknown for it) before the foundation of the world, but He was brought out to public view (made manifest) in these last days (at the end of the times) for the sake of you.

1 Peter 1:18-20 AMP

We have a loving heavenly Father who has given us the choice to live a life of hope and faith in Him. A choice that involves trusting Him even when we don't understand what is going on, and why. We have the choice of Jesus.

Through Him you believe in (adhere to, rely on) God, Who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him honor and glory, so that your faith and hope are [centred and rest] in God.

1 Peter 1:21 AMP

Jesus, a choice for the long-term, the very long-term - eternity.

For all flesh (mankind) is like grass, and all its glory (honor) like [the] flower of grass. The grass withers and the flower drops off, but the Word of the Lord (divine instruction, the Gospel) endures forever. And this Word is the good news which is preached to you.

1 Peter 1:24-25 AMP

Question for today, who or what will you choose to put at the center of your life today? Will it be yourself, your circumstances or will it be Jesus? 

For thus it stands in Scripture: Behold, I am laying in Zion a chosen (honoured), precious chief Cornerstone, and he who believes in Him [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] shall never be disappointed or put to shame.

1 Peter 2:6 AMP

Faith is

Now Faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]. 

Hebrews 11:1 AMP

A reminder from God this morning to all of us who are living with this assurance.

The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see.

Hebrews 1:11 The Message

He is our firm foundation.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. 
Hebrews 1:11 NLT

Who do we have faith and hope in?

For in You, O Lord, do I hope; You will answer, O Lord my God. Psalm 38:15 AMP

Who is guiding your boat?

Having life in abundance

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). John 10:10 AMP

Three days after we received Victoria's scan results, God visibly reminded me of this truth via posters as a Christian Convention Centre. Last night He gave us another visible reminder that through Him we can have life in abundance (anyone who was at our Junior school musical will known exactly what I am talking about).

You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,

To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Psalms 30:11:12 AMP

All praise to you Jesus.

We have escaped!

We are like a bird escaped from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped!

Psalm 124:7 AMP

Have you ever thought about what you escaped from when you made the decision to receive Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? For me, one of things I escaped from was the need to solve everything myself. Occasionally I do still battle with that, but the occurrences are less and less as God continues to daily teach me about trusting Him fully with every area of my life. What a beautiful freedom salvation gives us, we who are chosen. 

Who were chosen and foreknown by God the Father and consecrated (sanctified, made holy) by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and to be sprinkled with [His] blood: May grace (spiritual blessing) and peace be given you in increasing abundance [that spiritual peace to be realised in and through Christ,freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts].

1 Peter 1:2 AMP

Freedom from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts. A freedom to live in this world, but not be of this world. A freedom to have hope in someone other than ourselves. Someone who is worthy of that hope. Jesus.

Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

[Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that finall] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

1 Peter 1:3-5 AMP

Question for today, what in your life has Jesus helped you escape from? Let's take some time to remind ourselves of what Jesus has done for us, and give thanks.

As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.

Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him, fixed and founded in Him], being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 2:6-7 AMP

Until

UNTO YOU do I lift up my eyes, O You Who are enthroned in heaven.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, and as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until He has mercy and loving-kindness for us.

Psalms 123:1-2 AMP

As someone reminded me on Sunday night, we wait until. 

And we keep our eyes on Him

The Father

[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. Colossians 1:13-14 AMP

The Father. 

The Father who has delivered us from the control and dominion of darkness.

The Father who has drawn us to Himself

The Father who has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.

The Father who provided His Son for our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins.

[We pray] that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God's holy people) in the Light. Colossians 1:11-12 AMP

The Father who has qualified us.

The Father who made us fit to share the portion. The Message Bible says,

Thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bring and beautiful that he has for us. Colossians 1:12 The Message

Question for today, when you think of The Father, what do you think about? Why not take time right now to meditate on these scriptures (you may need tissues - I did), and let the Holy Spirit minister God's love to you.

Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God's power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.
1 Peter 1:3-5 AMP