Thursday, Mar 27, 2008

March 27, 2008

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March 27, 2008
To Listen to Today’s Reading http://timewithgod.mypodcast.com
Genesis 21: 22-32; Ezekiel 23: 28-49; Revelation 2

Today is March 27, this is time with God, I’m Pastor Dennis - I’ve been waiting here for you. Welcome to our life transforming community. We are doing something of eternal significance. We are redeeming the time. That is one of the basic premises of TWG. We believe that what we do every day is so important that we must do the important things each day. That is why we read the word every Day

There’s snow on the hills, can you believe it? One day it’s sunny and feeling like spring, and the next day it’s 35 degrees and snowing! I put a picture of the view from Bill & Helen’s deck overlooking the North Umpqua River and a few snow dusted hills in the background at timewithgod.mypodcast.com. Check it out. Yesterday I edited and published a radio podcast to the internet called “Pigs will be Pigs.” You can find it at http://pgteaching.mypodcast.com/. I also worked on Bible Study for our Wednesday Night Study. We are in Exodus 33 looking at the Glory of God. This is the story of Moses who went into God’s presence and when he returned, he was “glowing.” He put a veil on to hide the glow, and to hide the fact that it was fading. The amazing thing is that 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us that we have a more glorious relationship with God, and we are to reflect his Glory more and more every day. How are you doing at that? Got the glow? Well, it’s back to the drawing board, or should I say, back into God’s presence so that I can reflect his beauty.

This week’s theme verse is Romans 8:26-27: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

I groan a lot. Especially when I’m sick. Susan can testify to that! “OOOHHH! Help me! Honey, I need more soup (love, blankets, water…)!” Susan is quite sympathetic, “Get it YOURSELF!” She smiles . The other day I visited a friend in the hospital. Both of them are not doing well. There was a tear in my eye, and I let out a sigh. I groaned from somewhere deep within. We groan when we are struggling with pain. We may not have the words to express how we feel, but everyone understands the universal nature of a groan. Romans 8:22 says that “all creation groans together,” because it has been subjected to the degrading pain of sin. Even the universe seems to be waiting anxiously for the day when Christ will liberate us from corruption. Romans 8:23 adds that “we ourselves groan” waiting for the liberation of our body. The older we get, the more we anticipate redemption. A groan is a universal form of communication. It crosses all cultural, racial and language barriers. Any normal human being will react with sympathy to a cry of pain. We will stop what we are doing, no matter how urgent it was a moment ago, to help anyone who is hurt. When the Spirit intercedes for our needs, He groans. God is deeply touched by our plight. He feels our pain. He is moved with compassion. His sighs and groans are so deep, that there aren’t words enough in any language to express how intensely he hurts over our human condition. And just like our response to an injured stranger, God the Father reacts in sympathy and love and answers those prayers. When you hurt, God hurts. When The Holy Spirit prays, the Father acts! Jesus loves me this I know! He is groaning for me.

My Dear Father. Sometimes I am deeply moved inside. Sometimes the needs are so great. You even understand the underlying needs I have. And they move you even more than they move me. Thank you for caring. Thank you for feeling the pain I feel. And thank you for loving me so much that you are already moving in answer to the Spirits prayers. I am overwhelmed with just how much you care about me. I love you too!

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