Sunday morning in San Diego was bright and beautiful as I sat drinking chai tea by the hotel pool. Thanking God for these beautiful surroundings, it was strongly impressed on my heart to read Romans 8 in the MSG version. So I did. Afterwards, while praying, a friend came to mind and I texted her, “Good morning! You came to my mind after I read Romans 8 in the message version. Our “Papa” is wonderful!!! I pray for you and your family often. Love you and Happy Sunday!”

An hour later, walking into Barabbas Road Church, I noticed a table stacked with dozens of Bibles. In the center was an open Bible....the page turned to Romans 8. And verse 8:28 was underlined! (my ‘life’ verse). Coincidence? Of course not! God is everywhere and He reminded me yet again how He makes ALL THINGS WORK TOGETHER FOR GOOD!!

God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, He personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that. The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. Romans 8:3-5 (MSG)

Father God, “This resurrection life You give is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa?’ God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know Who He is, and we know who we are: Father and children.” Thank You Papa! Amen.

(Romans 8:15-16 MSG paraphrased)