Nothing Can Separate Us From God's Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39 

Paul was convinced that nothing can separate us from the love of God.

And I'm convinced of the same.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we're attached to God's love at the hip.

And nothing can separate us.

Today, Abby, Kirk and I went to brunch in La Mesa.

We had a fun time catching up, eating outdoors, and thanking God for good food and family.

Nothing Will Separate Us From the Love of God in Jesus

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39 

God has promised that nothing will ever separate us from His love.

What a wonderful and reassuring promise.

Neither life or death.

Not angels or demons.

Not the present or the future.

Neither height no depth.

Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from God's love in Christ Jesus.

After all, He is our Lord and Savior.

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!” — Revelation 7:11-12

The angels fell down on their faces and worshiped God.

That's what we'll be doing in heaven one day.

Saying, praise and glory and wisdom and thanks be to our God.

Honor and power and strength be His for ever.

Amen!

This baby was born on new year's eve to my colleague at work - their first.

Kya Mae looks like she's ready to face the world.

We praise God for her birth.

The Voice of Angels

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” — Revelation 5:12

The voice of many angels worship God night and day.

In one voice they say, Worthy is the Lamb!

Jesus was slain to receive power, wealth, wisdom and strength.

To Him be honor and glory and praise.

He alone is worthy of our adoration.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Romans 8:38-39

Nothing can separate me from God's love.

He has paid for my sins with the blood of his Son, Jesus.

And now I'm His.

Nothing can separate us.

Not the present or the future.

No powers, nor anything else in all creation.

Not angels or demons.

Nothing will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus my Lord.

When I'm out hiking, I'm reminded of that through the beauty of His creation.

What an amazing blessing.

A Clanging Cymbal

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. — 1 Corinthians 13:1

God is love.

If I don't have love, I am only a resounding gong.

Without love, I am just a clanging cymbal.

If I speak in the tongues of men but don't have love, I'm just an empty void.

God is love.

Love is patient.

Love is kind.

Help me Lord, to love others.

To share Your love with those I meet.

Happy Birthday, Steve!

You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. — Psalm 8:5

Last night we celebrated my brother Steve's 54th birthday.

We went to dinner with Steve and Miki at Nicolosi's.

A fun evening watching the sunset together.

Eating delicious Italian food.

And laughing together.

Steve still has a healthy appetite.

It's been a long time since we saw each other.

And even longer since we've had dinner together.

At least a year since we've spent time with Miki.

Happy Birthday, Steve!

 

Show Hospitality

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. — Hebrews 13:1-2

Today our sermon series continued on Genesis 2 and God's creation.

Then Dr. Lee shared about people who have been persecuted for sharing their faith in China.

We had a couple of visitors from Texas who had walked over from their hotel in time to join us for Sunday school.

Afterward, I gave them a ride back.

They had originally come from Ethiopia and still have relatives there.

They were in San Diego for a conference and found our church online.

Then we had the girls over for Bible study and painted mini canvas bags.

One of the girls lost her grandpa this morning.

Two others lost their dog a few weeks ago.

We were able to pray for all of the concerns.

Very grateful to live in a free country like America where we can worship as we choose.

Thanks be to God!

Let's Go to Bethlehem

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." — Luke 2:15

The shepherds were some of the first people to see baby Jesus.

The angels appeared to them to tell them about the birth of Jesus our Savior.

When the angels had left and gone into heaven,

The shepherds asked each other if they should go to Bethlehem to see this thing that has happened.

The shepherds hurried off  to Bethlehem.

Once they saw the Baby, they hurried to tell others about the miracle of our Savior's birth.

 

God, Our Mediator

The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one. — Galatians 3:19-20

Our friend Mary lost her dad last week.

We are grieving with her.

At the same time, we rejoice that her dad is now in heaven with his wife and with Jesus. 

Even so, it's hard to lose your parents, as we know.

Our friend Lavonne created this beautiful arrangement for her.

The law was given through angels and entrusted to Jesus, our mediator.

A mediator implies more than one.

But God and Jesus are one.

We are grateful.

Nothing Can Separate Us from God's Love

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. — Roman 8:38-39

This past weekend, Abby and I spent some time in San Francisco.

We rode the cable cars and did lots of walking (twice up Lombard Street).

The weather was beautiful.

We even got to walk the labyrinth at Grace Cathedral and praise God in worship at Hillsong Church.

God's creation drew us closer to Him and to each other on this trip.

As we rode the boat under the Golden Gate bridge and rode on the bus across it, we were reminded of God's creation and His love for us.

We Do See Jesus

But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. — Hebrews 2:9

Jesus was made human — lower than the angels, but just for a little while.

He is also fully God and sits and right hand of His Father, God.

Jesus is crowned with glory and honor.

He suffered death but came alive again on the third day.

By the grace of God, He died for me and for everyone, before we even knew him.

Now we see Jesus.

He guides us through the day-to-day events of our lives.