Hi folks, I thought that this response from Marilee was good to share for today. We are in this together:

I am in awe of God's mercy. As I was reflecting this morning I am so grateful for His call on your heart for this Romans 12 Club and so grateful for your obedience! The most impacting realization is that while I thought of Him (briefly and fleeting) each morning, there were those days that turning on my computer and dealing with my 300+ students became the first instinctual act of my day. From there, many times God just had to wait for me to turn off my computer at 10PM (this is Mon-Sunday) or be in church to get my full and devoted attention.

Then came your invitation to be a part of this club. Talk about His timing! Within 3 days, people close to me (my sister - who is Mormon, my daughter who lost her house in hurricane Ivan and who will be moving here with her husband and 3 boys because they are in such financial difficulty and can see no way out, my friend Jeannie who is suffering from a recurring battle with depression, and my friend Jeff who is the only believer among them who is struggling with guilt due to his inability to conquer a serious drinking problem) all have been turning to me to be their "ear".

In all truthfulness, at moments in my life I have almost resented being the "dumping ground" as there are times that it has so exhausted me that my own ability to "stay cheerful and up" have been gravely affected. While I would tell them that peace and answers lay with submission to Christ and His power and prayed to be His light, I question my own steadfastness!

That this ministry should occur just prior to all 4 of them "crashing" at the same time is no coincidence. My days are spent with Him first. I am a thirsty child just eagerly awaiting your message each morning so that the day can begin with His mercy and strength and my gratitude and recognition of that very element of submission. Being able to share His mercy in a compassionate and tireless way after reflecting upon His mercies (NEW EACH MORNING) in my life, has given me strength and the ability not to be in the flesh nor be impatient and judgmental about their inability to "get it". I think one doesn't realize how far into ourselves we get and how much we need those mercies on a daily basis. I catch myself being unmerciful in so many little ways that I wasn't even aware of (or not willing to be because of the comfort of habit and necessity to change) and I know it's because of this ministry.
The amazing thing is that by starting my day this way I don't experience the fear, exhaustion or panic or the need to "do something - anything" to make these sufferings of others better. I know it's His way of drawing them to Him for the only answer and that if I just listen and share His mercy and longing for their trust and promises and let Him do in and for them that His word does not return void.

The fascinating part of all of this is that I have prayed for each of them to see His light in me and call out to Him. And you know what......I was getting tired and was in the frame of mind - "I've told you where the answer lies so what is your problem. If you can't even take my advice and make an attempt to just try to find Him then I'm wasting my time and energy. Can you believe the arrogance? How soon we slip into the flesh and think it's all about us. I guess this is a long way to express my gratitude for your faithfulness. Each day I find my perspective changing from one of temporal to eternal.....an inch at a time.....and I hope you don't mind my sharing my thoughts occasionally. I appreciate and value the safety of being able to do so. Marilee

"Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life." Jude :21

It is our only path to Heaven - the mercy of Jesus. His willingness to withhold our due penalty for the sins of our youth, young adulthood and maturity.

It is fairly easy for me to accept and acknowledge His willingness to grant mercy to my misspent youth. I was young and ignorant and knew only how to seek self-satisfaction. I wasn't aware of the consequences of my behavior or the self-destructiveness of my attitudes. I was a reasonable candidate for mercy.

But His mercy in my maturity - that continues to amaze me! Not that I think I should be a saint quite yet, but surely I should suffer more for knowing what I do and still blowing it at times. Yet, it comes to me that my expectation of suffering is often met by my own hand. He finds no pleasure in seeing me suffer; I sometimes find some relief in the penance there.

He desires obedience and not sacrifice, His goal is joy, not pain. His will is my attainment of Godliness, may it be mine as well.
I do know that as I mature, I am more keenly aware of my lack - and therefore, hopefully, working through those areas with pilgrimages such as this. Transformation through renewing my mind. His mercy at work in changing me, preparing me for eternal life. My thought for today.

"Be merciful to those who doubt." Jude :22
My dad died two years ago yesterday. He was always to me a combination of Abraham and Moses. A man of immense faith - willing to travel to unknown places through uncharted waters because he believed God had called him. A man who accomplished such good things in his life that church leaders from across the US came to his funeral.
I have always wondered if he struggled with doubt. I think that not knowing if he did, made my doubting more of a burden to me. Because I have struggled with doubt. I wonder about the possibility of evolution, aliens, Hell and redeeming Grace. Not always in that order. I really have had issues with believing His willingness to forgive me.

He told Jude to write "Be merciful to those who doubt." If He told Jude to do that, then He must be the initial example of that mercy. Merciful in that He doesn't punish me for my moments of doubt - those times when I think "What if it is all vain imagining to think that a Creator would care about me?" " What if there is nothing Out There?"
His mercy allows me to get through those thoughts and find the surety of His work in my heart. To remember the times He so certainly did meet my need. To recognize my failings in the lives of those I am tempted to disdain in their weakness.

He is merciful to this doubting soul so that I can find ultimate faith in Him. To a time when I can stand beside my dad in faith so strong. This thought will surely carry me through this day.

"Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy." Habakkuk 3:2

In the days of Israel's exile to Babylon, the nation really got the message. They never again got caught up in the worship of idols.
But it took 70 years of abject captivity. There are times in our lives when it seems like our actions and attitude have removed God far from us. At least it feels that way.

God loves for us to finally get to the place with Habakkuk - "Please renew Your deeds in these days, Lord. It is one thing to hear about what You are doing all around me - I need You to make Your deeds known in my time, in my life. In Your very justified wrath remember mercy."

And as He is a just God who is angry with disobedience and disgusted with my lack of faith, so is He a merciful God who exalts Himself with His Grace toward me. Grace and mercy that lift me out of my self-centered loathing and insecurity and allow me to see what He is doing for me and all around my life. True self-awareness is never self-centered, but full of His mercy. Full of His mercy. Full of His mercy!

"To You I call, O Lord my Rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if You remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.
Hear my cries for mercy as I call to You for help,
as I lift up my hands toward Your Most Holy Place." Ps 28: 1,2

There is a section of the Psalms where David cries out to God in his pain and concern. Ever been there? We all have.

David never pleads to be treated as he deserves. Bad idea, that. For him, for us.

But he does plead for God to answer his cries as he cries for mercy. He recognizes that God is not likely to respond to those who do not seek Him. A response by nature demands an entreaty. No entreaty, no response - needy person plain out of luck.

So I, along with David, entreat God for His mercy. It is my solace and my shame. Shame to have to continue to ask, solace that He promises to respond. Shame because He created me to feel it when I sin, solace that He loves to relieve my pain.

Hope that as He renews my mind, He transforms my shame to satisfaction.