Ever Feel Like You Have An Evil Twin?!

Hey friends!

I thought this photo might make you smile! I was playing with the camera on my laptop and it has a 'doubling effect' feature...so you can make it look like there are two of you mutated together!!! Pretty funny.. : )

Today I was reading in Paul's letter to the Romans that sometimes he struggled to do the right thing. Isn't that a relief! He wasn't perfect...even though he was God's messenger and apostle to the gentiles.

This crazy photo seems to represent how Paul was feeling...half of him wanted to do what was right and the other half warred the opposite way, wanting to revert back to the old ways of the flesh. Its the age old struggle of anyone trying to follow Jesus. So be encouraged - we all walk through the same battles and even Paul felt like we do!

This is how he explained it in Romans Chapter 7 (taken from The Message version):

"The power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions. I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes; I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it. I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me?"

We, with Paul, can sometimes get discouraged by the battle...With him we ask, "WHO can rescue us from our sinful nature?"

Thankfully he didn't leave us without an answer...Romans 7:25 gives us the remedy:

"Is there no one who can do anything for me? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does!"

So if you feel like the journey of following Jesus is too tough - don't give up!! And if you have fallen down and your struggles have got the better of you, don't give up! Forgiveness is total and gives a completely blank slate. You can start over again today - right now. Jesus looks at you and sees you as if you had never sinned at all. That's the power of the cross.

I'll leave you with this quote from an ancient Christian named Saint Josemaria Escriva:

"So you have failed? You have not failed. You have gained experience. Now, forward!"

Wherever you find yourself today, whatever you have done, keep fighting the good fight of following the Master. Whatever our failings, let us see them as past and gone, and stand up wiser and stronger from the experience, pressing onward into the bright future that His love brings.

Now, forward! Together we can do it!

Love,
Vicky