Category Archives: Gift

Too Good to be True? Not This Time

28 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by in Faith, Gift, Gospel, Heaven, Hope

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I was so happy I couldn’t even fall asleep. I had just shared the message of salvation by faith alone in Christ alone with my friend. As I watched her amazement at such a message, I was reminded of the first time I really heard the gospel message. It was shocking!

How can it be that all I have to do is believe in the redeeming work of Christ? How can it be that simple?  Yet, it is. Christ has been God’s plan from the very beginning, even before creation.

The message is simple, yet astounding!

  • God is holy and just, unable to overlook your sin. He is also Love so He provided a way for you.
  • You are sinful, never able to meet God’s standard of holiness, guilty, unable to save yourself.
  • Christ,the sinless Son of God, the only One who could meet God’s standard of holiness, was willing to pay the penalty for your sins by his death on the cross. His sacrifice once and for all removed the sin barrier between you and God.

There is no debt for you to pay.  Christ already paid it.

There is nothing you must do to earn your salvation.  Christ already provided it.

The only requirement for you to be saved is to believe. You must rely on the fact that Christ’s sacrifice on the cross took care of your sin problem in the eyes of God. The moment you believe, Christ’s righteousness will be credited to your account!

Believe in Christ today! It matters not if you are a good person or a bad person.  No one is good enough to save themself and no one is too bad for Christ to save!  Christ alone is the hope of salvation!

John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2;4-9, Galatians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21

 

 

 

 

Nobody Wants Your Unwrapped Gift!

08 Friday Jan 2016

Posted by in Gift, Love, Words

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As I sat listening to a young married couple talk about their life, I had all I could do to keep my mouth shut.  I had so many things I wanted to tell them –  things that would make their lives so much better.  I had the gift of knowledge and I wanted to gift it to them.  Fortunately, I kept my mouth shut!

Knowledge is a wonderful thing.  But nobody wants to receive the gift of knowledge if is not beautifully wrapped!

Knowledge has the power to make us puffy.  It can make us feel superior.  1 Corinthians 8 :1 states it this way, “Knowledge makes arrogant”.  It puffs us up.  It makes us feel like a Somebody!

But knowledge without love actually makes us a Nobody!  1 Corinthians 13:2 explains that “if we know all mysteries and all knowledge but do not have love, we are nothing.”

So how do I know when I should share my gift of knowledge?  Here are some questions I ask myself.

  1. Did they ask for my gift of knowledge?
  2. What is my attitude?  Do I feel superior?
  3. What is the purpose of sharing?  Do I want to build up or tear down?

Knowledge wrapped in love is both humble and helpful.  Knowledge wrapped in love entwines grace and truth.

Knowledge wrapped in love is indeed a true gift.  It is sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  It is pleasant as honeycomb.  Proverbs 16:24

And perhaps even more importantly, knowledge wrapped in sweetness is more persuasive.  Proverbs 16:21

So the next time you feel like giving your spouse or child or coworker your gift of knowledge, make sure you first take the time to wrap it!

If you don’t have time to wrap it, keep it for yourself!

 

 

 

 

 

How Dare You Call Me Lazy!

02 Saturday Jan 2016

Posted by in Choice, Faith, Faithfulness, Fear, Gift

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I don’t think of myself as lazy. So when I was reading a parable in Matthew this morning, I was struck by the master’s response to the slave who had buried his talent. The master said, “You wicked, lazy slave…”  Matthew 25:26

What was the slave’s excuse for not using the master’s talent?

He said, “I was afraid… ”

I am afraid, too – afraid to go all in, afraid of failure, afraid to pursue my God-given dream of full-time women’s ministry, afraid to boldly pursue speaking opportunities.

Fear paralyzes.  Fear causes us to do nothing. Fear leads to laziness.

So how do we address this fear?  We do something!  Something is better than nothing!

Paul told Timothy to get busy- to be disciplined and use his gift.  In so doing, he would demonstrate that the spirit from God is one of power, love and discipline.  2 Timothy 1:6-7

So today I choose to go all in.  Today I choose to be disciplined and do the work.  I want to hear the Master say to me, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

How about you?  Where do you need to exercise discipline over fear?

But God

11 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by in Gift, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Love

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Before:

  • You were excluded from the promises of God.
  • You were without hope in this world.
  • You lived separated from Christ.
  • You were without God in this world.

But Godfile0001488220308

By Grace

Gave

Now:

  • You can have the promises of God.
  • You can have hope while in this world.
  • You can live together with Christ.
  • You can have bold access to God.

But GOD because of His GREAT love GAVE us Jesus – not to condemn us but to welcome us into His family.

But GOD because of His GREAT love GAVE us Jesus to remove the barrier of sin that stood between God and man.

But GOD because of His GREAT love GAVE because He wanted to.  His intentions toward us are kind and good.

But GOD because of His GREAT love GAVE because He knew we could never attain His holy standard of righteousness on our own.

So He GAVE us Jesus.  When we accept Jesus by faith, we are no longer separated from God.  We are placed in Jesus.  GOD GIVES us Jesus’ righteousness – not because of a single thing we have done.  But because of His GREAT GRACE through His GREAT GIFT, Jesus. Simply because of His GREAT LOVE for us!

This is the true Gospel. It is:

  • A message of GREAT acceptance!
  • A message of GREAT hope!
  • A message of GREAT love!
  • A message of GREAT reconciliation!
  • A message of GREAT grace!
  • A message of a GREAT GOD!

Share it with someone today!

Spend some time in Ephesians today, thanking Him for being such a GREAT GOD!