Category Archives: Grace

The Sting of Past Hurts

14 Tuesday Jun 2016

Posted by in Choice, Faith, Grace, Pain

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Doing life with Jesus every day is so down to earth and practical. That’s one reason it is a must for me.

Yesterday, my husband asked me a question about something. For him, it was just an innocent question. For me, it was a question that brought to mind some past hurts and I felt the sting all over again.

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Past hurts can cause present pain. I wish that was not the case. I wish I was completely over it. And the fact that I’m not completely over it, also bothers me.

I opened the Word of God this morning. I wanted some grace. I needed some grace.

1 Peter 5:5-11 was part of my reading today. It was the very grace I needed. It reminded me to clothe myself in humility and to cast my cares on the One who cares about me and for me. It reminded me to stay firm in believing God has my best interest at heart. It reminded me that God is at work in me. He will perfect me, confirm me, strengthen me and establish me because He is the God of all grace.

So I will do life with Jesus today. I won’t try to do life by myself. I will continue to trust Him with my heart. I will ask Him for His help. I know His grace will be sufficient for me.

What are you struggling with today? Don’t try to do life in your own strength. Do life with Jesus today.

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What is that smell??

14 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by in Gospel, Grace, Purpose, Witness

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Did you know a bad smell can wake you up out of a sound sleep?  I can tell you from personal experience that it can.  One night our entire family had gone to bed and everyone was sound asleep.  Suddenly, all of us – but one-  found ourselves in the hallway asking each other, “Ugh!  What is that disgusting smell?”  Our family still laughs about that night to this day. But we weren’t laughing that night!  LOL

Just as a bad smell can send you running, a good smell can draw you in.  The smell of freshly baked cookies, the smell of lilacs, the smell of homemade bread, the smell of a roast in the oven, the smell of a freshly cut tree…

How about the ‘smell of Christ’?  Are you spreading the fragrant aroma of Christ everywhere you go?  Does your smell draw people to Christ or send them running in the opposite direction?  Is your smell sweet? Is your smell inviting?

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.  For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.  2 Corinthians 2:14-16, 3:5-12

When I think about being a fragrant aroma for Christ, I feel inadequate.  Paul felt that way, too.  He actually asked, “And who is adequate for these things?”  Thankfully, our adequacy is from God.  He has made us new.  He has placed us in Christ.  He has given us His Spirit.

Be a fragrance of Christ today – everywhere you go!

 

 

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!

Good Gracious!

13 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in God's Word; Bible, Grace, Words

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Let your speech always be with grace,… so you will know how you should respond to each person.  Colossians 4:6

The word grace in this verse is referring primarily to the way we speak. If we want to maximize the opportunities we have to share God with others, our speech must be gracious.

  • Gracious speech lifts up  –Anxiety in the heart of a man weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. Proverbs 12:25
  • Gracious speech is healing –A soothing tongue is a tree of life.  Proverbs 15:4
  • Gracious speech is persuasive- Sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness. Proverbs 16:21
  • Gracious speech builds up – ... Such a word as is good for building up according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.  Ephesians 4:2

Jesus spoke with grace and people “were wondering at the gracious words that were falling from his lips.” Luke 4:22

Jesus speaks to me with grace every time I read His Word.

  • His words lift me up.
  • His words bring healing.
  • His words persuade me.
  • His words build me up.

His words are wonderful!  So how can I share them with my friends?  How do I start the conversation?

Ask this simple question.

“Do you mind if I share something with you that has really helped me in a similar situation?”

Talking girlsBe genuine.  Be honest.  Share the comfort God has given you with your friend.  Let your heart guide you.

The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Proverbs 16:23

Pray for wisdom and trust God to guide you.  But for goodness sake, have courage and speak up!

Chosen

10 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by in Grace, Love

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Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.  Ephesians 1:3

When feeling weary and worn, I love to spend time reading Ephesians and reflecting on how much I have in Christ.  It always encourages me.

One of the most special things to me is the fact that God the Father chose me.  As a matter of fact, He chose me even before He created mankind.  He chose me even though He knew it would cost Him His only Begotten Son.  He chose me so He could lavish His grace, mercy and love on me – not only in this present world but in the ages to come.  Ephesians 2:7

And He has chosen you, too.  It’s wonderful to be chosen!  And we are chosen by the Creator of the Universe!

He Knows, He Always Knows

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by in Grace, Help, Trials

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Our family always enjoys watching A Christmas Story. When poor Ralphie is all worried about getting a BB gun for Christmas, Ralphie’s dad tells him not to worry because “Santa knows, he always knows.”

We all need someone to know.

Now on one of those days….  Luke 8:22

Have you ever had one of those days? Smooth sailing and then all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a fierce gale of wind descends.  You feel swamped and you know you’re in danger.  Luke 8:22-25

Or maybe it hasn’t been smooth sailing for a long time.  Maybe you’ve been struggling with something for days, months, even years.  And you can’t find an answer.  You’re no further along today than when it all started.  Luke 8:43-48

Take courage, whatever your situation may be.  Jesus knows.  He always knows.

..the woman saw that she had not escaped notice…  Luke 8:47

…there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.  Hebrews 4:13

Hebrews 4:13 is meant to be a verse of comfort, a verse that helps us find rest in the middle of a storm,  a verse that emboldens our faith, a verse that gives us confidence to draw near to His throne of grace so that we can receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:16

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So today draw near to Him and do so boldly.

Find grace to help you in your time of need.

He knows . He understands.  Hebrews 4:15

A Sinner Woman and Simon

07 Wednesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Forgiveness, Grace, Love

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And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner. Luke 7:36

And Simon said to himself, “If this man (Jesus) were a prophet, He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” Luke 7:39

And Jesus answered, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” Luke 7:40

And thus began the ‘in-your-face’ lesson about grace.

Jesus turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.  You gave me no kiss; but she hasn’t stopped kissing My feet from the moment I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. She has been forgiven much and she loves much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:44-47

Grace is the undeserved favor of God.  Grace is a gift with no strings attached. A gift that is earned or somehow deserved is NOT a gift.  And grace that is earned or somehow deserved is NOT grace.

Any claim to merit diminishes grace.  Any sense of entitlement is an insult to the grace of God and blocks our ability to love Him and to love others.

Simon felt deserving and worthy.  He felt superior.  He could not enjoy the richness of God’s grace.  He could not ‘love much’.

How about you?  Do you feel like you are earning or deserving of God’s favor? Do you feel superior?

Or do you embrace your inability to earn God’s favor and come humbly before Him with arms wide open, ready to receive His lavish grace, ready to share his grace with others?