Tag: grace

Posted on

Accepted

When I was a child, I was afraid of God.  I am not speaking about a healthy fear of God, but a feeling of distress about the idea of God.  It was rooted in the idea that God was very legalistic – you do wrong and it’s over for you.  There was no grace in my idea of God.

Unfortunately, too many in the world see God as a legalistic, smoting, I will abandon you if you do wrong type of God.  It makes my heart hurt that so many believe God to be so cruel.

If we get down to it, yes, God deals with right or wrong actions/thoughts/etc. in black and white terms.  There are no blurred lines when classifying something a sin versus not a sin.  And, yes, Hell really exists.  But God is truly a loving, caring Father.  He does not classify the person based on their sin because we are all sinners. 

God’s love is eternal.  It existed long before we did. His love isn’t given to some and not given to others.  Thankfully, all we need to do to experience his grace is accept Jesus as our Savior.  Easy, simple, done.  

My favorite part of who God is that God loves you even before you accept him. He cares for you even before you accepted him.  He wanted you long before you wanted him.  That is grace and that is love.

Even if you are reading this and you have been a believer a long time – remember this!  Remember that you were known by God long before you knew him.  His grace was there before you needed it.  Accept it and move on.  He wants you to live your life in peace!

“He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:10-14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:2-10‬ ‭NLT‬

Posted on

You are…you.

Beauty.  We spend millions to look “beautiful.”  Botox, plastic surgery, make up, airbrushing, Photoshop. Yep, we have a lot of ways to spend our money on make ourselves at least think we are more beautiful.  We do this because our culture has shamed us to believe we have to look a certain way to be beautiful.

Especially women, we often find ourselves spending our free time worrying about how we look.  Granted, I will admit, grooming and a little make up makes us look a little more presentable.  But truth is, beauty is not society’s right to dictate.  Our Father, the one who created us, calles us beautiful.  Just. the. way. we. are.  Yep.  We were made beautiful.

Be proud of who you are.  If we all had the same body shape and size – it would be so boring! If we all had the same skin, hair, eye color – it would be so dull!  We are meant to be different.  We are meant to be who we are!

So start holding your head a little higher. Start to walk in more confidence.  And PLEASE, ladies and gentlemen, stop comparing yourself with others.  You are unique because without you, this world would be a little too stale.  We need you to be you.  More importantly, God needs you to be you.  He made you this way for a reason!

Be blessed, dear readers! Remember you are beautiful!

“You are altogether beautiful, my darling, beautiful in every way.”

‭‭Song of Songs‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Posted on

The Art Of Empathy

I was trained to be a counselor.  Even though I have not pursued a career in the clinical field, my heart still beats like a counselor’s heart.  Seeing people change for the better, getting freed from past bondage is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

There is a quality all counsellors must have to be successful – empathy.  The “feeling that you understand and share another person’s experiences and emotions: the ability to share someone else’s feelings” – per Merriam-Webster.  If you don’t have this quality, all the training in the world will not help you be a successful counselor.  I’m a firm believer that this is true for Christians too.  We must have empathy to win the world for Jesus.

There is no one with greater empathy than Jesus.  A sinless man who not only showed us how to live and love, but who went to the Cross for us.  His ministry was filled with empathetic moments (Luke 8:43-48, John 4:1-42, and John 8:1-11) where He showed us we need to understand where someone is coming from and love them on their level.  Jesus also took all our sins to the Cross and died so that we may live.  There is no greater empathetic act than that.

So, as Christians – the Church, the Bride of Christ – we’ve got to act like Jesus.  Love and empathy, the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, is the only way we can successfully win this world over.  We must live and love like Jesus did.  We must show the world who Jesus is through the way we live our lives.  

This is a daily struggle for me, if I’m honest.  Because I know that I am prone to being selfish.  I am thankful for a God that understands and, therefore, I try to be more understanding myself.  Join me in this journey!

Be blessed, dear friends!  Remember who you are – loved and cherished by the Creator of the world!!  We may fail, but God loves us just the way we are.  Never give up!

“Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭12:15-18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself. Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:1-3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2:1-8‬ ‭NLT

Posted on

Trust Vs Mistrust

If you are anything like me, you have a problem of giving up control.  I know, for me, it is a trust issue.  Being trusting and vulnerable is hard for me.  Letting someone hold my fate scares me…a lot!

I even have this problem with trusting God, but as He leads me in this journey, He is teaching me that He has my back.  He wants to fight for me (to fight for us)!  That’s why He is a great Father.  

I keep finding myself in situations that require trust in Him.  I have have two choices: go crazy (ha!) or trust God.  Trusting Him seems the better option because I can honestly tell you I’ve tried the other way and it’s not fun.

He is showing me that He fights my battles.  All that is required of me is that I let Him.  That is easier said than done!!  I’d much rather just do it myself.  Anyone else feel that way most of the time?  But to be successful in this life, we must allow God to be God.

Let’s take this journey together.  Let’s learn to let God lead us.  Let’s give our problems over to the King of Kings and live in peace.  It’s so much better for us!!

“He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemies, from those who hated me and were too strong for me. They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the LORD supported me. He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:16-19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Be blessed, dear friends.  We are in this journey together!!

Posted on

Speak life

We are all fearfully and wonderfully made by the God of the universe. There is no “but” or “rather” – no qualification, no prerequisite.  God made us with purpose for a purpose.  That is who we are.  That is what God says about us.  Any voice that tells you otherwise is wrong.

Declare that truth over yourself today, this week, or this year.  Do it until you start to really believe you are who God says you are – that you are not a mistake, you are not forgotten, and you are truly loved & wanted.

Speak life to yourself!

“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:14-18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Posted on

Follow

Ever played follow the leader as a kid?  I hated this game.  Yes, I am a strong-willed, pig-headed person.  I also never knew what was truly going to happen, what someone was going to make me do and potentially make me look or feel foolish, so I would avoid playing it at all cost.

As a Christ-follower, I must learn to “follow the leader” no matter the cost. The Holy Spirit will nudge me and guide me to go in the right direction.  I must make the choice to follow or not follow.  My flesh says do it my way, but my spiritual self knows better.  

Sometimes God will ask us to do something, be somewhere, act a certain way that is totally contrary to what we know as the right way.  If we follow, we will look foolish or even become an outcast.  If we don’t, God’s promises may not come true in our lives.

Look at the Gospels and how the deciples dropped their entire lives just to follow Jesus.  People probably thought they were fools for doing that, but if they didn’t, they wouldn’t have been among the first followers of Christ.  Could you imagine losing that opportunity?  I know I couldn’t.

We may not be able to see why He is asking us to do something, but our futures are at steak if we don’t follow His lead.  God will never lead you to a dead end.  Trust Him and know all things work out for good (Romans 8:28).

Be blessed dear readers.

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Posted on

Stand firm

The battle is set.  It’s time to take your fighting stance.  When you look around, you see that you are the only one standing.  Know that you are not the only one who experienced this.

A young man stepped up as the army of Israel cowered behind him.  Standing by himself in front of a giant from the enemy’s camp, he won the battle in one swift move. His name was David. (1 Samuel 17:41-54).

A young Jewish girl living in captivity risked her life to save her nation from annihilation.  She knows this weight is carried only on her shoulders.  If she doesn’t step up, her race could be wiped out.  So she reveals herself to her enemy and he ends up being the one taken out.  Her name was Esther (Esther 4:14-17).

A carpenter’s son, a nomad with 12 friends who travels Israel to share His word, is betrayed and abandoned by His friends because they are afraid of the fate He must face.  He faces it anyways.  In one painful death and one marvelous resurrection, He saves the world and gives us the gift of Grace and Eternal Life.  His name is Jesus (Matthew 28:55-56).

Their secret is that they never were alone, but God was with them the entire time.  Don’t ever think that you have to face anything truly by yourself.

With God, all things are possible.  Sometimes God wants to strip us from anything that might distract us from Him.  Have faith that God has it under control.   Stand firm in your stance and follow God to lead.  He will get you through it!  Just trust Him!

Be blessed, dear friends.  Don’t forget God has you!!

Posted on

Under Cover


Beware of venturing off on your own.  It will leave you exposed and unprotected.  Remain in the place God has you even if you want to be somewhere else.
“The name of the LORD is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭18:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Posted on

Give it over

I am an independent person. When I was a baby my aunt gave my mom the book How to Raise a Strong-Willed Child.  This is a true story.  I was that kind of kid.  I wasn’t mean, but I wanted my way & found ways to get it.  This can be a good trait to have in order to survive life, but it also can be a thorn in my side.

One of the hardest things I’ve learned as a Christian is that my way is not always the best way.  I must rely on God.  I’ve learned that the key to relying on Him is having a rich and fruitful prayer life.  Going to Him when I want to take care of something myself.  It is hard for me at times, I must admit.  But it is necessary.

I encourage you to try this the next time you want to take control of a situation.  Spend some time on your knees talking to & listening to Him.  Allow God to fight your battles and teach you how to handle situations His way.  You will see change in you & in those around you.

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:5-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Be blessed, dear friends!

Posted on

The tie that binds us

The world is filled with so many different people.  Different races, genders, nationalities, socioeconomic statuses, and lifestyles.  Our differences make this life interesting.

There is a good chance that, any given day, you will meet several people as you “do life” that are very different than you.  They think differently, want different things, have a different history in this world.  If you tried to sit down and find something similar, it may take you a little while.  You know what I mean??  You ever met someone like that?  Someone you don’t agree with in almost anything?  Seems like you have nothing in common, right?

Here’s the deal, no matter how different you and I may be, there is always going to be one thing that we have in common: we are a broken sinner in need of a Savior.  We are battered, hurting, broken people desperately in need of being put back together.  It is in our brokenness that find our connections.

I will raise my hand and wave it around in order to signify that I am one of the worst people when it comes to making snap judgements about someone.  Believing that I am somehow better than another person because their poor choice in actions doesn’t mirror my poor choice in actions is no excuse.  The connecting factor is that brokenness.  It is the fact that we are all hurting people that act out that hurt in destructive ways.  No, not just some of us, all of us.  That is what sin does to us.

What if we all understood that?  If we all gave people a little grace because we would want grace if the tables were turned.  How different would this world be?  I am going to suspect that this world would be drastically different if that type of kindness was prevelant.

John 3:30 says: “He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.” If we allow God to shine through us (if we are born again Christians who have the Spirit of the Lord inside us), do you think it would be easier to show more kindness?  Yes, absolutely. When we allow God to heal our brokenness in the secret places of our heart, we can start to gain understanding.

Allow God to start working out your brokenness and maybe you will start to see the relationships in your life change.  Start looking at people as someone who is as broken as you are and allow empathy to grow.  Because we are all a work in progress.

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭147:3‬ ‭NLT‬‬