Tag: Grace

Six terrific truths about Time

Here are :

First: Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time.

Second: Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80 percent of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us two percent of our results.

Third: Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use.

Fourth: Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time…pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how much you use.

Fifth: Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone.

Sixth: Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities.

Grace in vain

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.” 2 Corinthians 6:1

There is a vanity associated with someone who has been saved by the grace of God, but who does not appropriate the grace of God. Ironically, they believe in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sin, but they do not behave like they believe. Pride has a way of working itself back into the good graces of a life that is not governed by God’s grace. Humility, on the other hand, flourishes in the hothouse of a heart that appreciates and applies God’s grace.

We are all in danger of forgetting how faith in Christ changed us and brought us into a place of grace. The flesh forges ahead of faith and facilitates graceless living. Before we know it we are back to bad habits, putting grace on the back burner of our belief. Hence, we need reminders of the transformational work of the Holy Spirit that seizes the heart of a life in submission to Almighty God. Grace empowers a humble heart.

“They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” Mark 7:7

Furthermore, grace becomes vain when it is crushed under the weight of loveless legalism. Grace converts knowledge about God into knowing God. You are protected from man-made rules that grasp God’s glory when you use grace as a filter for your faith building. For example, your family may need your financial support, so make sure you do not feed the poor in Africa and ignore your relatives at home. Legalism is hard and inflexible—grace is gentle and moldable. Legalism lacks compassion—grace gives grace.

Graceless living loses Christians creditability. Are you a church member who gossips in the name of prayer or are you a gracious saint who prays with quiet confidentiality? Are you a religious person who holds a grudge or are you a gracious Jesus follower who forgives freely? Are you a proud and self-centered believer or a sinner saved by grace? Praise the Lord, that we the redeemed are a container and dispenser of God’s grace. You are a cherished co-worker with Christ—His grace grows in your humble, teachable heart.

“But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “ GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” James 4:6, NASB

Prayer: Heavenly Father, by faith I receive Your grace, so I can extend Your grace.

Related Readings: Proverbs 3:34; Matthew 22:12; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 15:2

from:  http://www.wisdomhunters.com/2012/07/grace-in-vain/

Thou SHALT love . . .

. . . Thou shalt love the Lord thy God. . . .

Thou shalt love thy neighbor . . .
–Matthew 22:37–39

Here is the answer to the world’s problems today—“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God,” “Thou shalt love thy fellowman.” That teaching is not out-of-date; it is absolutely relevant today. It is the only way in which the problems of the world today can be solved, whether the problems are those of individuals or of nations. If we love God with all our heart, we will have a capacity to love our neighbors. True love will find an outlet in service—not merely in singing hymns, attending church, or even in praying—but in trying our utmost to prove our love, by obeying the will of our heavenly Father.

Prayer for the day

True love demands everything I have. Take all the hidden things in my life that keep me from loving You and my neighbor as I should. Let me obey Your will unequivocally, dear Lord.

Grace: unencumbered by guilt, shame, fear

By Jon Walker

Jesus answered,

“If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink,

and I would give you fresh, living water.”

John 4:10 (MSG)

Grace allows people to make choices and trusts them to make the best choice.

Grace is free and flowing.

It is unencumbered by guilt or shame or fear because grace says, “I know all about you, and I still love you with a godly acceptance.”

We see this in John 4, when Jesus meets the woman at the well.

When she offers to give him a drink, he says,

“If you knew the generosity of God and who I am, you would be asking me for a drink, and I would give you fresh living water”.

Note that Jesus talks about how gracious God can be.

Yet, if we’re honest, we often behave as if God is stingy with his grace.

We fear his punishment, acting as if he’s like a high school vice principal walking the halls,

taking down names.

Who did what and who’s to blame?

But God already knows who did what and who’s to blame,

and he loves us anyway.

His aim to redeem us, not to keep us on the hook for our sins.

So why do we live as if we’re still on the hook.

And why do we tend to keep others on the hook by using weapons of the flesh—

like the sarcastic comment or the angry stare—

designed to get people to straighten up and live right.

In contrast, when the woman at the well goes back to her village, she says,

“Come see a man . . . who knows me inside and out” (John 4:29 MSG).

Jesus knows all about her,

and yet he communicates with her in such a fashion

that she leaves feeling loved and accepted.

That’s grace.

Daily Promise – September 24 – When we are feeling the farthest away from God, He is actually the closest

Psalm 51:17 KJV

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.


Promise #267: I will not reject the sacrifice of a broken spirit and a contrite heart.

I am so thankful that the sacrifices that God accepts are those of a broken and a contrite heart. Psalm 34:18 says… The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. NIV When we are feeling the farthest away from God, He is actually the closest. He does not abandon us in our times of crisis and struggle for He has promised to save us even in our darkest time.

King David wrote this Psalm after it became public knowledge that he had sinned with Bathsheba. His illegimate affair caused a world of hurt and pain for many people. It was at David’s lowest point, that he had a revelation of God’s love and kindness and mercy. Perhaps David expected God to reject him for his sin? Perhaps he was surprised to feel God’s nearness in the midst of his darkness?

Whatever he felt, he knew that God saw his broken heart, and God knew that David was truly sorry for his sin. For many of us, when we sin against God, we run in the opposite direction of Him assuming that He will turn away from us. The opposite is true! When we are our lowest point, He is very close to us and He promises to save those who are crushed in spirit.

~ Barry Adams

Verse of the Day – We will see God face to face

VERSE:
Restore us to yourself, O LORD, that we may return; renew our
days as of old.
— Lamentations 5:21
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Lamentations+5:21

THOUGHT:
When these words were first spoken, they focused on God’s
restoration of Israel back to its place, its prominence, its life,
and its Temple. Yet from our vantage point, this prayer can be ours
as well. Restoration can mean Christ’s return which brings us home
to God. On that day, every barrier standing between God and us will
fall. Our mortality will be swallowed up in victory. We will see
God face to face and get to walk with him in the cool of the day as
his perfect children. May that day come soon!

PRAYER:
Holy and awesome God, I know a huge gulf stands between your
perfection and my limitations. Yet, dear Father, I believe you have
spanned that gulf with your grace. While I wait for that perfection
to dawn in all its fullness, please empower me for my battles with
the Evil One and deliver me from all spiritual harm and attack.
Until the day I see you face to face, please accept my
all-too-limited and human praise for all you have done to save me.
In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

http://www.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/todaysverse.cgi?day=20110921

Labor of Love

Today, as the U.S. celebrates Labor Day, it occurs to me that God probably does not get to take the day off and have a bar-b-Que.  I figure he actually is extra busy taking care of all the partying idiots out there who are celebrating having the day off from their labor.

Whether it took Him six days in our concept of time, or His, it still took him six days.  I suppose He could have created existence in no time, but he didn’t.  He took His time, and labored over every detail, every nuance, down to the shape of sub-atomic particles.  Then made sure it all worked.  And, now, there are still an infinite number of variables to be considered in an infinite number of non-stop occurrences.  For us as Christians, we see His constant hand in our lives.  He shows us he is a loving, caring, involved Creator.  I don’t think there is any randomness.  There could be some auto-piloting happening, but I doubt if it is a lot, if any.

Of course, I don’t know these things, but they feel right and seem logical.  And, they sound to me like a great deal of labor.  So, hopefully, He pushes the pause button on our time stream, and gets to enjoy the holiday too.

Erick

Encouragement to Grace

You’ve got everlasting arms beneath you,
love all around you,
GRACE to see you through,
and enough strength to make it too.

You’re supported in ways you can’t see,
more than you know,
and the God whose heart beats with love for you
will never let you go.

The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. Deuteronomy 33:27

-Holley Gerth

Excerpt from one of Holley’s new cards, inspired by her new devotional book God’s Heart for You.

God’s Grace is for Everyone

God’s Grace is for Everyone


Luke 17:15-16

New King James Version (NKJV)

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

Jesus healed all ten lepers; but only one returned to thank him.

It is possible to receive God’s great gifts with an ungrateful spirit–nine of the lepers did so.

Only the thankful leper, however, learned that his faith had played a role in his healing, and only grateful Christians grow in understanding of God’s grace.

God does not demand that we thank him, but he is pleased when we do so, and he uses our spirit of thankfulness to teach us more about his Kingdom.

~ Life Application Bible