“The suddenly there dawns upon us the vast, entire endowment of God’s free love and forgiveness…It is this which bowls us over…frees us…transforms us.” Paul Tournier
Saved by Grace.
Christians throw that phrase around to express their faith, but do they really know what Grace is? I’ve come to a deeper appreciation and revelation about God’s Grace. It’s so amazing, even my seven-year-old is still too young to understand it’s power and meaning.
I’ve come to understand through my own Christian walk the difference between Grace and Mercy in these simple terms:
Grace is getting some reward I don’t deserve. Mercy is being forgiven or pardoned from a wrong I did and a punishment I deserve.
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I keep a book at my desk titled, On Things That Really Matter, by H. Jackson Brown Jr. It is filled with thoughts and quotes. Whenever I find myself with a case of writer’s block, I flip open this little book and find words of inspiration. Today’s words came from an unnamed seventy nine year old individual: I’ve learned that . . . children need loving the most when they are the hardest to love.
That is a truism for everyone! I believe we each need the most love when we are the hardest to love. How blessed we are that God’s love is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
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This was a true story in my family. A distant cousin of mine was failing physically. He knew he hadn’t been doing well and probably had not long to live. He and my mom were talking about things one day and this cousin, who was a godly man and ready to go and meet His Savior, told my mom he wanted to be buried with his fork in his hand.
Why?
When he was growing up, they went to his Grandma’s for Sunday dinner. As the meal was being finished and plates were being cleared, sometimes Grandma would say the words everyone wanted to hear, “Hold on to your fork.”
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The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. Matthew 28:5-6
I have often tried to imagine that moment. The tidal wave of emotions that had to have flooded over the women.
* Fear – afterall it wasn’t everyday they met angels.
* Joy – that Jesus was alive!
* Anticipation – of seeing Him again.
* Doubt – that this was real and not just a dream or hallucination.
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All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. Psalm 86:9-10
Have you thought about your purpose lately? Pastor Rick Warren has invited many of us to examine our purpose and allow it to guide our day. He says that we have been made for five purposes: 1. God’s Pleasure. 2. God’s Family. 3. To Be Christ-like. 4. To Serve God. 5. Missions.
I have determined that for me it comes down to only one purpose: To glorify God!
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It was a Sunday morning of my writing weekend. I had just finished a rather good word count and went back and forth about debating whether or not to miss my church’s new series on Jesus, but figured I could catch it on the web. So I flipped through the channels of the hotel television, stopping on a choir singing. Not my typical church service. I like my music more contemporary, but thought I’d give it a try. Then a suited man stepped to the podium. Again, not my typical service. My pastor is usually dressed casual and in the summer often wears sandals.
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What do you spend your time thinking about? We live in a society filled with many fun distractions: television shows that are designed to keep us watching, movies, Facebook, blogging, books to read. There is always something to do, something we can choose to think about.
Lately, I have have been convicted about the little amount of time I actually spend thinking about the things of God. Often I am so preoccupied with reading a good book or keeping up with my favorite television show, that I don’t spend much time reading God’s Word or praying.
Paul reminds us in Romans 8:
5.For
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You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great. Psalm 18:35 NIV
You are lounging on the couch when the doorbell rings. Not expecting anyone, you are surprised and run to the door to see who is there. With windows running down either side of the door, you can easily view the visitor. But it is not just one. There are hundreds of visitors at your door. Your skin crawls with dread as you see line after line of men in full military dress armed with guns. You do not recognize their insignia – they are not on your side, and from the looks of their faces, they are not happy.
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