Year of Grace

Happy 2014! This year I am going to be focused on God's grace. I'd like to share the words to song about the subject. You can find the video on youtube if you'd like to hear it. Thank you all for following my blog - this year should be another exciting journey. I'm glad we are on it together.

GRACE by Michael W. Smith

I was lost when ya found me here
You pulled me close and held me near
And I'm a fool but still you love
I'll be your fool for the king of love

He gave me wings so I could fly
And gave me a song to color the sky
And all I have is all from you
And all I want is all of you

It's grace, grace
I'm nothing without you
Grace, your grace
Shines on me

And there've been days when I've walked away
Too much to carry
Nothing left to say
Forgive me Lord when I'm weak and lost
You traded heaven for a wooden cross

And all these years you've carried me
You've been my eyes when I could not see
And beauty grows in the driving rain
Your oil of gladness in the times of pain

It's grace, your grace
I'm nothing without you
Grace, your grace
Shines on me

Be wise today and always - allow God's grace to shine through you in 2014.

Hope 2013

We have had a great year of Hope! So on this last day of 2013 - a hope reminder.

Hope defined:

The feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best. “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.”

What does the Bible say about hope? (180 times - 34 in Psalms)

Psalm 9:18 -But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Psalm 25:3 -No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, but shame will come on those who are treacherous without cause.

Psalm 25:5 - Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 37:34 - Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.

Psalm 130:7 - Put your hope in the LORD(& His Word), for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

Sometimes we get weary and our hope starts to fail, but we must remember that only God can give you rest. Jesus said in

Matthew 11:28-30 KJV “²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Come unto me (One of Jesus’ favorite words is Come…and see, follow me, to have life, And drink from the living waters)

The way to and the knowledge of God only comes through Christ. Therefore all matters of grace, hope, peace, love, happiness, and salvation are in His hands.  Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. - John 6:35 This is an invitation to all sinners…save us and give relief to distressed minds.

Believers can have rest and hope because we have the presence of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, and knowledge of Christ’s love and promises for us.

Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Be wise today and always - let your life show God's hope every day.

Resolutions

Most of us set goals or resolutions for ourselves for the new year. Starting off with a "clean slate" is the best way to obey God's Word. God offers forgiveness through Jesus Christ and "cleanses us from all unrighteousness".  Accept His forgiveness and consider applying the teaching and wisdom from the following verses.

Luke 5:30-32 - But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

John 8:1-11 - But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

1 Corinthians 6:11 - And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

2 Timothy 3:14-17 - But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

Be wise today and always - apply the Word to your new year's resolutions.

On The Fence

Sharing another old illustration today, but it is one of my favorites.

There was an incredibly large group of people assembled. On one side of the group stood a man, Jesus. On the other side of the group stood another man, Satan. Separating them, running through the group was a fence.  The scene set both Jesus and Satan began calling to the people in the group and, one by one, each having made up his or her mind, each went to either Jesus or Satan. This kept going and eventually Jesus had gathered around him a group of people from the larger crowds, as did Satan. But one man joined neither group. He climbed the fence that was there and just sat down on it. Then Jesus and his people left and disappeared. So too did Satan and his people.

And the man on the fence sat alone. As this man sat there, Satan came back, and appeared to be looking for something that he'd lost. The man said, "Have you lost something Satan looked straight at him and replied, "No, there you are. Come with me." "But," said the man, "I sat on the fence. I chose neither you nor Him. "That's okay," said Satan. "I own the fence."

Be wise today and always - Get Off the Fence!

Five Finger Prayer

I know this is old but it is still a great reminder when we pray. Enjoy!
Five Finger Prayer

1. Your thumb is nearest you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones  is, as C. S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty."

2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers.  They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.

3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.

4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify.  It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.

5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "The least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.

Be wise today and always - don't forget to pray.

Immanuel

If your life seems to be physically sinking deeper into problems, sink yourself spiritually deeper into your relationship with God. Don’t let sin and the things of this world distract you. Prophecies were fulfilled in the coming of Immanuel – God with us! Have you accepted Him?

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. - Isaiah 7:14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. - John 1:1- 5

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. ¹² Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. ¹⁴ The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. - John 1:10-14

Remember: Jesus is where your hope lies because God so loved the world (that means you!).

Be wise today and always -grow with God even during the hard times.

Hope of Christ

We have looked at Christmas Hope for the last three weeks through the account found in Matthew 1:18-25. This hope is named Jesus! For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. - John 3:16

 We have studied the signs, the crisis, and the choices of Christmas, and how they can give us hope. The end product of this story is the birth of Christ the greatest gift of hope of all. Even in the most serious problems we can get closer to God. Joseph was called to care and protect Baby Jesus and His Mother Mary. Upon hearing God’s instructions clearly he obeyed them immediately.

 Joseph followed his directions perfectly:

 He married Mary, who was carrying the Son of God in her womb.

²⁴ When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.

 He named the child Jesus as he was instructed.

²¹ She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Be wise today and always - listen and obey God's direction for your life.