Grace for your spirit March 31, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Declaring the end from the beginning, and from the ancient times things which have not been done, saying, "My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish My good pleasure."  Isaiah 46:10

Do we want to have a blessed, good, and happy life?  If we will acknowledge that God is really in charge, then get in line with His purposes and His good pleasure, our future will be filled with good pleasure too.  When we take His yoke and learn of Him, we will find rest for our souls.  God knows the way, and now we can know the way too. Let's enjoy our blessed, good, and happy lives in Christ.

Grace for your spirit March 30, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Thus says the Lord, "Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me   Jeremiah 9:23-24

The Lord is the true source of wisdom, might, and riches, plus he can give us lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness.  When we boast of our achievements, we will sacrifice lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, and our wisdom, might, and riches will fail us too. God's love never fails.  Let's be faithful and boast in Him.

Grace for your spirit March 27, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Cast you burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.  Psalm 55:22

God knows we all have burdens, trials, and temptations.  Throughout the Bible, He gives us invitations to let Him help us.  If we will humble ourselves, take His yoke upon us, He will never fail us.  Why do we continue to bear our own burdens when help is available?  Let's not let our troubles shake us and cause us to stumble.  Cast your cares on Him, because He cares.

Grace for your spirit March 26, 2015

Grace for your spirit

What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits towards me?  I shall lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord.  I shall pay my vows to the Lord. Oh may it be in the presence of all His people.  Psalm 116:12-14

 One of the greatest things we can do when we feel God's blessings, is to thank Him.  When we pay our vows and praise Him in the presence of all the people, others can be lifted up by our testimony. What can we render to the Lord? Let's thank Him in His assembly this week. In this way, our blessings can be a blessing to others too.

Grace for your spirit March 25, 2015

Grace for your spirit

So the king consulted, and made two golden calves, and he said to them, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem; behold your gods, O Israel, that brought you up from the land of Egypt."             I Kings 12:28

After Solomon's death, Jeroboam made himself king of ten of the tribes of Israel. In order to consolidate his power and wealth, he needed to keep people away from Jerusalem, the temple, and the presence of God. How did he do it?  He lied.  He made up gods, and told the people want they wanted to hear, and they believed him.  How  many people are led away from God by people lying for their own benefit and power? What can we do?  Let's keep our lie detector nearby.  The Bible is our lie detector for us to double check everything and everybody.

Grace for your spirit March 24, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Please run now to meet her and say to her, 'Is it well with you? Is it well with you husband? Is it well with the child?"  And she answered, "It is well."  II Kings 4:26

Things had been very well for this woman from Shumen.  She had helped the prophet Elisha, and she had been rewarded with prosperity and a son.  Now her son had died, and she rode quickly to the prophet to appeal to him for help.  When asked if all was well with her, her husband, and her child, she responded, "It is well."  Apparently, her trust in the Lord made all things well no matter what her current circumstances.  What a role model for us all.  H.G. Spafford caught the spirit in his song, "It Is Well."  Even is great loss, his thoughts were, it is well.  Is it well with us today? It Is Well!

Grace for your spirit March 23, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Behold, the winter is past; the rain is over and gone.  The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come.  Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Do I hear the sound of humming and whistling that breaks into song? Yes, Spring has sprung and we are all crawling out of that long dark tunnel of winter.  Hurray!  As we experience the new birth of the season with joy, let's also remind ourselves and others of the sweet aroma of the new birth in Christ.  As we rise to walk in newness of life, may everyone hear the sound of humming and whistling that breaks into song. Praise the Lord.

Grace for your spirit March 20, 2015

Grace for your spirit

My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his ways will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.  James 5:19-20

Some people have called the book of James, "The blue jeans gospel." When it is time to go to work, we put away our "Sunday-go-to-meeting" clothes, and put our blue jeans on.  There is not greater work than to turn a sinner from the error of their ways.  To save a soul from death, and keep anyone from falling deeper into sin, should be our top priority. Sometimes a kind word spoken at the right time, can accomplish that great work. Know anyone who needs the help?  Seek and you will find.

Grace for your spirit March 18, 2015

Grace for your spirit

The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know over what they stumble.  Proverbs 4:19

When we walk through the house at night, sometimes we stumble over lots of things. In our pain and frustration, we  may vow to break and throw away the items, but there are so many we can't find them in the dark.  A little light will help us choose a path of safety.  The same may be true in our spiritual walk.  If we could see, we could keep from stumbling.  At least we could cast out the stumbling blocks.   Our appeal from God is to come out of the darkness and into the light in Christ. With His light, we can remove the obstacles, and walk safely.    Let's choose that way of life.

Grace for your spirit March 18, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation.  Hebrews 5:8-9

There are at least three aspects of our lives as children of God.  We live with our sins forgiven, obedience to our Father, and victorious over trials and tribulations.  Jesus came to show us how to do all three.  He followed all His Father's commands, and endured temptation, all without sin.  Through His life on earth, He became the perfect sacrifice for all our sins.  When we obey Him and accept His leadership,  He is our way to the Father. The way, truth, and the life.

Grace for your spirit March 17, 2015

Grace for your spirit

He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.  John 3:36

There is an interesting progression of faith in this verse that should be noted.  The believer has eternal life when that belief motivates us to obey Him and His commands.  We escape the wrath of God when we belief in the Son and obey the Son.  Faith that moves us to action is the faith that saves.  God has a great work for all us to do, when we decide to let faith work in us and work out in us.

Grace for your spirit March 16, 2015

Grace for your spirit

But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  Romans 8:37

Scripture asks, "Who can separate us from the love of God?" Can tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword?" The conclusion is that nothing can separate us.  In our victory, we are overwhelmingly conquerors in Christ.  Let's believe that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  Believe it, live it, and share it.

Grace for your spirit March 13, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of israel failed; all came to pass.  Joshua 21:45

Israel had many ups and downs during their conquest of their promised land.  With the leadership of Joshua it took many years before they were able to settle in new homes.  Through it all, the promises of God never failed.  What great confidence we can have dealing with such a great God.  Our God who never lies, never changes His purposes, never breaks a promise, and watches them all come true.  When He speaks, we can be sure of Him. Can He ever be sure of us?

Grace for your spirit March 12, 2015

Grace for your spirit

And he said, "Who are you Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.  but get up and enter the city, and it will be told to you what  you must do."  Acts 9:5-6

Have you ever heard of the salvation plan that is as easy as falling off of a  horse?  Saul was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus and many have him redeemed before he hit the ground.  The only thing Jesus told Saul was where to go to hear the words of eternal life.  For the next three days, Saul sat alone, blind, waiting for direction.  A servant of Jesus came and taught him the way of salvation ending with these words, "Now why do you wait.  Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord"  Let's not allow unbelievers to lay in the road blind.  May we be that servant of Jesus that helps the blind see the light.

Grace for your spirit March 11, 2015

Grace for your spirit

He put a new song in my mouth; a song of praise to our God; Many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord.  Psalm 40:3

When God brings us up out of our pit, and puts our feet on a rock, that is a personal experience between us and God.  The way we respond is what brings that message to the world.  Here the Psalmist had been lifted and the result was a new song of praise in his mouth.  A song for many to see, fear, and trust in the Lord.  How about us?  When God has lifted us and put a new song in our heart, will anyone hear it?

Grace for your spirit March 10, 2015

 Grace for your spirit

I will lead the blind by a way they do not know, in paths they do not know I will guide them.  I will make darkness into light before them, and rugged places into plains.  These are the things I will do, and I will not leave them undone.  Isaiah 42:16

The fulfillment of this prophecy would come about in Jesus.  The children of Israel were stumbling in the darkness trying to follow God, tripping along on rugged legalistic terrain.  Jesus would be the light of the world and cut a path to God, if they would accept it.  If we think we are doing fine struggling in darkness on rugged terrain, we might not accept God's gracious gift.  Think about it.  Why would God give us such a wonderful gift if we didn't really need it.  If we will start seeing things from God's view instead of ours, we will know we need the presence of Jesus all the time.

Grace for your spirit March 9, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.  Psalm 20:7

I walked into a coffee shop recently and a group men asked me if I was prepared for the future.  Did I have enough gold and silver buried, sufficient food supplies, and guns to protect myself from people who would like to take these things away from me when calamity strikes?  As they boasted of their preparations, I wondered about where our trust in the Lord would work into the conversation.  Some churches boast in their preparedness by their own means.  Shouldn't we be boasting about our trust in the Lord to take care of us?  I've read the Bible and here is the conclusion;  Christians win !

Grace for your spirit March 6, 2015

Grace for your spirit

And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.  When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.  Hebrews 1:3

A little girl in kindergarten was drawing a picture at her desk.  The teacher asked her what she was drawing, and she said it was a picture of God.  The teacher told her that no one knew what God looks like. She replied, "They will in a minute."   This Hebrew passage and also in John 1:1-14  gives us a picture of God.  God can be described best with one word.  Jesus.  Jesus is God made flesh to live among us.  When we see Him, we see the Father.  When we know Him, we know the Father, Let's follow His steps to our Father in heaven.

Grace for your spirit March 5, 2015

Grace for your spirit

In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:6

If you're like me, you appreciate a smooth straight path to walk on.  I am not very sure footed, and appreciate all the help I can get.  When we get lots of snow, a walk can frighten me.  I really appreciate it when someone will cut me a path.  The same is true spiritually.  None of us are as sure footed as we think we are.  Thank God, Jesus walked through the valley before us, and cut a nice path.  Trust in Him to make that path straight, smooth, and safe for us

Grace for your spirit March 4, 2015

Grace for your spirit

Set up for yourself roadmarks, place yourself guideposts; Direct you mind to the highway, the way by which you went.  Return, O virgin of Israel, return to these your cities.  Jeremiah 31:21

When I go someplace new and plan to return, I take special note of the way I came, so I can get back.  The children of Israel were about to be taken captive, and Jeremiah was encouraging them to make plans to return and serve the Lord.  Sometimes on our spiritual walk we may wander off a bit.  Even when we are off the "straight and narrow", we need to mark our way back to God.  We will be glad we did.

Grace for your spirit March 3, 2015

Grace for your spirit

For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.  II John 7

Any attack on Jesus is also an attack on the church, the Bible, and all Christians.  We don't have to look for the antichrist appearing some day in the future.  The anitChrist has been with us since Jesus was here and is with us until they are thrown into the lake of fire.  Too many are on the hunt for the anti-Christ, when we need to be in the search for those who are wish to be pro-Christ.

Grace for your spirit March 2, 2015

Grace for your spirit

But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.  Matthew 19:14

Children are a gift from the Lord,  We are blessed to have them.  Some people consider them a bother, but when we love them they are never a distraction.  When we sing, "Jesus loves the little children" it is such an uplifting message.  Let's make sure our actions don't cancel the message of the song.  Psalms 127 compares children to arrows in the hand in a warrior.  Blessed is the man who has many.  Blessed in the church that has many,.