Friday, September 28, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-28-18

Grace for your spirit
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert.  Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.  I Peter 5:9

There is an old Indian legend about a young man and a rattlesnake.  The snake persuaded the youth to carry him down a mountain to better surroundings.  The youth refused based on his knowledge of rattlesnakes.  The snake finally convinced him that he would not bite him in exchange for the favor.  At the end of the journey, the snake bit him.  The youth exclaimed, "You said you wouldn't bite."  The  snake replied, "Yes, but you knew what I was when you picked me up."  May we never give the devil a ride in our lives.  He may convince us everything will be fine, but remember that we know what he is when we let him in.  Let's not let him devour us.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-27-18

Grace for your spirit
But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table."  Matthew 15:27

This Canaanites woman was on a mission to get help for daughter.  Jesus ignored her, the apostles wanted to get rid of her, but she kept coming back begging for help.  Jesus brushed her off saying He was sent to house of Israel, it would not be good to give the children's bread to the dogs.  She came again saying she would be glad to have dog crumbs.  She won the day and healing for her daughter.  I was shocked at first.  Now I''m impressed.  I wish we all could have her faith and persistence.

Wednesday, September 26, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-26-18

Grace for your spirit
Go and report to John what  you hear and see;  the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.  Matthew 11:5-6

John the Baptist was having a bad time.  He was rotting in jail and begin to wonder if Jesus was the Expect One, or should they be looking for someone else.?  Jesus' words assured him that He was the one.  John knew he was destined to decrease, but this was ridiculous.  When we're having a bad day and begin to doubt our way, let's not "throw in the towel."  May we remember His word is truth, and we must stay in His word.

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-25-18

Grace for your spirit
But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails; and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.  John 20:25

Thomas earned the name "Doubting Thomas" that day.  The other apostles had seen Jesus and believed.  Thomas did not.  He did not see and therefore did not believe.  It was a week later before Jesus showed him the reality.  Jesus gave a  blessing to those who did not  see, and yet believe.  Are we like doubting Thomas?  If we see will we believe and act?  God wants more from us.  He wants us to walk by faith, and act by faith. .  As the old poem goes,"When If's and But's are candy and nuts, we will have a sweet and happy Christmas."    May we no longer give Him "If's, And's and But's, but give Him action. 

Monday, September 24, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-24-18

Grace for your spirit
Behold, the Lord's hand is not so short that is cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear.  But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.  Isaiah 59:1-2

An old married couple rode down the road.  He driving and she over by the passenger window.  She commented, "Remember when we dated?  We sat so close together in the car seat that you couldn't put a piece of paper between us?  What happened to us?:  The husband look down at the steering wheel and said, "Well, I'm still in the same place"  "Who moved?"  When we wonder why we are out of contact with God and He seems so far away, remember He didn't move, we did.  Let's come on back,

Friday, September 21, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-21-18

Grace for your spirit
Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised..  Hebrews 10:35-36

There is a great reward for running the Christian race.  It is important to remember that our race is not a fifty yard dash,  but a long distance run.  We must cross the line with our heads up in order to receive our reward.  Confidence feeds our endurance, and endurance fuels our faithfulness.  As we do the will of God each day, may we keep our eyes on the road ahead, so we can be there at the finish line with Jesus.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-20-18

Grace for your spirit
I know  your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot.  So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.  Revelation 3:16

Jesus had a special message to the church of Asia that in some ways applies to every church and every Christian.  He knows what we are doing and how we feel about it.  Whether we are hot or cold, it will certainly show in the things we say and do.  When we are extremely hot or terribly cold, it may get our attention.  The real danger is in being lukewarm.  As we muddle along, we seldom get any better.  Jesus is not happy with that, and wishes we would make a decision.  Let's do that right away before He spits us out of His mouth.

Wednesday, September 19, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-19-18

Grace for your spirit
Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.    I Timothy 4:15



Paul had just encouraged Timothy to be a good example, exhort and teach with the Scripture and use his spiritual gifts given to him.  Not just a little bit, or once in a while, but with great vigor.  Taking pains and being absorbed are the indicators that something completely controls our lives.   We see it in sports, in education, in business.  Let's make it happen in our discipleship.  Taking pains and being absorbed to do our very best.

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-18-18

Grace for your spirit
Like emery harder than flint I have made your forehead.  Do not be afraid of them or be dismayed before them, though they are a rebellious house.  Ezekiel  3:9

God was commissioning Ezekiel to teach his people.  They all spoke the same language, but they were extremely hard headed and would not listen.  God told Ezekiel that they had very hard heads, but his would be harder, like flint rock. Sometimes we may find ourselves butting heads with our adversaries.  Thank God He has made our heads harder.

Monday, September 17, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-17-18

Grace for your spirit
And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.   Revelation 12:11

Here God is giving us a picture of the devil chasing after believers.  God provided them with what they would need to be victorious.  The blood of Jesus, the Word of Truth, and complete commitment to the cause.  Much like Jesus called us to, "Deny self, take up cross, and follow Him".  Centuries have passed, but some things are the same.  The devil is still after us, and the remedy is still the same.  Be washed in the blood, live by the Word of God, and give ourselves complete to Him. 

Friday, September 14, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-14-18

Grace for your spirit
Who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.  
II Corinthians 1:4

God reminds us that we can always find good reasons to thank Him. When we are afflicted in any way, we know that our God of all comfort will be there help us.  At the same time, the combination of affliction and comfort gives us the ability to help those  who are troubled but don't know God.  Let's not just complain when we are afflicted, but think of it as a training session for lifting up ourselves and others in the future.  Let's think of God, and think of others.  It will take our mind off ourselves.

Thursday, September 13, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-13-18

Grace for your spirit
Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10

Fear not are two words that are repeated over and over again in God's Word.  It is human nature that when trouble comes our way, we become anxious and afraid.  God is constantly trying to push away that human nature and replace it with a new spiritual nature.  Do we really believe that He will surely strengthen, help and uphold us ?   Let's not look anxiously about for another way out, may we trust and fear not

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-12-18

Grace for your spirit
For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of light, (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth.  Ephesians 5:8-9

As Christians we come out of the darkness and into the Light.  We need to hold fast to our new identity and actions, so we will not be enticed back into darkness.  If we find ourselves wandering about, not sure of what we should do, we can be "easy pickins" for darkness to drag us back.  Let's always know who we are and what we are about, in forward motion.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-11-18

Grace for your spirit
But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD,  BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.  James 4:6

We are led by the world to believe that we need things.  We think we need money, think we need more time, think we need more talents and abilities.  The only thing we really need is more of God's grace.  Our sacrifices to God grab His attention, grabs His grace, and we will get what He knows we need.  Jesus said "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you."  And that is how humble sacrificial giving really works.  Yes it works.

Monday, September 10, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-10-18

Dave Grubb graceforyourspirit@gmail.com

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Grace for your spirit
Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair;  and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.  John 12:3

A sweet aroma to match a sweet fellowship around Jesus.  It was a beautiful picture until Judas Iscariot ruined it with his greed, rebellion, and dishonesty.  He insisted that the perfume should have been sold, so he could steal it later.  The church today is intended to be the aroma of Christ and a fragrance of salvation.  Even today, that fragrance can be ruined with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition.  Let's work to keep the aroma sweet around us.

Friday, September 7, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-7-18

Grace for your spirit
Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved.  Jeremiah 8:20

The Bible says there is a season for everything.  We all experience the seasons each year, and all have seasons of our lives.  Spring; a great start.  Summer; we flourish.  Fall; we harvest.  Winter; we die.  Seasons don't run backwards in life or in pursuits.  Jeremiah was trying to save Judah, but their times was slipping away.  The winter for their nation was at hand and Jeremiah wept for what he saw.  Today the faithful church strives to get us ready for the passing seasons that lead to the judgment day.  With our winter on the way, we need to be saved.  We need to get ready because time is moving. 

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

Grace for your spirit 9-5-18

Grace for your spirit
Dead flies make a perfumer's oil stink, so a little foolishness is weightier than wisdom and honor.   Ecclesiastes 10:1

No one wants dead flies in the ointment, dead flies in the perfume, or dead flies in our soup.  Dead flies ruin everything.  The analogy is clear.  If you take a whole pot of wisdom and honor, it can be ruined with a drop of foolishness.  Wisdom and honor will always outweigh foolishness, but foolishness can still ruin it all.  Let's not be the dead fly in our fellowship.  May we major in wisdom and honor every day.

Grace for your spirit 9-5-18

Grace for your spirit
Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.  James 3:13

When they ask if we are wise and understanding, anyone can say "Yes."  The proof of our answer is shown in the lives we live.  In life, does our good behavior and gentleness of wisdom show up.  Or do we see bitter jealousy and selfish ambition pollute our hearts ? May we not be arrogant and lie against the truth.  Let's live by the wisdom and understanding we speak.