Grace for your spirit 3-21-16

Grace for your spirit

For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Hebrews 4:15

We don't know what it is like to be ultimately tempted, because we always give in to sin along the way.  Jesus knows temptation from A to Z, and has the insight to come to our aid.  That should give us the confidence to come to Him in our troubles.  Jesus became our perfect sacrifice with the temptation and suffering.  Let's go to Him often.

Grace for your spirit 3-18-16

Grace for your spirit

Therefore repent and be converted, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.  Acts 3:19

Time is definitely not on our side.  Time is fleeting, and have no promise of how much time we have left,.  The big question is, what are we doing with the time we have?  There are so many things we can do in one minute to lift our lives and the lives of others.  We have 1440 minutes a day, and 10,080 every week. Each one is an opportunity.  Feeling weight down with sin, and depressed?  Take a minute to repent, return, and feel the times of refreshing in the presence of the Lord.  Got a minute?

Grace for your spirit 3-17-16

Grace for your spirit

And now, Lord take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.  Acts 4:29-30

The early church was so overwhelmed with resistance, persecution, and people in need, the Christians gathered together to pray for another miracle every day.  God granted their request and shook the place where they were, and the world they lived in. Do we ever feel the need for a daily miracle in our lives? Are trying to face our challenges alone? That's too bad.  Recently, I have been praying for a miracle every day. I have not been disappointed.  Abide, Believe, Ask, Receive.

Grace for your spirit 3-16-16

Grace for your spirit

But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king's choice food and with the wine which he drank.  Daniel 1:8

Daniel was snatched from his homeland, and became a prisoner when he was a teenager. He would be tempted with food, drink, literature, and idolatry, to make him forget his God.  His  victory came from his decision in advance to reject all these temptations.  God blessed him and he became a prophet to his friends and his enemies.  Our world is waiting to take us captive.  Let's decide in advance to follow God fully. Our victory will be great for our friend and enemies.

Grace for your spirit 3-15-16

Grace for your spirit

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?  Romans 8:32

It is too easy for us to get down on ourselves.  We can easily feel guilty, feeling everyone has deserted us, even God.  Scripture can bring us back to the truth.  God is always for us.  Jesus died to deliver us, not condemn us. When life gets us down remember, God has and will sacrifice everything for us, and He has a wealth of blessings ready to flow over us.  Keep those eyes UP. 

Grace for your spirit March 14, 2016

Grace for your spirit

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.   Psalm 23:6

Once a sheep rancher had two excellent sheep dogs.  He named one dog "goodness" and the other "mercy".  When it came to keeping the sheep together, safe from their enemies, and back into the fold at night, no one could beat "goodness" and "mercy".  Jesus is our good shepherd, and He has a place for us to dwell.  We are His sheep and we need to keep moving toward Him.  Let's keep goodness and mercy close to us, and we will be moving in the right way.

Grace for your spirit 3-10-15

But Moses hands were heavy.  Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other. Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.  Exodus 17:12

As Israel's battle raged in the valley, God told Moses that as long as his hands were held up, they would prevail.  When two of his brethren noticed he was growing weak, they rallied to support him.  They call that "stepping up".  These weeks have been difficult at our congregation without their preacher and Bible school teacher.  Thanks be to God and faithful brothers who have "stepped up" to meet the challenge.  God's grace has motivated many to hold up hands for victory.  Just another lesson on how good can come from trouble.