Grace for your spirit 9-30-16

Grace for your spirit

He leads me beside quiet waters.    Psalm 23:2

The good shepherd knows that sheep will not drink from swiftly running water.  The are clumsy and fear tripping and falling in.  He finds still, quiet waters for refreshing.  Jesus is our good shepherd.  He knows our needs and our fears and leads us in the paths to nurture and fulfill us. When we make the Lord our shepherd, we shall not want.

Grace for your spirit 9-29-16

Grace for your spirit

Now when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us a god who will go before us;   Exodus  32:1

Moses was on the Mountain getting the 10 commandments.  He was gone awhile and the people got impatient and tired of waiting.  It didn't take long for them to rebel and build a gold calf to lead them.  Are we impatient like that ?  When God doesn't meet out needs right away, do we give up on Him and search for an idol?  It was a gigantic mistake for them, and it is for us too.  Let's wait on the Lord,, and take courage.  He is coming to meet our needs. 

Grace for your spirit 9-28-16

Grace for your spirit

Doing wickedness is like sport to a fool, and so is wisdom to a man of understanding.  Proverbs  10:23

Some people go wild over sports.  They are extreme fans, in fact they are fanatics.  They not only identify with their teams, they think they are part of it.  Solomon said for a fool wickedness is like a sport to them. For the man of understanding, they are fans of wisdom.  Whether we are fools or wise, one of the indicators is our sport; wickedness or wisdom.  Let's choose wisdom and become the man of understanding.

Grace for your spirit 9-27-16

Grace for your spirit

When the whirlwind passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.  Proverbs 10:25

When tornadoes, and hurricanes pass, some structures are gone while others stand firm.  The difference is often preparation and foundation. Jesus said the wise man builds his house on a rock so it will stand in the storms.  Our lives are the same.  When we access the righteousness of Christ, His foundation will be strong enough to stand the worst storms.  We all know they are coming, but not everyone gets ready.  Get ready!

Grace for your spirit 9-26-16

Grace for your spirit

When there are many words, transgression is  unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise.  Proverbs 10:19

You've heard the saying, "Give a person enough rope and they will hang themselves."  Words can be like that too.  Many people talk and talk themselves into trouble.  Let's choose our words carefully, and keep them soft and sweet.  We never know when we might have to eat them

Grace for your spirit 9-23-16

Grace for your spirit

And the Lord said, "Do you have good reason to be angry?  

Jonah 4:4

Jonah defied God's call.  He ran from His presence.  He took a three day ride in a whale.  He preached repentance to his enemies and was wildly successful.  His success made him angry.  Later a plant that he was using for shade died.  This made him angry too.  We might say today that Jonah had "anger issues." The Lord had given him success in his mission and provided for him. He had no good reason for being angry.  How about us?  Does anger issues control our lives, even when we are successful.   If anyone has the right to be angry, it is God.  So, cut it out.

Grace for your spirit 9-22-16

Grace for your spirit

So Moses issued a command, and a proclamation was circulated throughout the camp saying, "Let neither man nor woman any longer perform work for the contribution of the sanctuary.  Thus the people were restrained from bringing any more.  Exodus 36:6

Do we know the difference between law giving and grace giving? Basically, law giving is "got to", and grace giving is "get to".  These people had previously thought that all of God's blessing belonged to them.  After a great ordeal of God's wrath and God's grace, their minds were changed.  Under God's grace, when the call went out for the building of the Ark of the Covenant, they abounded in giving, and had to be restrained.  Let's no longer think what we "have to do", and start praising God for what we "get to do".