Friday, June 30, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-30-17

Grace for your spirit
If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you will the truth, and the truth will make you free. 
John 8:31-32

In the next few days many will be gearing up to celebrate July 4th, and the freedoms we share.  May we be reminded that we need to be celebrating the freedom that we have in Christ as well.  Freedom from sin, wrath, and death.  Those freedoms allow us to really enjoy the goodness of living in this country.  This 4th, let's enjoy our freedom and remember to celebrate Christ first.

Thursday, June 29, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-29-17

Grace for your spirit
For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.  Hebrews 6:10

We live in a world where people make promises, commitments, and then forget.  Sometimes we live in a dream world of hopeful rewards that were promised.  It can make us skeptical, but we never have to feel that way with God.  He remembers our work and our love and will be there to reward us if we endure.  Let's gather our strength and character from the Lord. He will be there for us.  Will we be there for Him?

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-28-17

Grace for your spirit
But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength; Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning, for You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress.  Psalm 59:16

The Lord has given us a song to sing about.  Sometimes  our song may be hidden, but when we turn to His strength, His lovingkindness, and make Him our stronghold, we will have something to sing about everyday.  Singing not only reflects our joy, but it also creates more joy in our lives.  Let's sing, sing, sing.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-27-17

Grace for  your spirit
I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.  Psalm 16:8

As we look down the road of life, do we see the Lord in all our pursuits. If He is always in our sight, and is the strength of our hands, we will accomplish our goals and His.  It will make our hearts glad and we will live securely.

Monday, June 26, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-26-17

Grace for  your spirit
Now the sons of Eli were worthless men; they did not know the Lord.  I Samuel 2:12  

Eli was a judge over Israel.  Time came when he had no control of his actions, control of his sons, nor help to Israel.  With the Philistines right at their door, his two sons made poor decisions with the ark of the covenant.  At battle, Eli's two sons, and Eli all died the same day.  We need to watch carefully who leads our steps.  Anyone who does not know the Lord, can never lead us to Him.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-23-17

Grace for your spirit
I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. John 15:5

This is another great word picture from the vineyard. Jesus is the  vine that brings us the nourishment we need to bear fruit.  We are the branches but only while we abide Him. As the grapes mature, all the branches start to look just like the vine.  John wrote,  "We know that when He appears we will be like Him."  Let's check our  fruit production and maturity everyday.  Abide, believe, ask, receive.

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-22-17

Grace for your spirit
As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear the cross.  Matthew 27:32

As Jesus struggled to carry His cross to His crucifixion, the soldiers pulled a man from the crowd to bear His cross.  He was pressed into service because of the cross.  Jesus died on the cross that day to redeem us all and ultimately press us into His service.  Our only motivation and basis of boasting is in the cross.  May we all take the cross He has given us and follow Him.

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-20-17

Grace for your spirit
The seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be embarrassed.  Indeed, they will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God.  Micah 3:7

God had a warning and a message for the people of Micah's day.  They missed it because they were in the dark due to their disobedience.  The fortune tellers had taken over, but what was coming was going to shock everyone.  They would be "gobsmacked". So astonished their mouths would drop open and their hands go over their mouths.  God has light for us to see.  Let's not stand in the dark and be "gobsmacked" in the days to come.  Let's walk in the light.

Monday, June 19, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-19-17

Grace for your spirit
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.  Romans 13:10

One principle can satisfy every law of God?  I only need to remember one and I'm good?  Yes!  When we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind, we fulfill every direction given by God to honor  Him.  When we love our neighbor as ourselves, we fulfill all God's directions on how to treat others.  Man to God and man to man, love fulfills every command. 

Friday, June 16, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-16-17

Grace for your spirit
But Ruth said, "Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge.  Your people shall be my people, and your God,my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.  Ruth 1:16-17

This was Ruth's famous declaration to Naomi with her commitment to follow her back to Judah.  This faith commitment would change Ruth's life forever as she found a home, a husband, and a place in the lineage of David.  These words are often made in connection with weddings, but they need to be made in connection to Jesus as well.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-15-17

Grace for your spirit
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right circumstances.    Proverbs 25:11

Doesn't that make a pretty picture.  When we speak like a hammer, or choose to speak with a feather, the picture changes.  Seldom is a word spoken like a hammer is in the right circumstances.  A kind word, a gentle word, a loving word, usually helps every circumstance.  Let's consider carefully what kind of picture our words will paint.  May the words we choose always help others feel better, not worse.

Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-14-17

Grace for your spirit
The king said, "Is there not yet anyone of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?"  II Samuel 9:3

David's arch enemy for so many years was King Saul.  Through all the threats from Saul, David would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed.  He showed him mercy and kindness.  Years later, while David was on his throne, he still had that heart of kindness.  They found a grandson of Saul name Mephibosheth, who was in great need.  David extended the kindness of God and helped him.  This is just one of the reasons David is called a man after God's own heart.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-13-17

Grace for your spirit
But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  James 2:18

We can express our faith with words or with actions.   Talk can be cheap, but helping is always rich.   Do we think God wants both expressions, words and works?  He tells us throughout the book of James that good works is the result of faith, and that faith without works is dead. Shouldn't we start finding ways to work, instead of finding reasons why we don't think we need to work?

Monday, June 12, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-12-17

Grace for your spirit
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

It is not just about being light, but how we use it and where we shine it.If you're holding a light for me, it won't do me much good if it is not where I need it.  Light, "in such a way" that men will see it, that they will see good works being done, and will glorify God.  When we position our light just right all three will be accomplished.

Friday, June 9, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-9-17

Grace for your spirit
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.  Matthew 7:21

When we realize the will of the Father is centered in the cross of Christ, it eliminates all the other standards of obedience.  It is certainly more than "lip service" or rule keeping.  It is the total acceptance of Jesus as both Savior and Lord.  God's will is not a smorgasbord of selections on how we will do His will.  Let's make Jesus Christ and Lord.  Not just accepting salvation but also conforming to walk in His footsteps.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-8-17

Grace for your spirit
By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.  Proverbs 24:3-4

When we want to build a house, we bring architects, and skilled craftsmen.  When we want to build a home, we need to bring God. God can instill wisdom, understanding, and knowledge and fill us with precious and pleasant riches that are everlasting. God.  Don't try to build a home without His plans.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-7-17

Grace for your spirit
But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.  Ezra 9:8

Take a deep breath Ezra.  You've escaped, you're home, and God has given you a refuge in His Holy Place.  Be enlightened, and find a true revival.  We are more like Ezra than we might know.  We have escaped the corruption of the world in Christ, and God has given us a Holy Place in the body of Christ.  Although we are just a remnant, we need to seek enlightenment, and revival, while we can.  In this moment of grace, revive us again, O Lord.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-6-17

Grace for your spirit
Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not ashamed at all.  They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;  Jeremiah 6:15

How did God's holy people get into this state?  When the came into the promised land, God instructed them to rid themselves of the sinful element living there.  They did not. As they lived among the idolatrous  people, they started identifying with them.  Soon they were the same as the world they lived in. When we accept sin, as our view changes, we change.  It happened to them, and can certainly happen to us.  Let's come out and be separate and touch not the unclean things.

Monday, June 5, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-5-17

Grace for your spirit
I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.   Psalm 37:25

When our steps are established by the Lord, He holds our hand. Wherever He guides, He provides.  Before David rose to be king of all Israel, he had many rough days.  Those days taught him to stay with the Lord.  Too many come seeking the Lord just when they need something and often leave dissatisfied.  The righteous are not forsaken. When we walk with Him, we have joy for the journey and the destination.  

Friday, June 2, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-2-17

Grace for your spirit
But speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.  Ephesians 4:15

When we grow and mature in Christ, we will put away our childish behavior and stop being tossed around by trickery and scheming of men.  Our focus after being born again, is growing up into Christ.  The truth in love is our nourishment.  Let's seek the truth and speak the truth in love each day and enjoy the benefits of maturity.

Thursday, June 1, 2017

Grace for your spirit 6-1-17

Grace for your spirit
But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us,  Titus  3:4

Sometimes people have a difficult time seeing God as kind and loving. Too often God is perceived as one who punishes with fire and brimstone.  Enter God in the flesh; Jesus Christ.  Jesus not only came to die on the cross for our sins, but also to allow us to see the kindness, compassion, and tender mercy of God.  He is not someone who is set to judge us, but rather He eager to save us.