Grace for your spirit 4-30-18

Grace for your spirit

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.  Proverbs 18:10

Remember yelling, "Olly olly oxen free?"  When we played "hide & go seek", it was the signal that it was OK to come in free, and safe.  The authority of God gives us a hiding place that is safe and free.  We can run to it and find refuge in the strong tower of God.  Let's enjoy the righteousness that comes from God and His place for us.

Grace for your spirit 4-27-18

Grace for your spirit

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.   Psalm 34:18

The Apostle Paul felt those afflictions and wrote in II Corinthians 4, "we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;"  How could this be?  Jesus delivered him and saved him.  God offers the same delivery service for all of us too.  We may have many afflictions, but He has more remedies prepared.  Praise the Lord.

Grace for your spirit 4-26-18

Grace for your spirit

Without consultation, plans are frustrated, but with many counselors they succeed.  Proverbs 15:22

There should be concern when anyone thinks they know everything and have no need of anyone's advice.  We should never pursue anything until we have taken counsel from the Lord, and we should never be afraid get input from others.  If the Lord says NO, and everyone else says NO, we better listen. 

Grace for your spirit 4-25-18

Grace for your spirit

The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collection.  Luke 18:11

Do our prayers sound like that?  "Or, Lord help to consider people's feelings, even if they are dumb. Or, Father help me take responsibility for my own actions, even though they're usually not my fault.  Lord, keep me open to other people's ideas, wrong though they may be.  God give me patience, and I mean right now.  God help me take things more seriously, especially having a good time."  These words don't draw us nearer to God or anyone else.  Let's learn to humble ourselves before God and others asking for His grace and mercy to do our best.

Grace for your spirit 4-24-18

Grace for your spirit

"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days," says the Lord;  "I will put My laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them, and their sins and their lawless deed I will remember no more."  Hebrew 10:16-17

The Old Testament Law of God came to them on stones.  The laws made them aware of their sins but offered no permanent solution.  Jesus came to be our sin offering so the laws would dwell in our hearts and minds.  Not only would we be aware of sin, but we would have a way of permanent forgiveness.  Since the blood of Jesus washes our sins away, there is none for God to remember.  I like it that way better, don't you?

Grace for your spieir 4-23-18

Grace for your spirit

But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.  I Timothy 1:5

Too often the goal of our teaching is external change.  We want to see people baptized, worshiping regularly, and working in the church.  God  knows that when we change our inside, the outside evidences will follow.  God goals are love, pure hearts, good consciences, and sincere faith.  When anyone adopts those kinds of changes in their lives, obedience and service will be evident.  Let's direct our teachings toward the heart and spirit.  It's a good strategy for ourselves as well.

Grace for your spirit 4-20-18

Grace for your spirit

For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of parched ground; He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.   Isaiah 53:2

For centuries people have speculated what Jesus looked like.  Some people think the famous paintings are actually pictures of Him.  In reality, most of these pictures show Him the way we wish He looked.

Specifically, tall, dark, and handsome.  The only hint we get is in Isaiah.  Jesus wants to be attractive by His spirit of love and caring.  Everything about Him made Him our Savior and King.

Grace for your spirit 4-19-18

Grace for your spirit

For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind.  The standing

grain has no heads; It yields no grain. Should it yield, strangers would swallow it up.  Hosea 8:7

When God's people turned their backs on Him, they were very busy building idols to bring them prosperity.  They later found out that being busy with the wrong things the wrong way, does not bring a great life. The whirlwind was their losses and eventually losing everything.  There will always be someone telling us there is a better way than trusting God. Let's turn our back on them and not on God.  Blessing will come.

Grace for your spirit 4-18-18

Grace for your spirit

If your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction.  I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me.    Psalm 119:92-93

God has promised us all things that pertain to life and godliness.  All his promises and our solutions to life's greatest problems are found in the  Word of God.  When we delight in His Law, spend time in His Word, then we will surely discover great riches.  Riches that will deliver us and revive us again and again.  Let it be our delight and enjoy His benefits.

Grace for your spirit 4-17-18

Grace for your spirit

And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come"  And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.  Revelation 22:17

All Christians are the bride of Christ and invited to the ultimate experience; the Marriage Supper of the Lamb."  All Christian should spread the joy of this event by inviting everyone to accept Christ and be a part of Him, the bridegroom.  When we decide to die to sin and be born again, it is our R.S.V.P to Jesus.  We are responding to His invitation to be joined with Him eternally.  Let's R.S.V.P today.  All excuses ceasing.

Grace for your spirit 4-16-18

Grace for your spirit

And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.  Hebrews 13:16

We are blessed so we can bless others.  We are forgiven so we can forgive others too.  It is the spiritual cycle of life, like water returning to clouds and bringing rain.  If all the blessings and forgiveness that comes to us stops with us, we are failing to sacrifice in a way that pleases God.  When we "short circuit" God's cycle, we endanger continued blessing for ourselves.  Freely receive, freely give.  Repeat.

Grace for your spirit 4-13-18

Grace for your spirit

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;  When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.  Proverbs 17:28

There's an old saying; "Better to keep your mouth shut and let everything think you are a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt."  It certainly shows a lot of godly wisdom to think about what is prudent before we start to talk.  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  Let's listen to Him and gain our wisdom before we share anything with others.  Ask God for the grace to hold back.

Grace for your spirit 4-12-18

Grace for your spirit

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are His," and,  "Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness."  

II Timothy 2:19

Jesus told us to rejoice that our names are written down. Since the Lord knows who are His, and He knows our names, that is certainly a call to Godly behavior in all we do.  Not only abstaining from wickedness, but being a source of spreading good.  Since He knows our name, let make sure when He calls us that it is for a very good reason.

Grace for your spirit 4-11-18

Grace for your spirit

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come the Almighty."  Revelation 1:8

The Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet.  It is meant to show that Jesus is the first, last and everything in between.  He represents the Almighty Jehovah God.  He always existed, and always will exist.  We can live by His words today and enjoy an eternity when He comes for us.  Let's praise the Lord for this wonderful relationship we are able to have the with Eternal God.

Grace for your spirit 4-10-18

Grace for your spirit

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust."     Psalm 91:1-2

When we abide in the shadow of God, He has promised to protect, provide, and guide us each step of the way.  We should never live in fear or doubt in the providence of the Almighty.  May He give us peace of mind, confidence in our walk, and surety in our speech.  This is the message a troubled world needs.  We can't talk about it until we have truly experienced it.

Grace for your spirit 4-9-18

Grace for your spirit

Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.  Matthew 26:41

When Jesus was in the garden praying the night before His death, the apostles were unaware of what was happening.  Instead of watching and praying, they were sleeping.  They were not ready for the great challenges that would face them in the next few hours.  Indeed, our spirit is willing, but our flesh is weak too.  Let's be aware of the challenges that are coming our way, and be ready to stand the tests.

Grace for your spirit 4-6-18

Grace for your spirit

The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way.   When he falls, he will not be hurled headlong, because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.  Psalm 37:23-24

It is a heart warming sight to see a father holding his child's hand as he walks along.  The father chooses the best path for the child, and if sometimes the child slips, he holds them up.  If a fall should take place, he is close to carry them to safety.  Let's hope this picture describes the close relationship we have with God.  Let's hold out our hand by faith, feel the presence of the Lord and walk securely.

Grace for your spirit 4-5-18

Grace for your spirit

Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and turmoil with it.    Proverbs 16:16

Money can't buy everything.  We can buy the best food but never digest it.  We can buy the best mattress but never get a good nights sleep.  Often turmoil comes with treasure, but the fear of the Lord brings wisdom, knowledge, and peace. Let's give our needs to the Lord and let Him fill them with His will.

Grace for your spirit 4-4-18

Grace for your spirit

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside.  I would rather stand in the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.   Psalm 84:10

What a wonderful day it is when we realize that our hearts desire is to be in the presence of God.  That emotion is magnified when we can find other people who feel the same way.  When we are joined together with others who want to be there, who want to worship and serve, who want to be faithful, life can be sweet. Do you feel the sweet sweet presence of the Lord?   Let's seek for it and find it.

Grace for your spirit 4-3-18

Grace for your spirit

They were continually devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.  Acts 2:42

When the 3,000 were baptized on the first day of the church, they were given the promise of eternal life.  They were given the special gift of believing and rewarded with a sense of belonging.  We may take believing and belonging for granted, but the lost world does not.  Many people wander believing in nothing and belonging to nobody.  The message of Jesus is eternal, plus it starts blessing us on day one.  Believing and belonging; may we live it and preach it.

Grace for your spirit 4-2-18

Grace for your spirit

But she said, "As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar, and behold I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that may eat it and die.  I Kings 17:12

This widow, living in a drought stricken land, was down to her last meal.  By faith she gave her last meal to Elijah the prophet, and was rewarded with all the flour and oil she would ever need.  This foreign woman brought the blessing of God into her house and all its benefits. Do we have an act of faith in us that will bring His benefits to us?  It may be our hidden key to blessings and happiness.