Grace

I’ve been giving some thought to the idea of God’s grace.  I’ve heard about grace for my entire life but I am not sure I really grasp it completely.

I’ve heard the definition that grace is God’s unmerited favor.  Something we get that we don’t deserve…like a gift.  Grace then ties into forgiveness and eternal life.

It is through the death of Jesus on the cross that we obtain eternal life.  Do I really understand what Jesus did for me?  Do I grasp that Jesus willingly gave up his life on the cross for me.  He never sinned and didn’t do anything to deserve death. 

Take a look at what Paul has to say to Timothy:

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”  2 Timothy 1:9-10

We are saved because of his grace!  What does that mean to me?  Am I thankful for grace?  Do I live like I am thankful?  Do I extend grace to others?  Just like I need grace from God and forgiveness, others need me to extend grace to them.

Today’s challenge is to look at your life and see who you can extend grace to. 

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K.I.S.S.

K.I.S.S. stands for “keep it simple stupid”.

I am some times guilty of making things too complicated.  The Christian life isn’t meant to be complicated.  We make it complicated with our systems of rules.

Every moment of every day, my life goes on.  I need to make the most of it.  Don’t spend my life waiting for the next thing to happen.  Don’t waste a single moment.  Make plans and goals but live in the present.  However, my plans and goals are important as they help give direction to my life.

Seek God every moment of every day.  Make the most of the opportunities I have ,  Find ways to love and serve others.  Be thankful as I live my life.  Delight myself in your journey.

Simplifying your life is not about how much money your do or don’t have.  It’s not about the stuff you have or don’t have.  It has nothing to do with material things.  It really has to do with learning to have my needs met in Christ.

It’s hard to keep my life simple because I am constantly hit with the idea that I need more, more, more stuff.  Do I have the best iPod, iPad, iPhone, XBox, Wii, Kindle, Nook, etc…  Americans are the ultimate consumers.  We buy and buy and buy, thinking that these purchases will make us happy.

When I feel like my life is out of control, I need to look at the details of my life and find a way to simplify. 

• I need to live humbly before God.
• I need to trust God to meet my needs.
• I need to ask God to help me identify my real needs.
• I need to look for beauty and value in everything around me.
• I need to do my best at whatever I do.
• I need to accept where I am in my life and try to see God’s plan.
• I need to love my family all the time.
• I need to give away anything that is in my life that is keeping my attention away from God.
• I need to focus on things that help me in my walk with Christ.
• I need to remember that I am on a journey that ends in heaven.  I am not long for this world.

Does that help you to think about how to simplify? 

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Are you afraid to die?

I’ve been pretty quiet on the blog lately.  We lost Aunt Dorothy just over two weeks ago.  Aunt Dorothy was more like my mother-in-law than an aunt.  My husband’s mother died before we were married and so I never really had a mother-in-law.  Aunt Dorothy was who filled that role in my life.

It’s hard to lose a loved one.  We miss her dearly. She was a Christian and so we mentally know that she is in a better place.  It is that human part of us that misses her that makes it hard. 

For the Christian who dies, it is a wonderful thing. It is to be with Jesus.  It is the end of the race, achieving the goal we have been living here for.  Jesus told the thief on the cross “Today you shall be with me in paradise".”  (Luke 23:43)  Paul said that he desired to depart this life and be with Christ (Philippians 1:23).  He said that would be far better.

In 2 Corinthians 5:8, Paul writes that “to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.”  This refers to being in the presence of the Lord. 

It is important for each of us to come to grips with our own mortality.  I have really been thinking about this a lot lately.  Perhaps because I am approaching 50 years old and so I know that I have more years behind me than ahead of me.  I don’t think I am afraid of being dead.  The process of dying can be a little scary.  Also, I worry about the people I would leave behind.  People who need me.  I think that was what Pail was referring to in Philippians chapter 1. 

Death is a part of life.  From the moment you are born, you are on a path that leads to death.  It comes quicker for some than for others but all of us will reach that end sometime. The best thing we can do is prepare for our death by accepting Christ.  Everyone dies and there are only two choices at that moment…. eternity in heaven or eternity in hell.  What you do now determines what happens then.  I have chosen to place my faith in Christ.  So did Aunt Dorothy.

Grief is painful.  Jesus grieved.  I don’t feel sorry for Aunt Dorothy.  She has finished her journey and earned her reward.  I feel sorry for Uncle Robert.  Going on without her will be very difficult.  I feel sorry for my husband.  It was like losing his mother all over again. 

I see death as a transition point.  It is the transition between serving the Lord here on earth and now serving Jesus in heaven.  I hope there is a big piano in heaven and Aunty Dorothy can once again use her musical gifts to play praise songs for the King of Kings.

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Tough Day

Listen to the kid

My daughter is a junior in high school and is beginning to look at colleges.  We’ve been looking at state schools.  She wants to study biology.  She will probably get a teaching degree.  She told me last week that she thinks a Christian college would be a good idea.  I immediately thought about cost.  I don’t know how we will afford the tuition at a Christian college. 

So I asked the obvious question – Why do you think a Christian college would be the best?  Keep in mind that we’ve been paying tuition for Christian schools since she was in kindergarten.  She thought of something that I never thought of.  She said she knows that studying biology means she will have to study evolution.  She doesn’t want to go to a college that will make her compromise her faith in creation just to pass a test.  Pretty good reasoning for a 17 year old!

If Christians were more concerned about staying away from things that would make them compromise their faith and beliefs, I think we’d all have a better reputation in society.  One of the major problems that exist today is that Christians don’t look or speak differently than the world around them.  They don’t take a stand on the issues.  They are willing to do or say whatever is necessary in order not to cause a problem. 

My kid continues to amaze me with her faith.  I can’t thank God enough for her.

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How big is your God?

I have been struggling with making myself write the last couple of weeks.  I’ve given quite a bit of thought lately to how “big” is my God.  Do I act like He can do anything?  Do I pray like I believe He can do anything?  Or, do I pray like even He has limits.  Or that perhaps He is too busy for me?  Do I really cast all my cares on Him.  Do I treat Him like he owns the cattle on a thousand hills?  Do I really understand how much He loves me?  Do I trust him for things I can’t just handle on my own?

I think a lot of people (me included) only pray for things we can actually accomplish ourselves.  With these kinds of prayers we never really see what God can do.  We never really see His power.

We’ve got a lot going on in our family right now and we really need God to intervene.  My husband has a very special aunt who is intensive care following a stroke.  She’s been in a coma like state for a week and they can’t waken her.  They can’t get the pressure down in her head enough to wake her up.  If and when they do waken her, we are told she won’t be the same.  We are praying for a miracle from God.  I believe that He can choose to heal to her completely.  That is something completely out of our hands.  Do you have anything going on in your life that is completely out of your hands?

 

Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Philippians 4:13 says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

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Needed a Break

I haven’t written for a couple of weeks.  I felt like I needed a break from writing.  It was becoming too much of a “to do” and was lacking passion on my part.  I needed to take a couple of weeks and just read the Word and try to soak it in. 

Have you ever felt like you just wanted to read and read the Word?   Psalm 1 talks about meditating on the Word day and night. 

Spending time in the Word should be an important part of every Christian’s life.  Soak it in and let it affect every area of your life.  The Word contains everything we need to know for living our lives.

 

Psalm 119:105 – “Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.”

Hebrews 4:12 says – “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Isaiah 40:8 -  “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.”

2 Timothy 3:16 - “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”

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