Friday, January 11, 2013

“God’s Grace Keeps Us”

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“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace,
which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
 Acts 20:32 (NIV)

The Apostle Paul speaks parting words to the Ephesian elders. He is sailing to Jerusalem not knowing what awaits him there. The Holy Spirit has warned Paul wherever He goes that He will be imprisoned and will face great hardship.

Our focus verse has Paul speaking of his leaving the elders in care of the Lord. He further tells them they will experience His unmerited love which will empower the elders to receive a place with others who had been set apart for God’s work.

When we devote ourselves to God and doing His Will, God notices and empowers us to do great things that we couldn't do in our strength. It is grace that lets us live for Him in today’s world. Grace also keeps us safe from the enemy’s grasp. This doesn't mean that we will not experience times of hardship; what happens is God allows them in our lives in order for us to grow closer to Him.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

“God Blesses His Children”

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“For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor;
 no good thing does he withhold from those who walk is blameless.
                                            O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.”
 Psalm 84:11-12 (NIV)

”For the Lord God is a sun and a shield . . .” What does this mean? The sun warms the earth and allows our farmers to have their crops grow. We have roofs over our head that keep us from the elements. As I initially compose this, our state is awaiting a winter storm to cover our region. We have learned to prepare for these storms. But God protects us from the ravages of sin. We learn to trust Him as we live our lives through his provision for us.

” . . . the Lord bestows favor and honor . . .”        Favor- God looks down on us as His children; He blesses us with goodness and things we do not deserve. Honor-Our heavenly Father gives us gifts we don’t deserve. We have fellowship with Him. He gives us eternal life. Because His Son is in our hearts, we have little reason to fret about issues that could cause us uneasiness.

” . . . no good thing does he withhold from those who walk is blameless.” This is a wonderful phrase; God does not keep good from those who truly walk with Him. Although, some of His children seem to go through some rough times, God allows them to go through them in order that those children grow closer to Him. He teaches us through these ‘harsh’ times. Some of these times send us into the valleys. I have written this before, but it bears repeating: When we are in the valleys, we are more teachable.
”O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you.” The authors change focus here and address the LORD. This thought serves as a note of thanks to Him. They realize the one who relies on God is anointed. The Father bestows peace, love and guidance upon those who rely upon Him.

 For a special treat, click on this. A Sinner Saved by Grace  Another home-grown  area favorite

Monday, January 7, 2013

CALL OF A COWARD



                                               Call of A Coward

By MARCIA MOSTON

Marcia Moston, a New Jersey wife and mother, and her husband, Bob, commit to working at a home for widows and orphans in Guatemala. She had qualms about going to a country with a civil war going on. Marcia struggled with the idea of going there. But, several years earlier, they had told the Lord they would go wherever He would send them. Now it looked like God was calling them to Central America. The family had to deal with certain health disorders peculiar to third world nations. Enroute to their language school, the family had to bribe officials in order to get from point “A” to point “B”. They had to endure living with Gila monsters. They heard warnings of bandits in the area.

After their time in Guatemala, the Lord gave them a year back in their New Jersey home. Bob continued his part-time education-he was studying theology. They were invited to Vermont to fill the pulpit at her brother’s church. They went and eventually accepted the call to be that church’s pastoral family. All the while the memory of a promise she made to people in Guatemala stayed close to Marcia’s heart.

While they ministered to the people in Vermont, the led several missions trips to Central America.
I found this book interesting. The story told of a woman and her family going into an area unknown to her and minister to the people. The book held my interest. Marcia Moston spoke from her heart about working at the home for widows and orphans. God opened her heart and her eyes to the needs of His people in a foreign land. I was challenged by her book. While I consider myself too old to work on a foreign mission field, I can pray for those who are called. I can also support them by donating funds.


I received this book free of charge from Thomas Nelson publishers through BookSneeze®. All they ask of me is I give an impartial review.

God Alone

  Jesus and the children at our church's prayer walk.          I will both lie down in peace and sleep;  For You alone, O LORD make ...