A Gift of God’s Grace

 

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, and godly lives in this present age.

Titus 2:11-12 (NIV)

When we turn over our hearts and lives to Jesus, He gives us His Father’s grace to guide us through our lives. We receive salvation and so much more.

We receive the strength to stand against the worldly ungodliness that, from time to time, we have to face. Yes, as I read this scripture believers can say “No” to the worldly things.

The grace of God teaches us that we can manage in this world when we trust in the Holy Spirit to utilize self-control through Him and live lives pleasing to God before our neighbors and those we see where we do business.

I believe it is important that each follower of Jesus must strive to get closer to God and model our beliefs to those around us. However, I do not say this is easy to do. We have to rely on the Holy
Spirit to guide us through the roadblocks that life throws in our way.

Through His Guidance

 

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In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined to the

purpose of Him who works all things to the counsel of His will.

Ephesians 1:11 (NKJV)

In Jesus, we have received a gift from God, a gift determined by the LORD’s aim for us. God works all things in accordance to His will.

Our heavenly Father knows what He plans for each of His children. We learn His purpose for our lives through the experiences we have as we grow in Him, the spiritual gifts He gives us and through His guidance through our days.

Over the years, I have taken at least three Spiritual Gifts surveys. The results have guided me as I walk with Jesus. Some people find that those gifts change over time. Some of mine went from strong gifts that I could use and to waiting gifts that I could use if I could develop them.

Have you done a Spiritual Gifts survey?

Purpose in Season

 

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To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose on earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

God creates our live and gives us many epochs in each life He creates. As a person goes through life, he or she might go through certain stages.

As young adults, we study, we work, date, maybe marry.

As young marrieds, we work, provide for our families and care for our homes.

As parents, we care for, provide for and rear children.

As Empty Nesters, we rediscover favorite pastimes. and even learn new skills.

As Caregivers, we spend time caring for or helping older family members.

As Senior Citizens, we may volunteer for church or civic positions.

Each of these seasons have a purpose. God gives His children duties and tasks to perform. Each ‘season’ has a beginning and an end.

Since two weeks before the COVID lock down, I have had several health issues. It seems like one after another. I sincerely need to pray about finding God’s purpose about how He wants me to spend my days in this season I find myself.

Sometimes, all we can do is seek the LORD’s guidance and follow His leading.

Are any of you going through times like this?

God’s Plan

 

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For I know the thoughts [plans] that I think towards [have for] you,

says the LORD. Thoughts [plans] of peace not evil, to give

you a future and hope. Hebrews 29:11 (NKJV) [NI V]

The words in brackets are how I learned this verse.

The LORD has set in motion a time of exile for the Israelite people. They will be in bondage for 70 years, a life time to a lot of people now. How many generations of Israelite people lived in this bondage during those years?

Yet, God had plans for them. False prophets had misled them. One told the Israelite people the enslavement would last just two years. God took him out two months later.

God’s plans were positive-in the long run. The people had to learn some lessons and learn to respect God.

Recently, I came across the thought that what we see happening in our world today has come about because we have lost respect for God and the lessons we have needed to learn. This thought makes sense to me.

What do you think about this? Does God still have plans for His children? Will His children respond to God in a way that uplifts Him?

Let Your Gentleness Be Known

 

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Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

Philippians 4:5 (NKJV)

As believers, we must not haggle over unimportant details.  One afternoon recently, I had two incidents with a clerk at our CVS store. I had to ask where something was that I could not find. His response was, “Aisle Seven.”

Instead of responing to my query, I felt that he should have accompanied me to the area. That to me is good customer service.

When I checked out, I had two coupons, one of which did not get applied to my bill. I was not in the best frame of mind when I left the store. I did not know that the second coupon was not applied until I had returned home and checked my receipt.

I decided how to handle my response on this. This is not the first time I have had issues with his service.

Then, I read this scripture. I do have some work to do on this gentleness issue. When I was asked to evaluate the service I received (online), I gave the store middle valued response. When I had to evaluate the person who checked me out, I gave that person low markings.

My reasoning for the action I took was as follows:

# I am a senior citizen, in my late 70s. If a person working in a store treats a senior citizen badly, it reflects on the store. I have seen people in the business world help and guide an elderly person through the process he or she has to go through to complete their transactions or even to find what they are looking for.

# I walk with a cane, it is sometimes hard for me to get around. When I have to hunt for the location of a product, I get frustrated when I have looked and still can’t find it.

As I said above, I do have some work to do on this gentleness issue.

Patience and Gentleness

 

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By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, and a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

Proverbs 25:15 (NKJV)

Moses listened to the Lord and patiently awaited the day that Pharaoh would finally let the Israelite people depart Egypt and head to the land God had promised them.

Hannah exercised patience and faith as she awaited receiving her first-born son, Samuel. Hannah also practiced gentleness, although it was difficult, as she endured the taunts from Peninnah.

When we have stress-causing circumstances in our lives, we have to practice patience and, yes, gentleness in our daily lives. We may have to spend more time with God, as he gently whispers words of comfort, healing and love into our ears as we face overwhelming circumstances in our lives.

When we hear things from others that upset us, we need to apply the rule that our mothers said, “If you can’t say anything nice, say nothing at all.” This was a rule that a lot of us senior citizens heard from early on in our growing-up years. It is a pity that this rule seemed to fall by the wayside during the last half-century

Can we begin teaching this “rule” to children of these times?

Show Humility to All Men

 

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Remind them to be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. Titus 3:1-2 (NKJV)

Paul’s words to Titus whom he describes as a “true son in our common faith.”

Paul lays groundwork here for believers to follow.

* To submit to rulers and authorities.

* To not speak badly about anyone.

* To live peaceful lives.

* To show humility to all we know.

Paul makes some very strong points, getting to the core of human relationships. He writes these words to a pastor who is young. Titus faces a huge task, that of establishing churches.

As we go through our days, we must follow these words of guidance from Paul. We are tasked to helping enlarge the kingdom of God, however, we must learn to daily practice gentleness.

This is a very difficult thing to do. Recently, I received a phone call from a friend who lives in my neighborhood. She wanted my advise on something. She told me her feelings on an issue and I told her that if she felt uncomfortable doing what she was asked, then maybe she should not do it. She had some good reasons about why she felt the way she did. I could have been more gentle about certain related issues she spoke of. I intend to be more careful in the future.

Do we always find ways to show humility to those around us?

We Must be Faithful

 

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This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,

We shall also live with Him.

If we endure,

We shall also reign with Him.

If we deny Him,

He will deny us.

If we are faithless,

He remains faithful;

He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:11-13 (NKJV)

Paul wrote these words to Timothy. This was his last letter he would write. Paul knew he would die.

Paul gives words of encouragement to Timothy to stay close to God. These words are especially important to followers of Christ today. We see people who followed Christ in their youth go their own ways and get tripped up by the enemy. We have at least two generations that seem to have denied Christ. We must endure for His sake. We must not deny Him. God is faithful; we must be faithful to Him.

Each of us must re-dedicate our lives to live for Jesus, to stand for what He has taught us.

He Rewards Faithfulness

 

But, without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)

When we go before the LORD, we must believe He is who He says He is. The writer of Hebrews tell us without our believing in Him we cannot please Him. When we go before His throne, there are certain things we must believe:

* He will listen to our pleas.

       If our hearts are in tune with Him.

* He will answer our requests.

      In the way that is best for us and His plan.

* He will reward us for our efforts.

      His rewards may be a lightness of heart.

      He may give us new insight into a concern or a problem.

However, we must concentrate on Him while we seek His guidance.

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.“ Matthew 6:6 (NKJV)

Sometimes, we can follow Matthew 6:6 when we are in a crowd. Other times we can do obey this scripture by physically removing ourselves from the circumstance that needs our prayer.

Faith-Our Lifeline

 

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Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised

is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 (NKJV)

When a person gives his heart to Jesus, he or she becomes a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). God has forgiven that person for his or her sins. This is basic to the Christian belief.

Each new Christian goes through a time when all things are new and bright. However, certain issues enter the new Christians’ life that can cause them to fall away.

The writer of Hebrews tells us we are to hold fast to that which we experienced when we first met Jesus. We are not to waffle in our beliefs or “sit on the fence” about our faith. We are in the world but not of the world. We have a life-line that we can hold onto when we are faced with issues the world puts in our path.

We can hold fast to our beliefs and our salvation because we have the promises of God.

                              

Being Faithful

 

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His Lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant: you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matthew 25:21 (NKJV)

The disciples asked about the end times and the Rapture. Jesus told them several parables that relate to the end times and His return. One was about being faithful with what we have.

A wealthy man prepares to travel a great distance from home. He leaves three of his household servant in charge of some talents (money). After a lengthy absence, the wealthy man returns. Two of the servants had made the talents work for them, doubling the amount each was given. They were praised and rewarded for their efforts. Their master said they were faithful. The third servant did nothing with what he was given. The master took away the gifts and gave them to the other two servants.

Do we see many people being faithful to the LORD or even to each other in our world today? Are we as faithful to God as we were when we first gave our hearts to Him? This is something I have to deal with often.

We all want to hear God tell us that we were faithful over what He has given us.

Because of His Faithfulness

 

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His mercies fail not. They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness. Lamentations3:22-23 (NKJV)

Did you ever have ‘one of those days’ when nothing went the way you planned or wanted it to go? Because we are human, we all have them. Not sleeping at night, forgetting where you put something you need to function, needing to alter plans to accommodate someone else are just a few of the ones we could face in our days.

Because we belong to God, we can function in spite of the plans that go awry. He blesses us with the strength to continue with what we need to do.

My study Bible lists some advantages because of God’s faithfulness:

*We can have confidence when we pray.

*We can conquer evil and temptation.

*We can praise Him.

*We can have courage when we are afraid.⁽¹⁾

We all must rely on His faithfulness as we go through our lives. When we do we become stronger in our witness and testimony for God.

_____________________

(1.)Jeremiah Study Bible, Dr. © 2013 David Jeremiah Inc, Worthy, Hatchette Book Group NY, NY. Page 1045.

God’s Goodness

 

Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which you have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence in the presence of the sons of men!

Psalm 31:19 (NKJV)

As children, we learned the table grace, “God is Great, God is good.” Somewhere in the process of growing up, we seem to forget how great God really is.

As we look around our world, we see people take for granted that God loves them and the many ways He provides for us.

When we pray, we need to begin with the words, “Thank You,” or even “Forgive us, Father,” We need to remember that all we have and all we are, we owe to Him and His graciousness.

We learn to trust God and His goodness as we go through the trials and hardships of life here on earth. I don’t need to elaborate on the many trials people to through to you who read this; I am certain that each of you have gone through trials of various sorts.

As I type this essay, I am trusting Him to guide my husband and myself through the day tomorrow as we go for his pro-operative tests for his surgery early in August. This time has been one of learning for me.

We all see things that remind us of God’s goodness to us, His children. In return, we must show His love to the world. We should always remember that He died for our sins Because of that act we will be able to spend eternity with God.

Everlasting Mercy

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For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100:5 (NJKV)

 

These words come from a Psalm of Thanksgiving. I find comfort in them as I type them. I remember learning this Psalm in the fifth grade.

 

We sing choruses about God’s goodness to us. But do we really understand what we mean? God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the only truly good persons we know of. They are without sin. God endows His children with His goodness so that they can display that goodness to those who need His love axpalnd kindness.

The goodness God showed to the Biblical heroes He can also show to us. What was truth in those times is still truth today. God never changes. We as a nation and a people need to get back to following God. 

We never realize how merciful God is until we know we have received mercy in a way that we cannot explain any other way. I experienced His mercy in this way several times lately.

God will see us through these difficult times.                             

       We must remember God's goodness to each of us. I trust you will enjoy this song.

What God Requires

 

 

He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to love justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God!  Micah 6:8 (NKJV)

 

God shows us His goodness to us each day. The sun shining through my living room window brings the words, “Thank You, Lord!” to my mind and heart. When I manage to get some good sleep through the night, I try to thank Him for that gift.

 

God shows us His goodness in many ways, ways we often take for granted. What does He expect from us?

 

God expects us to love justly. What does that mean? Could it mean that when we hear of someone doing wrong to another that we are to ask God to deal with this person according to His standard of right and wrong-according to what His justice?

 

The Lord also expects us to love mercy. Could this mean that we are to show mercy to those who have done wrong to us or to others? Showing mercy can be difficult but God expects His children to do it.   

 

He also desires that we “walk humbly” with Him. God wants His children to know that He is perfect and infallible, while we, His children are imperfect and make mistakes.

 

I was reminded of this song as I initially typed this blog entry. I hope you enjoy it.

We Must Forgive

 

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Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another even as Christ forgave you, so you must all so do. Colossians 3:12-13 (NKJV)

 

The Apostle Paul conveys this message to the believers at Colossae. This is basically the same message he gives the Ephesian believers. However, he goes deeper with the meaning of being kind. He writes that we should “put on” these attributes as we dress ourselves for each day.

 

tender mercies

 

If we should have issues with someone, we must approach that issue carefully and speak with tender words. We don’t always realize how we come across when we just blurt out the issue that is on our hearts.

 

 kindness

 

Even when we have issues with another person, we should approach that person with kind words because we don’t know what they might be going through in their personal lives.

 

 humility

 

We should always remember that each of us is no better or no worse than other people. God made us all. He allows each of us to have experiences and circumstances that allow us to grow. We should learn to practice humility in all our interactions with others.

 

 meekness

 

As people of Christ, we should learn to take the gentle path when dealing with people. We must realize that we are imperfect beings.

 

 longsuffering

 

I love this word. It is an old English word that means “patience”. We must have patience in this world as we deal with others. I walk with a cane. It takes me a while to go from “point A” to “point B”. I appreciate those who cross my path when I am shopping and they either wait as I get past them or help me by holding a door open for me. With all the upheaval going on in our nation, we all could benefit from having some more patience.

 

 bearing with one another

 

Sometimes, we become aware of the need those who are hurting have. We can do this through praying for them and their need. Maybe we can do something more practical. Taking someone to the doctor or to the ER, going to the grocery store for them. Our church has a food pantry that is open twice a month. This is a ministry that has grown over the years.

 

 forgiving one another

 

To get beyond hurts, we have to forgive each other. Someone once asked me to forgive her but then said, “But, I didn’t do anything.” The only way I could forgive her was to ask God to do it for me.

 

Forgiveness from God wipes away the record that He has on us. When we ask forgiveness from another person, we attempt to clear the air between that person and ourselves. 

Be Kind

 

 

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 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

 

The Apostle Paul penned these words to the believers at Ephesus.The first time I read this, I was stopped in my thinking.

 

 and be kind to one another,

 

How can we be kind to other people? We can open doors for those who are around us as we enter or leave a business establishment. We can offer to help someone who is ill and can’t get out to get food and medicine.

 

tenderhearted

 

We should always remember the “Golden Rule”:

Do to others as you would have others do to you. (Matthew 7:12) Simply stated, we are to treat others as we would like to be treated.  

 

forgiving one another

 

 Forgiving can be difficult. When we can’t do it, we may have to ask God to forgive someone for us.

 

even as God in Christ forgave you.

 

These words caught me up that first time I read them. Do we forget that God forgave us when He entered our hearts, to live with us forever?

 

We have a responsibility to represent the LORD to those around us, our families, our neighbors, those we meet in the marketplace, and those who are healthcare workers. We can only follow through with this commission by learning to forgive those who cause us to hurt.

 

The Path to Peace By Ann Swindell

 

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Ann Swindell has written an excellent book about finding peace in our hearts. It is a combination of a devotional and a Bible study. I find the book lives up to it's tag line: Experiencing God's Comfort when you are overwhelmed.

 

She has chosen five heroes of the Bible, four individuals and the disciples, and explored how they found peace in their lives. She chose to include Sarah, Moses, Ruth, Hannah, Mary, the Disciples, Mary Magdalene, and Paul.

 

In each section, she examines what is going on as each person lives out their lives and how that person was able to find peace through Jesus Christ.Ann Swindell shares some of the times in her life that she needed to find peace to heal from deep hurts.

 

I like that she showed transparency and, in her writing, could say, “I have been there, I know what it is to be hurt by friends and life’s circumstances. And I was able to find peace through Christ.”

 

I am impressed with the make-up of her book.

Each day’s reading is short, but powerful. When she makes a valid point on the daily topic, she backs it up with a scripture reference.

 

This is an interactive book. At the end of each of the 40 daily readings, she asks a relevant question of her readers and includes space for the reader to record an answer.

 

I would recommend this book to any woman or group of women who feel overwhelmed by life’s stresses. This book would also be beneficial for Christian counselors to include in their libraries.

 

This book is available on: Amazon here and Christianbook and here..

 

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All they asked of me was that I give an unbiased review.

  

Bearing with One Another

 

 

I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering (patience), bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

                                                                                                                Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV)

 

Words of Paul to the believers in Ephesus.

 

Paul tells us that they and subsequent believers should live humble and gentle lives. Believers are to be patient and should bear one another’s differences in love. While endeavoring to keep the unity of the Holy Spirit through the bond of peace.

 

There are times in our lives that we must realize that there are those prone to say or do things that do not represent godly thought, speech, or behavior. They may say they are Christians, but their behavior tells otherwise. It is possible that they might not realize what they are saying or doing is wrong in God’s eyes and does not represent Him.

 

According to what Paul tells us here, it is our duty to be patient,

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV)

Patience, Comfort Through Scriptures

 

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For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

                                                                                                                                                                Romans 15:4-5 (NKJV)

 

These are the words of Paul penned to the believers at Rome.

 

He tells them that the thoughts written by earlier writers have been saved and handed down so that we may learn from them. We can learn patience, wisdom, hope, and comfort through reading the Psalms and the Proverbs. By reading Paul’s letters, we can learn how to respond to the temptations of society. By reading the Gospels, we learn of Jesus’ ministry and how He chose to take our sins onto Himself in order that we will be able to enter heaven to be with Him.

 

Paul also mentions that we become ‘like-minded’ with one another as we study God’s word.

 

I am presently reading a book to review that deals with fining peace in our lives. The author points out that peace can be achieved through obedience. In the past few years, I have had both these words as my ‘word for the year’. I am enjoying this book as I continue to recover from COVID.