“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.

“God Blesses His Children”

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A Sinner Saved by Grace

“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

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.

He is the One-- RJD January 2013

                          

Taken from 1/01/1997

God is the One who holds all the answers to our questions about the complex issues of life and yet He is the One who responds to these questions with simplicity. He responds to my questions I have with “Trust Me;” with “My grace is sufficient for you;” with “I AM God.”

Two days ago, I bought five napkin rings to go with my Christmas table cloth and napkins. I purchased five because last week we had Christmas Eve dinner at my dad and stepmother’s home, as we usually do. (I chose five because of my husband, our son, myself and the two of them.) 

This past year has been one of serious illness for both of them. I can only trust God to allow them both to surmount their respective illnesses and be here for us to have another Christmas. At the same time, I know that all this is in God’s hands. And for that I am very thankful.

**************

Update: At the time of this journal entry my dad was receiving radiation treatments for Colon Cancer. The previous May, my stepmother had been diagnosed with a second round of Breast Cancer. I had to take her to treatment four days a week. Her sister took her the fifth day.

 I had September, October and most of November ‘to myself’ (getting things back to ‘normal’). During this time I also had to see about a first cousin of my dad who experienced seizures from childhood. In the first three months of 1997, each of them had a stay in the hospital.     

We had one more Christmas together. God did answer my prayer as I had asked. I just realized that fact as I reread this old journal entry.

Linking to :http://beneaththesurface-dawn.blogspot.comn

All I Need

“’ My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’

 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

 so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

               The Apostle Paul had a chronic problem-which he referred to as a thorn in his side. He asked God to take it away. When Paul prayed about it, God gave him a peculiar answer.

“‘My grace is sufficient’” God chose not to honor Paul’s request. Instead He worked through the condition. God spoke of grace—His unmerited love. He told Paul His love was enough to see Him through.

 “‘. . . my power is made perfect in weakness.’” God says something here that seems to be a paradox. His power is perfected in weakness. What does He mean? When we can’t do something because we aren't strong enough to handle the issue, He, at our request, takes over and works through the circumstances and turns it into something that glorifies Him.

”‘. . . I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses.’” THE MESSAGE translation of Bible has an interesting interpretation of these words. “I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.”

”‘ . . . so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’” Paul wanted God to be seen instead of him. Paul, who previously persecuted Christians, wanted the LORD to be seen, not him. He didn’t want to stand in the way.

               Do we let things get in the way of the LORD-between Him and us? Yes, sometimes we do. It happens because we are human and we have shortcomings. This happens when take our eyes off of Jesus and put them on other people.

               Because of God’s grace we are privileged to walk with Him each day. As we walk with God we represent Him to those we meet. This happens in the market place, in the doctor’s office, at the park, and just outside our front door.

                  It is my goal in 2013 to lean more on God’s grace

                A rendition of a hymn I love by a group I have seen. One of the singers is from my area.   Wonderful Grace of Jesus

              .  

Greeting to All

 

 

  Merry Christmas to you, all my blogging friends and my Facebook friends. .

Relationship

Advent Thoughts

Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,

he gave the right to become children of God-

children born not of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12-13 (NIV)

“. . . to all . . .” Jesus came for all mankind, the poorest, as well as the richest, the most vile, as well as the kindest.

. . .  who received him. . .”  He left heaven to bring us closer to the Father. God sent His Son to earth so that we may learn of His ways and get to know God better. We receive Jesus when we prayer the sinners prayer.

“. . . believed in his name. . .” When we allow Jesus into our hearts, we give Him full reign over our lives. We learn that He can be trusted for everything. 

“. . . he gave the right. . . . ” God granted us the status He wanted us to have- He willingly gave us a place in His family.

“. . . to become children of God. . .” God established a relationship between us. He calls us ‘son’ or ‘daughter’. He desires us to be in close relationship with us. We are His children. He loves us unconditionally.

“ . . . born of God.” We know that God creates us. He molds us to His image. The longer we walk with Him, the more we resemble our heavenly Father.