Life of Grace

You think you're happy until one day you smile so much, your cheeks hurt. You think you rule your world until the day your world turns upside-down. You think you're faith is everything until Jesus reminds you He is everything. 

The presence of God sends chills through the tiny hairs on your arms and you learn it's the presence of your Spirit rejoicing from the inside out. You think you can do it, until God shows you how He's gonna do it. You think you have enough money, until the unexpected happens. You think you will live a full, long life until that tumor appears. 

We sure do a lot of thinking. 

The world is full of assumptions but one thing we do not have to make assumptions about is our Lord Jesus. According to the Scriptures, Christ Jesus is the Cornerstone, our strong Foundation. The Lord is our Redeemer, King, Father, Refuge, Friend, Shield, Answer, Protector and Sweetest Love. He is faithful, just, righteous, steadfast, enduring, long-suffering, gracious, merciful and mighty. In the simplest of human languages and definitions, these are the characteristics and promises of Our Savior which hardly do justice to defining an infinite God. He's so much more than we can think or imagine. 

All knowing, all seeing, all able, ever present is He. It is written, He is LORD over all. All our worry. All our fear. All our plans. All our blessings. All our bodies. All the principalities. All. He is All.

"However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 

For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. 

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. 

The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit." 1 Corinthians 2: 9-14 NIV

Ecclesiastes reminds us there will be times for everything in this life. As countless as the stars in the sky are the numerous variables on this side of Heaven for you to be able to figure things out and have an unshakable, fortified plan outside of living by faith, for grace, by hope, with trust and in love.. In the economy of God A + B does not always = C. But rest assured Jesus + God + Holy Spirit = Life. E v e r y  s i n g l e  time.

Whatever you are facing today, seek the Lord. With Him you will have life. With Him you will have peace and joy even through tears and questions of sufferings. He is our Healer and Counselor for all the hurts. Life is not fair or predictable. But God is. We are weak, but He is strong. Don't forget, there is an enemy working against you, to keep you from experiencing a gracious and joy-filled life. 

So, how do we live by faith and feel purposeful and ready for whatever comes our way? By spending time leaning into God, learning who He is through daily Bible reading, fellowship through Bible studies, in songs of worship, and by the testimonies of others of like-minded faith. Arming yourself with His armor and not just your plans. Knowing who God is, the One you are placing all your hopes and fears in, the greatest Love of your soul, waits ready to meet with you and reveal His love to you every day. You will find Him if you seek Him. He isn't seeking your lip service and He isn't fooled by our masks.

He is am amazing God who saves sinners by grace, who extended the Peace offering, with grace. Your sins and my sins have earned us an eternity in the lake of fire and gnashing of teeth, but by the Grace Giver our Lord, He sent His Son to pay the debt we owe and we are found in Him righteous. Wow. That's everything. We have redemption forever in Him. We have life ever lasting in Him. Today and always, we have comfort, peace, joy, purpose, in Him. He is the same yesterday, today and forever, amen! Will you choose today, to accept and live in this life of Grace?

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." 

2 Corinthians 4:17 NIV

Prayer: Father God, Lord over All, we pray according to the Scriptures we may be found faithful in You..."Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything. 

We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children—open wide your hearts also." 

2 Corinthians 6: 4-13 NIV May it be so, amen. Here is where we live, not in the black and white, rather Where Faith is. 

Worship in Song here: 

Do you trust me?

It was one of those moments where you needed a helping hand. There was no way around it. I just couldn't reach what I wanted to see. I leaned over the edge as far as I could, but my own limited stretch wasn't enough. I needed just a few more inches and I could get it. I needed a hand. My friend quickly stuck out her hand and said, "Here...I got ya." I looked up and thought for a second and my entire life's moments of being on the receiving end of a practical joke filled my mind and it didn't take more than 10 seconds to say, "Ummm, that's okay, I'll wait." With her hand reaching closer to me, she exclaimed, "You do have trust issues!!" And She was right. I do. By now, her hand was right infront of my face, waiting...daring me to trust. I was being called out in an area she knows I am working on and didn't give up, actually challenged me to fight through it right in that moment. I looked her in the eye and grabbed her hand, she said, "I'm not gonna let go. If you go in, I will go in, but you're not going in. Now, go!" She had me. I had her. I made the reach. I didn't fall!! Trust Lesson-PASSED! WooHoooo!!

Doesn't God ask the same of us? Do you trust Me? There's something we cannot reach on our own, we need just a few more inches and there He stands reaching out His hand. Will we dare to trust Him? As I work through this issue of trust in my life, I know I am growing because the time of pause in between the anxious ponderings has grown less and less. There was a day when I said, "No thanks" and walked away in fear. Years later I began to trust a little more, analyze the situation deeply, weigh out the odds and choose to trust when I knew I couldn't get hurt (not sure that is trust more than just receiving a helping hand when there's no risk involved).

Trusting involves risk. Risk of being hurt (emotionally or physically). So the "what" or "who" you are trusting makes all the difference. If the hand being extended to me is the one of a complete stranger, I would not trust them to have my best interest at heart. I could certainly hope and trust, but there's a huge risk. If the helping hand is someone I have known to care for me and has a heart towards goodness and kindness, even if they have a silly side (aka:Practical Joker), I know I can trust them to hold on when they give me their word. When the hand offered is from a trusted person, you know they are trust worthy, you know they have your best in mind, you should trust and grab on. There's no reason not to. Being able to reach what you needed reinforces the bond of trust. Once again, it has been proven to you as trustworthy.

What is it you are trying to reach that is just a few inches away from your limited stretch? God stands graciously reaching out to you. Bottom line is that if "it" (whatever "it" is) is from God, then you can know that He has already gone before you and knows what's coming. Satan on the otherhand, wants you to trip you up and tempt you to not trust God. There will be testing of our faith...our trust. We must know Him enough through our relationship with Him to know when it is His hand you are reaching to hold on to. Grab the wrong hand and you will probably fall.

Where is your hope? Whom do you trust? Won't you look Him in the eye and take a hold of His hand, trusting Him fully? He is not going to let you go. If you go in, He will go in with you. Make the reach. Now GO!!!

"In You, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in Your righteousness deliver me! Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me!  

For You are my rock and my fortress; and for Your name's sake You lead me and guide me; You take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for You are my refuge.   

Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD.

 I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because You have seen my affliction; You have known the distress of my soul, and You have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a broad place." Psalm 31"1-8

Father God, I praise You Lord God, my Abba Daddy, my Protector and Provider to be my trusting hand. Through those You have placed in my life to sharpen me and even challenge me to trust, I thank You. For the circumstances you allow that make me have to choose to trust or not, I thank You. I pray You, my Father and Friend above all others, find me faithful to trust You when I face something out of my reach. I know it must grieve You when I question Your strong hand stretched out for me. Forgive my unbelief Lord God. Do not let me waver. May I stand looking You in the eye with confidence and courage to trust Your hand. There is no greater reach than the one stretching out over The Cross. I desire with all my heart, mind, strength, soul and spirit to hold firm to Your outstretched arm. Give me greater discernment to know when and who to trust in this world. Thank You for the ones who have betrayed my trust for they are the ones who caused me to bring all my broken pieces to You to be mended so tenderly back together. And for those You have placed in my life to reinforce the bond of trust, I say Thank You!! Father God, it is You that I ultimately trust with every person and every circumstance in my life. Give me Your eyes and Your hands to know when to open mine. I praise You Faithful King and Father. Amen.