By The Same Grace

By The Same Grace

Karen Sims
God's Grace, God's Love

As a young, self-sufficient adult, I allowed the grace of God to save me from eternal condemnation. Then, almost immediately, I got back in high gear and began striving to please God in my own efforts. Grace had vanished. This only made it harder for me to admit to my continued failures. I wanted-no-I needed to project my shortcomings on something or someone else to save face. I was afraid to be honest with God. Pride imprisoned me in denial and from taking responsibility for my attitudes, actions, and feelings. 

The Doors Jesus Opens

The Doors Jesus Opens

Stacy A. Davis
Spiritual Growth, Wisdom, Truth

Lately, my life has been a full range of emotions and events. First, my dad unexpectedly passed away and moved through the door into eternity. Two weeks later, my granddaughter was born and passed through the door into this world. Our family has truly been living out the circle of life. As I contemplated the events of the past several weeks, of one exiting and one entering, I considered… What makes a productive and useful life between entrance and exit?

Don’t Make This Mistake!

Don’t Make This Mistake!

Stacy A. Davis
Spiritual Growth, Sanctification, Jesus

The bottom line is the enemy will try to tempt me with worldly pleasures, so I won’t go through the spiritual door to serve the Lord. Scripture teaches me not to trade my eternal inheritance for a simple, worldly thing like the life of ease and comfort today. In my earthly life, it may be a little uncomfortable to follow Jesus… and that is okay! Learn from Esau’s mistake. Accept the Lord’s invitation to follow and serve Him. Think of the eternal gain. Jesus will lead you to your rightful inheritance.

Will You Open the Door?

Will You Open the Door?

Stacy A. Davis
Spiritual Growth, Serving, Sanctification

Jesus can surprise you and invite you into a spiritual opportunity with Him. He is saying when you realize this moment, respond and accept it. It is a spiritual door of opportunity for you specifically. You respond and say yes by accepting the opportunity. This can be an invitation into a relationship with Jesus. Or, if you already have a relationship with Jesus, this invitation can be a Holy Spirit inspired service.

To Him Be the Glory Forever!

To Him Be the Glory Forever!

Nancy Paul
God's Character, God's glory, Worship

When I was a little child—well not really, but a teenager eager to know the Lord better—I memorized all 107 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism* precepts. To this day I remember two of them: #1, “Man’s chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” And indeed, “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” is the entire thrust of Scripture, you could even say of life.

Pass It On

Pass It On

Nancy Paul
Discipleship, God's Word,

My middle grandson is captain of his basketball team at Abilene Christian this year. In the summer Cade was sent to a Christian basketball camp for leadership in Ohio. One of the fun drills I saw on Facebook was to distinguish between famous sayings by NBA greats and Bible quotes. For Cade: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Not only did he know it was Galatians 6:9, but the reference was written on his shoe!

Consumed with Reverence

Consumed with Reverence

Nancy Paul
God's glory, Holy Spirit

The apostle Paul tells us to expect that God, who made light shine out of darkness at

the beginning of time, is at work making his light shine in our hearts today. His aim is for

us to possess the knowledge of the glory of God, His glory. His gift to us was Jesus in

whose face that glory was made clear.

Like a Little Child

Like a Little Child

Nancy Paul
Trust, Faith/Trust, God's glory, Wisdom

So how to have the “simplicity of a child”* to hear from the Lord? It begins with genuine fear. Fear wraps itself around our imaginations in a number of ways. Yes, we wish to avoid the displeasure and discipline of God. But He is really asking for the kind of fear that envelops us in awe and reverence, bringing us into the place of true wisdom.

What is Life?

What is Life?

Linda Lesniewski
God's glory, Worship

I forgot the wonder and mystery of life until I rocked a newborn, my great grandchild. I recalled my own children kicking and squirming in my tummy and the awe of holding their tiny faces next to mine. Only God can create a living being made in His image.What a marvelous mystery. What a marvelous gift.

Nourished in the Knowledge of God

Nourished in the Knowledge of God

Linda Lesniewski
Discipleship, Relationships, Spiritual Growth

A Christian cowboy tends his cattle on the land surrounding my home. The rumble of his

tractor or truck informs me of his daily trips to care for his herd. He watches over the

expectant cows and checks the herd for disease, hoof issues, and insect infestations.

He also counts to confirm none are missing. In summer, he moves them from pasture to

pasture to guarantee plenty of grass and water. When the winter winds blow, he

provides hay for forage and bedding.

Receiving

Receiving

Linda Lesniewski
God's Word, Challenge

God’s Word contains the truths this young man seeks. The Bible offers answers for

pain, suffering, and injustice, but it must be consulted and read with the illuminating

power of the Holy Spirit and examined together with a wise teacher.

Bound to God

Bound to God

Jill Hardin
Holiness, Humility, Honor God

God used this real-life portrayal to illustrate the wasted loveliness and design of His covenant people. He created them to show His renown and praise and honor by their beauty and purpose, to be bound to Him in a covenant relationship. Instead, they refused to listen to His words, and in their own stubbornness, they served and worshipped other gods. I can hear God's heartbreak as He says "But they have not listened"(Jeremiah 13:11).

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