1 Peter 5:10 * April 20, 2014

Alfred Shropshire     

1 Peter 5:10 *       

April 20, 2014

EASTER SUNDAY

Our Lenten Study has covered our thoughts and ideas about grace.  We have contemplated:

Saving grace (Eph. 2: 8, 9)

Serving grace (1 Cor. 15: 9, 10)

Sanctifying grace (Rom. 5: 17; 6: 17)

Sacrificing grace (2 Cor. 8: 1-9)

Singing grace (Col. 3: 16)

Speaking grace (Col. 4: 6)

Strengthening grace  (2 Tim 1: 9)

Suffering grace (1 Pet. 5: 10; 2 Cor. 12: 9)

In his Willimington’s Guide to the Bible, Dr. H. L. Willmington says that “All Bible prophecy concerning the Lord Jesus Christ is summarized in 1 Peter: 11, ‘the suffering of Christ, and the glory that would follow.’”  Dr. Willmington also states that Christian suffering, “justifies the sinner, purifies the saint, unites the church, and glorifies the savior.”  

* “But  after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who calls you to share his eternal glory in  union with Christ, will himself perfect you and give you firmness, strength, and  sure foundation.”  We are assured that because Christ was crucified and because HE IS RISEN, we are recipients of

God’s

Redemption

At

Christ’s

Expense.

I Peter 4:10 April 19, 2014

Greg Lund                    

I Peter 4:10     

April 19, 2014

As every man has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold  grace of God.

Holy Saturday is a strange day.  Nothing is said about it in the Bible.  It is the day sandwiched between Jesus’ death on Friday and his resurrection on Sunday.  Holy Saturday is the day when nothing appeared to be happening.  The body of Christ was still in the tomb.  His disciples were still huddled behind locked doors, terrified and grief stricken.  Jesus’ followers had no doubt prayed that God would protect him.  Instead, Jesus was dead, and the silence of heaven was deafening.  

This day reminds us of the many times when God appears to be doing nothing.  What happens in the times sandwiched between our prayers and God’s answers?  My neighbor is a master gardener.  I saw him, a few weeks before the snowstorm, planting bulbs around his mailbox.  That garden plot still looks dead, but we know what happens to bulbs in spring.  They carry life.

On Holy Saturday, the faith of the disciples was bruised, but not dead.  When God seems silent and our faith runs dry, that is when God’s people grace each other.  There are times when I need you to have faith on my behalf, when my tank runs dry, and vice versa.  “As each one has received a gift, employ it for one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”  Grace sprouts from each of us in different forms:  generosity, teaching, compassion, wisdom and more.  

Even when nothing seems to be happening, God’s grace is growing.  

Ever-present God, give us grace for the times when we cannot hear You.  Grant us patience to wait for answers to prayer, and eyes to see them when they arrive.  Through the Risen One we pray, Amen.

I Peter 1:13 April 18, 2014

Greg Lund                      

I Peter 1:13               

April 18, 2014

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

GOOD FRIDAY 

Faith is often seen best in the rear view mirror.  Today is Good Friday.  On the day Jesus was nailed to the cross it looked like dark Friday, brutal Friday, hopeless Friday.  Now, looking back through the lens of Easter Morning, we dare to call that Friday “good.”  

Peter reminds the young Church that the prophets predicted the grace that would come through the suffering of the messiah (v. 10).  In the rear view mirror, texts like Isaiah 53 show that the rigged trial and execution of Good Friday are God’s victory, not a defeat.  Christ was bruised for our iniquity.  His wounds make us whole.  

Think back on hard times in your own past.  Recall how God provided, guided, and grew you through those dark days.  When we recognize God’s grace in rear view mirror, we can look down the road ahead with hope.  “Set your hope fully on the grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  

The word Peter chose for “revelation” is apocalypse.  It means to take the lid off, and reveal what is inside.  If your friend is a wonderful cook, and you’re invited for dinner, you don’t need to see what’s inside the stew pot to know it will be good.  Your mouth waters even before the lid is removed.  Whatever our hidden future holds, we know what Christ did in the past, and so we know our future will be seasoned with grace.

Loving God, help us to see signs of Your grace in our past, both the joys and the hardships.  Teach us to hope in that same grace as we face the future and await Your return.  Amen.

Hebrews 13:9 April 17, 2014

Marshall Jenkins       

Hebrews 13: 9       

April 17, 2014

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them.

MAUNDY THURSDAY

Belief in salvation by works takes a defensive posture.  It asserts that if one eats, worships, socializes, or does anything else by the rules, by the thou-shalt-nots, one can hold up both hands, palms forward and chest high on judgment day and say, “Hey, you can’t touch me.  I did nothing wrong.”  This is the most pragmatic, natural form of religion.  It is based on the cynical assumption that by doing nothing wrong, we do the best we can.  If we invented our own religion, it would look like this, and Christians for 2000 years continuously distort Jesus’ religion into this form.

Belief in salvation by grace goes on offense.  It asserts that if one eats, worships, socializes, or does anything else for the love of God, one can hold out both hands, palms upward on judgment day and say, “Hey, I don’t know how God did it with a guilty fool like me, but somehow God took my stumbling, confused acts of love and turned it all into a beautiful dance.  It sure made some folks mad, but it felt great to be free.”  We couldn’t dream this up in two million years.  But those who follow this way already live in heaven on earth.

Gracious Lord, give us the courage to risk mistakes for love and the faith to expect you to turn them into something good.  Amen

Hebrews 12:28 April 16, 2014

Dan Sweitzer          

Hebrews 12:28             

April 16, 2014

Since we receive a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

We seem to live in a world with no permanence, no consistency, and no predictability. We are subject to the whims of government, to the fluctuation of economics, even to the ailments of our own bodies. We try to prepare ourselves to manage this inconsistency by increasing our knowledge and making contingency plans. However, as a hospital administrator, I know that with the stroke of a pen, a President or a Governor can significantly alter the healthcare system in which we operate and through which we serve our community. No human institution offers us the reliability and harmony we crave.

Through the grace of God, unearned and certainly undeserved, we also live in a world created by Him for us, and through the teaching and example of Christ Jesus, know that His kingdom is available to us, a kingdom that is eternal, constant and joyous; a kingdom where the rules never change, because the Ruler never changes.

So we feel we live in two worlds, one in service of the ordinances and institutions of Man, while we strive simultaneously to live in the world created for us by God’s grace. On Sunday morning and Wednesday evening we find it easier to open ourselves to Christ’s love and teachings, but come Monday morning our jobs, our schools, our secular world make demands that are difficult to ignore. But as this verse teaches us, we are only able to serve God and His plan for our world when we our living our lives in His kingdom, not ours.  

Father, help me find the way to Your kingdom, so that through Your grace, I may become worthy to serve You.

     

Hebrews 4:16 April 15, 2014

Marie Carlisle        

Hebrews 4:16        

April 15, 2014

Let’s be brave, then, and approach God’s throne where there is grace.  There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.

The first question that comes to mind is - who wrote the Book of Hebrews?  Opinions vary, but the most commonly held opinion is that Paul wrote Hebrews.  The author was well known to the Hebrews, knew Timothy and was very knowledgeable of the Old Testament.  The book focuses on the priesthood of Jesus and urges the Hebrews to rely upon the work of Christ on the Cross.  It is believed that Hebrews was written some time before 70 AD (CARM website).

Now, with the basics out of the way, let me focus on the particular passage quoted above.  The Lenten “theme” word of grace appears twice in this verse.  However, the phrase that drew me at first to choose to write about this verse was “Let’s be brave, then . . . ”  Other interpretations choose the word bold in this introductory phrase.  Either way, this is a quality that I can possess only through my faith that God strengthens and guides me in my quest through life.  In turn, I can take that “bravery” that God provides, approach His throne and seek to attain that grace that He gives so freely and mercifully.  Clark’s commentary defines grace (to paraphrase) as that by which the soul is supported after it has received God’s mercy.  What a wonderful thing is that!

Grace is there for our receiving of it.  All that we have to do is to ask sincerely and prayerfully for God’s grace, and (I am counting on this!) it will be there to help just when we need it. 

Prayer - Heavenly Father, thank you for the grace that you pour so freely upon us.  May we strive to be worthy of your mercy and goodness here at Westminster Church as we seek to do your will.  Amen.

Hebrews 2:9 April 14, 2014

Pam Bibb                  

Hebrews 2: 9                   

April 14, 2014

But, we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that through God’s grace he should die for everyone.  We see him now crowned with glory and honor because of the death he suffered.

When we think of Jesus, we normally think of Him as we know Him today, sitting in glory at the right hand of the Father.  This verse from Hebrews reminds us that for a time He was “made lower than the angels.”  We don’t like to think of Jesus as lower than anyone or anything.  But it was in God’s divine plan that for a season, Jesus would  become human and walk among people where they were and live among them as one of them.  During this season, Jesus was humbled below the angels in heaven, but at the appointed time, He suffered death, as do all humans.  Herein lies our hope.  After the suffering of His death, Jesus, by God’s grace, was raised and “crowned with glory and honor.”  And because of God’s grace and Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, we also, who are certainly lower than the angels, will one day be raised to eternal life.        

Prayer:  Father, we thank you that Jesus humbled himself to walk among us.  And we thank you that by your grace, He rose from the dead to reign with you in glory and honor in heaven.  We thank you that because of this, we also have the promise of eternal life.  Amen.  

PALM SUNDAY Titus 2:11-12 April 13, 2014

Joan Brock        

Titus 2:11-12      

April 13, 2014

PALM SUNDAY

For God has revealed his grace for the salvation of all mankind.   12 That grace instructs us to give up ungodly living and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this word.

Titus was one of Paul’s trusted assistants commissioned to help lead a church on the island of Crete.  Paul wrote this letter to instruct and encourage Titus in his pastoral duties.  The overall theme is that in the midst of an evil world, proper Christian living is of utmost importance.  Around us we see the hostility and corruption of the world, but we must show by our life what the grace of God can do.  Such a life will have an impact, whereas mere words will do little or nothing.  Paul encourages Titus to let his teaching to the men, women and slaves reflect integrity and to be so correct that it can’t be criticized. The people must show themselves to be entirely trustworthy and good.  Then they will make the news about our Savior attractive in every way.  

In Philip Yancey’s book “What’s So Amazing About Grace” he states: The Christian life does not primarily center on ethics or rules but rather involves a new way of seeing.  We must begin to see ourselves as sinners who cannot please God by any method of self-improvement or self-enlargement.  Only then can we turn to God for outside help – for grace - and we learn that a holy God already loves us despite our defects.  We must recognize our neighbors as sinners also, who are loved by God.  A grace filled Christian is one who looks at the world through “grace–tinted lenses.”

With God’s grace we are to be those who are different from the times in which we live. 

Father God, Help us to convey Your grace rather than to try and explain it.  Amen.

II Timothy 1:9 April 12, 2014

Martha Holder       

II Timothy 1: 9                 

April 12, 2014

“[God] who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

We are not supposed to pray in school. However, on any given day, at least two teachers at Southeast Elementary School violate that mandate. I have a friend who routinely says, “Pray for me,” as she leads 25 children down the outside walkway to her modular classroom. (That’s education-speak for a well-worn trailer with limited insulation, broken doors, and a surplus of roaches.) Becky requests prayer, and she prays for others. 

One day in January, I was stressed out about the requirements of my workday. Reports were due, schedules had been changed, classes had been combined to accommodate other activities, and teachers were supposed to remain “business as usual” so the students would not pick up on any tension from their leaders. I commented to my praying friend that I was full of ANGST as I approached the day. She rolled the word around in her mouth and finally said, “What does that mean?” According to Merriam-Webster, ANGST is a strong feeling of being worried or nervous: a feeling of anxiety about your life or situation. Her response was, “Even the word ANGST makes your face scrunch up. It’s just not a pretty word.” She suggested we choose another word as our focus for the day: GRACE. (How did she know the theme of our Lenten Devotionals this year?) Merriam-Webster defines GRACE as "the love and mercy given to us by God because God desires us to have it, not because of anything we have done to earn it.” 2 Timothy 1:9 relates the same thing. God calls us to a holy life because of His own purpose and grace. Even though it was still a hectic day, my friend’s reminder of God’s love and mercy, His GRACE, changed my outlook for the day.

Colossians 4:6 April 11, 2014

Beth Frost           

Colossians 4:6          

April 11, 2014

Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

When I read this passage, I’m drawn to the middle section that says ‘seasoned with salt’. A very appropriate line for a cook!  Salt is an important nutrient that we all need although some people can safely eat more than others. It can be used many ways in food cooking and preservation and the chemistry of many varied products. 

Yet here in Colossians 4:6, salt equals experience when applied to our speech with grace. Grace in this passage equals knowledge so that we may answer or exemplify Christ to everyone around us. The seasoning of our speech should always be with grace from Christ to anyone, not just those who know Christ, but to those who may not know Him. However, speaking with grace is often difficult for us all. Yet with God’s understanding, leading and sometimes chastening, we learn how to speak and answer everyone.  Age and experience is often the salt that allows God’s grace to show.

Dear Lord, Season my speech with grace from you and help me to apologize when I have added too much salt.  Amen.

Colossians 3:16 April 10, 2014

Anita Errickson     

Colossians 3:16              

April 10, 2014

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

When I am upset or afraid and can’t put two words together in prayer, I remember from Romans (8:27) that the spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.  What comfort to know that Christ knows the pain we cannot even voice!

When life brings incredible times of numbness, I remember His promises and I remember snatches of hymns, or anthems I have learned over the years that bring encouragement and comfort.  I am filled with thanksgiving.  

…Then sings my soul

My Savior God to thee

How great Thou art

How great Thou art!

God already knows all I will ever need to bring me comfort and peace.  That’s incredible grace.  That’s God’s grace…

…Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; 

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

I cannot do enough good deeds to deserve it yet I cannot function without it.  I cannot buy it with silver or gold; even so grace is within my reach.   It comes in my darkest hours bringing light and hope and redemption. Then JOY like a river floods my soul and with gratitude a psalm, a hymn, or a spiritual song fills my heart.  

Gracious Lord, May Your message and Your grace dwell within us richly!  May we be overwhelmed until our hearts are filled to overflowing with thanksgiving and praise!  Amen.

Ephesians 4:29 April 9, 2014

Andrew Elkins          

Ephesians 4:29         

April 9, 2014

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (NIV)

Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.” (GNB)

I worked with a teacher that personified this verse. She successfully avoided using negative words and phrases. Everything she said was phrased in a positive way. Even when she was angry or exasperated she managed to figure out a way to get it out in a positive way. She rarely lost her temper because of the time it took her to come up with the positive words to say what she wanted to say. People loved to work with her, because she made you feel good, even if you were having the worst day imaginable. That classroom was one of the most productive classrooms I've ever been in. Success was the bi-product of such a pervasive positiveness.

Being positive seems to be a very hard state of  being  to achieve.  I know.  I had to  edit  this devotional five or six  times before I had removed all of the negative  terms   that had  made their way in. If we practice being   positive,  being  positive  will become  a habit.  Yes, it  seems  like  it is  harder  to use positive words  and  phrases  exclusively  than it  is  to  make   ourselves exercise, but it is   possible.  I’ve witnessed it, though I still  find it hard to believe.

Ephesians 4:7 April 8, 2014

Gail Wilkes              

Ephesians 4: 7                    

April 8, 2014

Each one of us is given grace in proportion to what Christ has given.

All believers in Christ belong to one body united under one head, Christ himself.  Each believer has God-given abilities that can strengthen the whole body. Your special ability may seem small, or large, but it is yours to use in God's service.  Ask God to use your unique gifts to contribute to the strength and health of the body of believers.

Dear Lord, Please use my special talents to do your business each day to the betterment of the body of believers. 

Ephesians 2:7-9 April 7, 2014

Suzanne Burton      

Ephesians 2:7-9       

April 7, 2014              

. . . God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.  For we are god's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Free gift-- no purchase necessary! We have all seen these words on circulars or on advertisements.  What did we learn as young people?  "If something sounds too good to be true, it is" and not to be taken in by these kinds of hoaxes or scams.  But God does give us a free gift of His grace.  Maybe it is so hard for some of us to accept because it is so contrary to human nature.  We don't usually give gifts to others for no reason or to someone we barely know, much less someone who may have been unkind to us.  But that is exactly what God does.  He gives us the grand prize of salvation and His everlasting love and favor, and for no reason.  We could never be good enough or perfect enough to earn this precious gift.  

I think I chose this passage because it is the key to our faith in many ways, yet is one of the hardest truths for me to truly feel in my heart.  God loves us just the way we are, imperfections and all.  We can't scurry around in frantic activity to please Him or earn his favor.  He loves us just because we ARE.   Recently we had a large family gathering at my grandmother's funeral.  When I thought about her love for us, it occurred to me that Grandmother loved us just because we existed, because we were part of her family.  Nothing else really mattered.  Of course she was proud of our college degrees, our jobs, our families and so forth.  But before any of those things, she just loved each grandchild because they had been born.  That is a mirror of God's love. 

It should be the way we view others as well.  Each person on this earth is God's workmanship.  None of us is better than another in God's eyes, so why do humans spend so much time competing to see who can be the best at this or that?  Even in the church it seems some are working really hard to be seen as the "best" Christian when viewed against others.  We need to not only accept God's grace for ourselves, but for others.  Everyone is precious in God's sight and deserving of the same free gift of grace.  Living that truth can liberate us from so many petty disagreements and jealousies.  We do good works together because God made us for this purpose, not in order to earn points in his heavenly kingdom.  

Prayer:  Lord, guide my eyesight and my heart this day to see others in Your grace.  Let me truly feel your equalizing love in my soul so that I can share this gift of grace in the world.  Amen.

Ephesians 2:4-5 April 6, 2014

Barbara Elliott       

Ephesians 2:4-5            

April 6, 2014

But God’s mercy is so abundant and His love for us is so great that while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience He brought us to life in Christ. It is by God’s grace that you have been saved.

Imagine Jesus breathing celestial air as He holds His Father’s hand and gazes into the face of God.  Imagine Him wearing a brilliant flowing robe and the special ring that signifies He is the Beloved Son. Imagine Jesus joining His Father as they together end earth’s dark and formless void by flinging stars and the sun and moon across the skies.  Imagine His joy of separating waters and dry land, and creating fruitful birds, fishes, and animals of all varieties.  Imagine the thrill of making brand new beings, man and woman, in His own image.  Imagine Jesus walking the holy grounds while talking with heavenly beings - angels and saints such as Moses, Abraham, and Isaac.  Why would Jesus ever choose to leave this divine and heavenly place where He, as Son of God, reigned supremely amongst adoring angels and archangels to come to Earth as Servant and Son of Man?

The Bible tells us that “God so loved the world that He gave his only Son” (John 3:16), but we know it was Jesus’ choice, too.  Their plan for man’s salvation began soon after Adam and Eve spoiled the Garden of Eden.  They watched in dismay as man’s sinful nature covered their perfect creation.  The Flood did not stop it.  Neither did the fall of such cities as Sodom and Gomorrah.  They knew that man was sinful by nature and destined to be spiritually dead until he knew the truth of God’s grace and chose to follow Him obediently.  Man was given the Law by Moses, but God’s grace and truth was revealed through God’s own Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus willingly gave his own life to become the sacrificial Lamb of God.  

Think of grace, G-R-A-C-E,  as ‘God’s Richest At Christ’s Expense’. There is nothing man can do to earn or repay such an awesome gift.  It is unmerited, unsought, and unlimited. God offers this precious gift to all who choose to live a new life following in Christ’s ways.  God’s grace promises us hope, forgiveness, and comfort if we turn from our old ways and focus our eyes upon Jesus, the Light of the World.  Christ’s light will shine in our hearts, leading us to live as blessed and thankful Children of God, full of hope and confidence in the promise of God’s salvation.

Lord Jesus, help us to focus our hearts on You and live as God’s thankful people, beloved and filled with His Holy promises.  AMEN.

Ephesians 1:6-8 April 5, 2014

Juanita King           

Ephesians 1: 6 - 8        

April 5, 2014

… to the praise of his glorious grace which he has freely given us in the One he loves.  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

Ephesus was once a thriving port city located on the western edge of Asia Minor (modern day Turkey}.  It was the most important port on the Aegean Sea on the main route from Rome to the east.

It was to this great city that Paul traveled several times to preach the message of Christ.  On his third missionary journey, he stayed about three years, and it was during this time he developed a genuine concern for the church at Ephesus.

Out of this concern came a letter to the Ephesians – a letter that was written while Paul was in prison in Rome.  (This letter was passed along to churches in other Roman cities.)

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul does not address specific problems of the church, nor does he admonish the church for any wrongdoings.  Instead, he write to encourage the church to follow God’s plan to bring people from every nation and background together, with Christ as the head.

In the above quoted scripture, Paul says that we should live in praise of God for his ”glorious grace.”  It is through God’s loving grace that we nave redemption and forgiveness of sins.  How many times and in what ways has each of us felt God’s grace being lavished upon us?

Prayer: Our Father. Help us to be ever mindful of the fact that we are all one in Your Church.  May we always remember that it is through Jesus Christ that we receive your grace and forgiveness of our sins.  We pray for your guidance and blessings as we strive to live the kind of life you would want us to live.  Amen.

Galatians 5:4 April 4, 2014

Bill Byars                        

Galatians 5: 4              

April 4, 2014

Those of you who try to be put right with God by obeying the Law have cut yourselves off from Christ.  You are outside God’s grace.

You who want to be justified by the law have cut yourselves off from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.

An accomplished climber endured a strenuous trek up a mountain peak reached by only a very few people. As he was admiring the view and catching his breath, the rocks underneath his feet shifted. He lost his balance and fell over the edge of the cliff. He managed to grab hold of a tree root to stop his fall. In a panic, he yelled out, “Is there anyone up there who can help me?” A deep, powerful voice answered, “This is God. I want to help you. Just let go.” The man carefully repositioned his hands to tighten his grip on the tree, looked down past his dangling legs at the valley far below, looked up and cried out, “Is there anyone else up there to help me?” 

We seek justification and try to please God while holding on to our ‘circumcisions,’ rituals, task lists and uncertainties.  We want to control all of the circumstances (and outcomes) in life, even at our own peril. It’s scary to fall into God’s grace.  Or, maybe I should say it’s scary to doubt God’s grace. Truth is, the only way to experience grace is to “just let go.”

Prayer: I have been falling away from your grace. Forgive me of my doubt. Grant me through your grace the faith to trust you. Lord, help me to let go of ______ _______ (fill in the blanks) and to fall into your grace.

 

Galatians 2:21 April 3, 2014

Joan Brock               

Galatians 2: 21              

April 3, 2014

I refuse to reject the grace of God.  But if a person is put right with God through the Law, it means that Christ died for nothing.

On February 23, 2011 at 1:00pm, New Zealand suffered what was referred to as its darkest day following a 6.3 magnitude earthquake.  It was considered the country’s biggest quake since 1931.  One of the most harrowing images reported was that of a baby found in his mother’s lifeless arms when her body was uncovered from mounds of concrete.   She had shielded her child from falling debris by holding him close to her body.  One would only hope that as the baby grows up, he will be told how his mother made the ultimate sacrifice so that he might live and he will carry her memory in his heart every day.   

As you go through your day today, keep this image in your heart.  Picture this young mother with her lifeless body hovered over her child.  Then see Christ hovered over you, protecting you and assuring you that by His death, you too might have life and have it eternally.  We did nothing to earn or deserve that gift of grace.  It was a sacrifice He made because of His love for us.   Now, what are you going to do with your life? Are you going to honor Christ every day and live to bring glory to Him for His sacrifice or are you going to go about your day and never give Him a thought?

Lord, You gave your life for us, not because of our good deeds but because of your unconditional love.  May we live our lives as a reflection of Your grace with thanksgiving, affection and appreciation.  Amen.

Galatians 1:6 April 2, 2014

Brad Barris            

Galatians 1: 6                       

April 2, 2014

NIV: I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel  . . . .

The Message I can’t believe your fickleness – how easily you have turned traitor to Him who called you by the grace of Christ by embracing a variant message  . . .

Man loves to place his personal imprint on matters that affect life.  We have opinions about everything.  We spin politics, economics, education, freedoms and everything else that affects our daily lives in the direction of our personal belief system.

I look at an individual with neon dyed hair, piercings abound, abundant tattoos and wonder if they ever looked in the mirror and said, “This looks great”.  I am assuming their eyes function just like mine do, and their brain functions just like mine does.  So, what is the difference?  I might add that I grew up in the era of Woodstock, LSD, flower children, free love, and “don’t trust anyone over 30.”

We imprint our personal beliefs of what God is like.  Just look at all the denominations that claim their way is the only way.  To quote Brennan Manning, “We end up making God in our own image.  God ends up being as fussy, rude, narrow minded, unloving, and legalistic as we are.”

Stay steadfast in the Word.  Separate what is God and what is man.  It is something we all struggle with.

Prayer: Dear God of Grace, open our eyes that we may see.  Amen.

II Corinthians 12:9 April 1, 2014

Andrew Elkins         

II Corinthians 12: 9       

April 1, 2014

But his answer was: “My grace is all you need for my power is greatest when you are weak.”  I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ’s power over me.

We are weak and not accepting this weakness is the definition of pride, or hubris to be exact.  We have to accept that we can’t, in our weakness, help ourselves, and that is God’s glory. When we accept our weakness, God get’s to show off his skills. In our weakest moments, when an ant seems to be an elephant, God is there to lift us up and raise us higher. 

Every time I get frustrated with MY inability to make things go my way, I fall really hard. I bet we all get down when our frailty slaps us in the face. However, it’s these times that God makes some thing in our lives go just right. It’s these times we are given a glimpse of what God can do for us when we bend our knee to the Lord. Our letting God overcome our weakness is a sort of worship, in that we glorify God by admitting that we are weak.

I have fallen, Lord.  

As hard as I try, I cannot rise.  

O Lord, raise me up.  Amen.