The gospel is the good news that you are worse than you ever imagined yet God is more loving, gracious, and powerful than you could ever hope.
Tag Archives: grace
God Loves You
You don’t have to be good at being good for God to love you. It’s not about trying, but trusting. It’s not about your success in doing, but your faith in what has been done.
10 Lies We Need to Stop Telling Ourselves
Jesus Chose You First
It’s amazing to think about it. Jesus chose you first. He chooses you and then, you choose Him. God puts the Holy Spirit inside of you and then, in a moment of miraculous grace, He gives you the faith to call out to Him. And thus, begins your life long (and life altering) relationship with God.
Let’s not forget how it is in this way that we came to be in relationship with God. When you acknowledge this, you begin to grasp the depth of His love for you. You are chosen by God! Unconditionally loved by Him. You are special. Dwell in that. Let God be your valentine.
Is Freedom Really What We Want? (A Personal Reflection)
When my boyfriend died, the life I knew died along with him. Shortly thereafter, I packed up all of my belongings, everything I had acquired in California, and drove across the country to be back home again in North Carolina. Because, of course, when the world fails you, the only place you have to go is home.
Within one year, I had a monumental career change, my parents divorced, my childhood home was sold, and I was living on my own in an apartment for the first time in my life. All this change in only one year! Even writing about it now, it seems surreal. How has my life become so crazy, so chaotic? How have I been able to push through, to survive?
Well, God is good. And that is where I am now. Completely lost, approaching the second birthday that I will spend without my boyfriend and the only thing that I know for certain is God’s goodness and grace. Other than that, I feel adrift. Floating in a world that I have no control over, a world that is constantly shifting, one without ground.
I guess on the bright side, I have nothing holding me back. I have no attachments that hold me down, hold me steady. I’m free to fly like a bird, as I have always yearned to do.
This also means I have little security, no sense of stability, a feeling of total loss of control. Does a baby bird feel this way before it leaves its nest for the first time? I wonder. And how many nests will I have to leave? Is flying free really all it’s cracked up to be?
Sabbath and Tithe
The Sabbath and Tithe are not duties, as most people tend to think. They are privileges – gifts from God to remind you that you are not Him! A time for you to stop trying so hard and let God multiply all of your hard work.
Conversations with God – I Miss You
September 24, 2013
My child. I see you. I am with you. I hear you. I am close to you. My holy spirit resides inside of you. And now I smile, just as you do. Because I’m glad you’ve made time for me today. What have you been so busy doing? What happened to spending every morning together? I have been waiting. You know my joy comes in the morning. I wish you wouldn’t deprive yourself of it. And stop being nervous about whether you’ll hear from me. I long to talk to you. You talk to me often. But I wish more often you would let me talk back. Thank you for meeting me here right now. This is where I exist, you know. Right here and right now. It is the sure fire way to find me and to commune with me. You don’t even have to do it consciously, while journaling, for example. In fact, any and every time that you find presence, you will find me. I exist in the present. Through me, in your presence, you will receive presents: peace, rest, and joy. You are tired, thirsty and hungry. You spend your days like this. Though you drink and eat, your thirst remains. Only in the present, still before me, resting in my presence, will your hunger be gone and your thirst quenched. I offer this to you! I do not know why you refuse my presents, choosing instead to remain tired, thirsty and filled with hunger. Let me fill you up. The way I designed you to be full. Make my filling a regular part of your routine and watch as you life begins to gain fullness, too. You know this first hand. You’ve experienced it. So why settle for anything less? Oh how easily you forget! You deserve more, my child. So so so much more. And I am offering it to you daily, but it’s up to you to receive it. Always with you and always yearning for you, Jesus Christ in God the Father.
Conversations with God – Matthew 28:18-20
June 8, 2012
It is written, “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age’.” Matthew 28:18-20. Your single most important goal in life must be to praise me and to witness to others, to tell others of my works within you and in your life. All other goals pale in comparison. I have gifted you and I’ve given you the tools to use these gifts. I’m working detailedly in your life every day to prepare you to give this gift back to me. To use this gift as I intended, to your greatest ability through me, to your widest reach, to mine, which is global. Are you ready? Do not fret, my child. Remember that I have also told you, “I have power and authority over all things in heaven and on Earth.” With me, you are ready. In my time, you are ready. Through me, you are able. So when you get there, you will proclaim to all those who ask how, that I exist and that my love endures forever. My grace is incomparable.
Conversations with God – John 15:26-27
June 7, 2012
It is written, “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.” John 15: 26-27. You have seen, I speak through you. I am using you. I have chosen you! The Counselor, the spirit who lives inside of you and I in him will testify for me, through you. When you notice something comes from you that does not seem from you and is on my behalf, it is from me, through the Counselor. You will have profound things to say, wisdom beyond your years, melodies and sounds that come from heaven itself. But you must not take credit for them. They are not from you. Therefore, when the Counselor comes to you and testifies about me, you may feel taken aback but you must qualify his statements. You must qualify his testimony. You must qualify me. For who are you, apart from me?
The Greatest Gift
The ultimate present is presence. Not just physical presence but presence of mind, heart, and spirit. When you give of your time, you can’t get it back. Therefore, your presence is the greatest gift you can offer another.
