Tag: Grace

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By His Grace

Jesus the Good Shepherd

People often wonder if they deserve God’s favour. They easily talk and sing about His amazing grace, but do you know what grace really is? It’s unmerited favour. It’s kindness from God that we don’t deserve. We don’t have to earn God’s grace; we don’t have to earn His favour. We simply receive it by faith in our hearts as a free gift.

No matter what has happened in your past, you can receive God’s grace and forgiveness. His grace is all you need to have a new beginning. Let His grace empower and strengthen you. Extend His grace to others. 

Today, instead of holding mistakes over other people’s heads, why don’t you hold out favour and forgiveness? Let God’s grace flow through you and experience His power increasing in you. Walk in His favour in greater ways, and embrace the life of victory He has prepared for you!

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

(Ephesians 2:8—9, ESV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your goodness, favour and grace. Father, I receive it and ask that You help me extend it to others. God, let me live as an example of Your love in everything I do, in Jesus’ name! Amen.

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Hallelujah!

Praise Him Always

Scripture tells us that seeking wisdom and discretion brings life and is “an ornament of grace.” No matter what decisions you may be facing today, God wants to equip you and empower you to make the right choices. How do we seek wisdom and discretion? By making the Word of God a priority. The answer to every situation we face is addressed in God’s Word, either directly or by principle. When God’s Word is the final authority in your life, His grace will empower you to live victoriously.

Proverbs 3:23 – 26 goes on to say, “then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.” Hallelujah!

Today, I encourage you to put God’s Word first. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you study. Follow His commands and open the way for His grace to cover you. Let His grace empower you to dwell in safety and rest securely all the days of your life!

“Do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight, preserve sound judgment and discretion; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.” (Proverbs 3:21—22, NIV)

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your Word which is life and health to me. Father, I submit myself to You knowing that You have good things in store for my future. God, thank You for the promises in Your Word. I will hide Your Word in my heart so that I can receive Your grace and walk in Your ways, in Christ’ name! Amen.

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God Approves Of You

You were on God’s mind before you were ever on your parents’ mind. He knew everything about you before you entered your mother’s womb. You were created on purpose, for a purpose. He planned the colour of your hair, the colour of your eyes and the colour of your skin. God gave you gifts, talents and abilities to be used for His glory. He took one look at you and said, “approved.” 

It doesn’t matter who’s approval you didn’t get, know that Almighty God loves you and totally approves of you. There’s nothing you can do now or ever to change that. You may be thinking, “I’ve made so many mistakes, I have sinned wilfully how can God approve of me?” Understand that when God sees you, He separates you from your behaviour. He may not approve of your actions, but He desires to help you grow and make better choices by His grace.  

Today, receive His unconditional love and acceptance. Allow Him to work in your life. Allow His love to empower and strengthen you, because He has approved and equipped you to live in victory all the days of your life! 

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you…” (Jeremiah 1:5, AMP) 

Let’s Pray 

Yahweh, thank You for unconditionally approving me and empowering me. Father, I open my heart and mind to You and accept Your approval of sinful me. I invite You to have Your way in my life. Please God, remove any negative self thoughts that would hold me back from all You have in store, in Christ’s Name! Amen. 

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Be Refreshed

If It Had Not Been For The Lord Where Would You Be?

Is your life mundane? Are you just going through the motions? Do you need refreshing? So many people go around overwhelmed, tired, worn down, barely getting by. But that’s not God’s best. He wants us to prosper. He wants us to be refreshed. He wants us to be excited about our God-given future. 

The key to refreshing yourself is to be generous and refresh others. Is there someone at work you can be a blessing to? Can you lighten someone’s load? Maybe a family member is going through a hard time. Can you help them out? Can you cook them a meal? Refreshing someone can be as simple as a smile or an encouraging word. Don’t wait until you feel like doing it, that day may never come! Do it because the Scripture tells us to. Do it because it blesses God. 

Today, look for someone to be a blessing to. Step out and refresh them; live a life of generosity. As you do, you will be refreshed in return, and experience God’s blessings in every area of your life! 

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” 

(Proverbs 11:25, NIV) 

Let’s Pray

Yahweh, thank You for Your grace, mercy and forgiveness in my life. Father thank You for blessing me so that I can be a blessing to others. Almighty, teach me to be more generous. Show me how I can refresh others and bring glory to You. In Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Don’t Judge Me

If you know me I can be very critical at times. Just recently I had to learn this valuable lesson, criticism given in the wrong way can make us feel anxious and in some cases, worthless. But when it’s given fairly and constructively, with real care and encouragement, not only does it show us where we’re going wrong, it fires us up to want to improve. So when we’re trying to help someone improve, let’s do it with kindness, understanding and empathy.

If it’s constructive, criticism can be a good thing. If we point out mistakes from a position of love and of wanting the other person to be the best they can be, it’s a useful tool that we can use to help others improve. Otherwise, it can easily turn into a destructive force that discourages and breaks people apart. We tend to find it easy to point out failings and weaknesses in others, while overlooking or excusing our own faults.

Jesus says: ‘How can you say to your friend, “Let me take that little piece of dust out of your eye”? Look at yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye. You hypocrite!’ (Matthew 7:4-5 NCV). Strong words, so we definitely need to take notice and avoid being unfair and judging others more harshly than we judge ourselves. Sometimes we might be overly critical to try and make ourselves look or feel better. Or we might be trying to hide the wounds of past experiences by using anger and criticism as a form of defence. 

Today, whatever the reason, Jesus gives us clear instructions, ‘Do not judge, or you too will be judged.’ When God looks at us and sees our faults and all the mistakes we make, He treats us with grace and gently corrects us. But what if God criticised us as harshly and as often as we criticise others? We’d soon feel completely depressed and wounded. The truth is, God, who has the highest standards of all, treats us with love and care even when we fail to live up to those standards. So when we need to correct someone, let’s do the same, and aim to encourage, not discourage.

Do not judge, or you too will be judged.’ MATTHEW 7:1 NIV

Lets’s Pray

Yahweh, I thank You for this timely advice not to judge others. I surrender my negative critical mind to You. Please Father, change me so I won’t be judgemental and hypocritical. God, help me to look at myself first before looking at others. Show me how to be constructive and encouraging when I have to criticise, and never to be discouraging and cause depression and discontent, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Jacob Blake – Sometimes Praising God Is Hard

Keeping Faith in God During Hard Times

When you wake up in the morning, what’s the first thing you do? Do you praise God for His goodness? Do you set the tone for praise because of success, favour and blessing? Looking at the events of this past week, months and year, it is so hard to praise God at all times like the Scripture says. To hear another mother crying, for her innocent black son, who was shot 7 times by the police is heartbreaking.  

We’re in the eighth month of the worst year on record, many commentators have said. Last year may have had some hardships and difficulties, but this year seems to be on another negative level. However, it’s time to set the tone for a season of praise. Despite all the negatives, Jacob’s family still managed to give God praise.  

Today, the Scripture reminds us that the darker it gets in the world, the brighter it’s going to be for God’s true believers. Things may be bad all around you. Murders, shootings and pandemics. People may be negative, complaining and discouraged, rightly so at times, but don’t let that spirit rub off on you, praise your way out of the negatives. The worse it gets the brighter God wants you to shine. Be determined to set a Godly tone of praise for the rest of the year, no matter how bad things get, by praising God and speaking words of faith over every situation! 

“I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises.” (Psalm 34:1, NLT) 

Let’s Pray
Yahweh, today I have decided to bless You at all times. I will go against my feelings and focus on Your goodness and love. God, I praise You for the faith of Jacob Blake’s family, who lift You up in the face of their tragedy. Please grant him a full recovery. Father, I set a new tone of praise in my life, to replace all of my negative emotions, and I receive Your forgiveness, grace and mercy. Thank You for Your faithfulness to me at all times, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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I Will Not Be Moved

Christianity in India Standing Strong Despite Growing Persecution

How do you deal with challenges over this year of strange happenings? Do you feel better equipped to handle life’s difficulties? it’s interesting that the apostle Paul never prayed for every challenge to go away. He prayed that God would give him the strength to go through them with a good attitude. He sought emotional maturity. 

The Scripture tells us if we don’t keep our emotions in check, we’ll always be stressed out and make mountains out of molehills. If we lose our cool because our child forgot his or her homework, or we’re aggravated because somebody didn’t do something we wanted them to do, then we’re not passing the test. We’ve got to grow and mature to the point where we can say what the apostle Paul said, “None of these things move me.” He said in effect, “It’s no big deal. I’m not worried about it. I trust God. I have a destiny to fulfil.” 

Today, decide to see things from God’s perspective. Keep your emotions in check. Don’t be moved by your circumstances, be moved by your God. Trust Him because He is faithful. He’s working behind the scenes, and He will fulfil His promises to you! 

“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (Acts 20:24, NKJV) 

Let’s Pray  

Yahweh, thank You for doing a work in my life. Father, thank You for molding me and shaping me into Your image. God, help me not to be moved by the enemy’s tricks and negativity. Almighty, I ask for Your supernatural joy and strength to stand strong no matter what I’m facing, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Serenity is a Grace Gift

“This life is not a canvas of serenity dotted with seasons of trial and tribulation, but a canvas of struggle dotted seasons of serenity.” – She Reads Truth

Why do I get this so backwards all the time?

I walk through life seeking peace, happiness, calmness… perfection. Then I get all twisted up in self-righteousness and frustration when it gets hard, because “it’s not supposed to be this way.” Says who? The Bible straight up tells us that this life will not be easy. It tells us to expect the trials, the struggle, the mockery, and then get this… it tells us to rejoice about it.

“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven…” Matthew 5:11-12

I don’t know about you, but I’m not very good at rejoicing in the struggle when I’m in the middle of an anxiety attack or feel like a lost and lonely soul with no community. Instead, it usually goes something like this:

God, You are so good and I will praise you no matter how hard it gets!

*it gets hard*

Oh Father, this is terrible! Why have you done this to me and why won’t you make it stop!?

I find myself in a place where I think I deserve a perfect life and it’s God’s fault for not giving it to me. Something gets twisted in my prideful, self-righteous mind that tells me everything should have gone my way and I should be perfectly happy and peaceful, and God took that away from me. Except that’s the furthest thing from the truth.

We are broken people who live in a broken world. It is cruel, unjust, depraved, and bent out of its intended shape. That means our time here is bound to reflect the brokenness. We’ve been given a canvas that is already ripped and spattered with dirt, blood, and tears. So why do we question when things get messy? It’s bound to happen. Jesus promised it would happen.

“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” – John 16:22 (emphasis mine)

When I step down from my pride-pedestal and humbly lay it at the Father’s feet, I see a new perspective. I see that I never deserved any kind of peace or happiness, because from the moment I was born, I had a sinful nature. As soon as I could speak, I slandered the name of my God. As soon and I could walk, I learned to wander from His Presence. I’ve faltered and stumbled and rebelled so many times, I never deserved to have any of the good things Jesus promises me.

To combine my canvas of a broken and messy life with my track record of sin, I can clearly see that the only thing I deserve in this life is struggle, trial, and temptation. Half of it is the result of my own sin, and the other half is simply the effects of a broken world.

And yet…

that’s not the end of the story.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 (emphasis mine)

Now, I can receive the season of serenity as the most beautiful gift of grace. This grace that I could never deserve, given to me just when it feels like the trials will finally take me down. Jesus offers peace. He offers joy. He offers the victory that He has already won for us.

“You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.” – Psalm 139:5

Hallelujah! What a sweet Savior I follow.

He’s preparing the way before me, guarding my back behind me, and walking beside me with His hand of blessing on my head.

So how do we make the leap from seeing seasons of serenity as a gift to rejoicing when we’re back in the midst of the struggle? To be honest, I’m not entirely sure. It’s probably more like a series of stumbled baby steps.

But the one thing I know is this: It will end.

This ripped and messy canvas we live in will be restored to its original glory – and then some! Jesus promised to return and redeem us. To defeat the darkness once and for all so that His children may never again be burdened by loneliness, depression, anxiety, poverty, or any other struggle of this world. This is the hope that can carry us through the struggles. This is the reason I can rejoice when life is messy (which let’s be honest, is most of the time). Because I know it WILL GET BETTER.

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed… that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”
– Romans 8:18-20

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More Hope Than Optimism

Talking to some of the youth at school yesterday, amidst their optimism, there also seems to be a lot of hopelessness. It’s time to set our hope on God so we are not easily swayed by the trials of life.

Setting our hope on God means we set our lives in the right direction. One translation of today’s verse says, “look forward to more and more of God’s favour.” God wants to pour out His goodness and grace on you. He wants to help you get ahead in this life. He wants to lead you to the right job. He wants to lead you to the right relationship. But here’s the key: we have to be on the lookout for more and more of God’s favour. More and more of God’s hope. More and more of God’s grace. That tells me that we can’t get stagnant.

Today, meditate on the truth that God wants to do more than you can even ask or think. It says in Ephesians that He wants to show us the immeasurable, limitless, surpassing greatness of His free favour. In other words, God wants to go above and beyond what we’re used to! He wants to show you favour in unusual and extraordinary ways. Set your hopes dynamically higher today, and increase your expectations of what God will do in your life!

“…set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favour) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is revealed.”

(1 Peter 1:13, AMP)

Pray With Me
Yahweh, thank You for Your abundance in every area of my life today. Father, I will set my hope on You, knowing that You want to do more in my life than I can ever imagine. God, by faith I receive more of Your favour, grace and hope. God, teach me to be a vessel used by You, in Christ’s Name! Amen.

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Jesus is in charge

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. – Matthew 28:18

Just days before, Jesus had been taken and crucified. The disciples had run away and gone into hiding. Everything was lost, or so it seemed.

How resurrection shifts things around! The power of sin and death was destroyed. Guilt and shame and fear lost their ability to hold us. Evil and it’s temptations were no longer in charge. The world was reclaimed to God’s love. In that moment when Jesus cried out “it is finished” as He released His spirit, everything changed.

We can’t fully understand the mystery surrounding what happened, any more than we can fully grasp the wonder and majesty of who God is. But we do know that Jesus saved us. At that moment our sins were forgiven and forever taken away. Everyone and everything in the universe is now under the authority of Jesus. Sin and death continue to lurk, guilt and shame and fear still creep about, evil and temptation sneak around. But they have all been overcome, and although they remain in bits and pieces they are defeated before the victorious presence of Jesus. They no longer have any real power. Jesus is in charge!

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A Grace Moment with David Robinson

A Grace moment with David Robinson 

‘Touched by God’s grace’ 

Amazing Grace, amazing love, amazing gift. It’s the favour of God who stooped down in kindness and mercy to save and rescue broken mankind from the power of sin. 

It is God in Christ dying for the ungodly, God taking our infirmities and carrying our sicknesses, God in Christ suffering rejection and being despised for the ungodly, the worst of the worst and the best among us”¦ amazing grace that touches and every heart and heals every broken place in our lives.

Grace, Gods favour revealed in a stable among the poorest of the poor, revealed in love that reached out and touched the untouchable leper, grace that fed the hungry, delivered the demon possessed, and healed all of all diseases regardless of colour class or creed. Grace that had compassion on a widow whose only son had died, grace sufficient to raise him from the dead.

We are saved by grace through faith. God loved us so much that he even give us the gift of faith to believe in his grace, his favour and his desire to rescue us all. Ephesians 2:8

You may have been abused, rejected and have spent your life wondering what you did to deserve all that the world has thrown at you, please know this they threw it at Gods Son first and more. You may have led a life and it seems as though no one cares well; Jesus went through more on your behalf.

No one suffered like this man, God made manifest in the flesh, stricken, smitten, wounded, beaten, chastised, falsely accused, imprisoned, butchered, and murdered by the very people he came to seek and to save.

Grace is the wrath of God poured out upon the innocent Lamb of God Jesus Christ because he chose to take upon himself the sin of the whole world knowing that the wages of sin is death. It was on the cross that grace and love combined to destroy the power of sin in every surrendered life, hell and the devil himself is powerless to overcome anyone who has been Born Again through a personal relationship with Christ   

A simple touch of God’s grace will cause even the biggest rogue to be accepted in Christ, grace so rich that we have forgiveness of our sins and redemption through his blood. Grace so powerful that those who are in Christ are justified as though we had never sinned”¦ Ephesians 1:6-7, Romans 3:24

Listen; not only is God’s grace more than enough to bring forgiveness to all who believe regardless of how ungodly their lives have been. It brings his salvation, his peace, his health, his joy, his provision, his protection, his deliverance and his wholeness. 2nd Corinthians 12:9, Titus 2:11

I remember one evening talking to an elderly lady when the Lord revealed to me that she had been abused at 4 years of age by her father and an uncle. She spoke of how in her 70+ years she had never known a moment without pain. Often the Lord reveals such things to me but this time I asked for something that would not bring such horror back into her mind. He told me to ask her who killed Jesus; she replied; ‘the Romans’ to which I replied no, ‘the Jews’ she said and again the answer was no. She continued; ‘I suppose it was my sins that killed him for he died for my sin and in my place’ 

I answered her saying; ‘No it was not you, it was God who killed his own Son as Isaiah said in chapter 53:4; ‘we did esteem him (Christ) stricken smitten of God and afflicted’ ‘You see it was God who loved you so much that he killed his own Son so that you would not perish but have everlasting life’ 

She immediately stopped weeping and whispered; ‘Oh he does love me doesn’t he? Every pain left her body and she was free for the first time in her life. The revelation of God’s amazing grace and his love healed her of her past hurts the abuse she had suffered and all her pain. She was set free… joy flooded her soul as she was touched by God’s grace  

The very nature of God is revealed in the truth that Jesus healed all who came to him and all who were brought to him, revealed in the truth that it is not his will that any perish but that all have everlasting life’ John 3:16

He is waiting for whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord so that he can save their sin sick soul. 

He is waiting with patience for you and every man woman and child in the world regardless of class creed or colour to come as they are with nothing to offer him except for faith in Jesus once for all sacrifice for their sin; I wonder do you know this man Jesus?

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.  Revelation22:21  

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Guilt Trip

Guilt does serve a positive purpose. 

It convicts our spirit when we know that we’re wrong, and leads to our wanting to confess our sin so that we can be forgiven. Once we repent, the guilt should be lifted. We should feel joy and relief because of the promise that has been made to us and the sacrifice that was made for us, but the enemy will have you caught up in an everlasting guilt trip. It is one of the devil’s most powerful weapons against us and will leave you feeling defeated, unworthy, and low on faith. This sort of condemnation will keep you from spiritual happiness and freedom. It opens the door to depression, fear, and other negative spirits that will only hinder you, your spiritual growth, and your success — exactly where the devil wants you.

I only share with you all the things that I have experienced for myself. Just recently, the enemy had me caught up in a guilt trip. I was unwilling to forgive myself when my God had already done so. Constantly consumed with my mistakes and my sin, I had no time or energy to focus on serving God or the things that fill my spirit with positivity. Feeling so distant from God, I didn’t even feel worthy enough to read the Word, talk about the Word, or share the Word — and I’m sure the enemy loved every moment. But I thank God for keeping me and allowing me to realize that this feeling was nothing more than a lie from the one whose purpose is to steal, kill, and destroy. It may sound extreme to some, but it’s real. Be mindful that there is a fight going on for your life and your salvation. God is fighting for you and when the devil sees that he is losing, he will throw everything and anything in your way to distract you. 

Here’s the bottom line: if God can forgive you, then you can forgive yourself. Your past is your past so let it stay there. Be obedient, listen to God, and try not to make the same mistakes; but don’t beat yourself up for being human!

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

(Romans 8:1)
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I’m here

I'm here

If I’m with you when it’s cool

And not with you when it’s hot

What kinda friend am I

When courage I have not

To shield you

To stand in the gap

To intercede for you

As a matter of fact

My love is proven

As I’m with you in life’s heat

Good times are for fairweatherers

But true loyalty isn’t beaten

When public opinion yells

“Crucify him! Hang him high!”

I’ll still be in your corner

Sending prayers toward skies

Of God’s mercy and

His unmerited Grace

For he alone is able

To save you, today

Dorothy’s page © 2019 Dorothy E. Young

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‘It is all God’s fault’

'It is all God's fault'

‘It’s all Gods fault’It’s amazing how quickly even Christians blame God when things go wrong in our lives, even the question ‘Why me God’ points an accusing finger at our Father in heaven.

It’s been part of our old nature since Adam turned on God and blamed him for ‘the woman he gave him’ as being the one who caused the problem of sin. Eve learned the ‘blame game’ all too quickly and pointed to the serpent the real perpetrator.

At least Eve got it right, the only troublemaker; the one who always blames God, the one who is the accuser of the brethren is that old serpent Satan.

                    So being part of Adams race I too would have to blame God”¦

Its Gods fault that I am saved for he give me ‘the faith to believe in the grace that saved me’ Ephesians 2:8

Its Gods fault that I am ‘blessed with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places’ Ephesians 1:3 instead of being cursed with a curse

Its Gods fault that I am healed for ‘Jesus himself took my infirmities and carried my sicknesses and by his stripes I am already healed’ Matthew 8:17 1st Peter 2:24

Its Gods fault that I am righteous for ‘Jesus himself became sin with my sin so that I would be the righteousness of God in him’ 2 Corinthians 5:21

God’s to blame for if he had left me alone I could have been in hell instead of heading for heaven

God’s to blame for giving me’ life more abundant’ John 10:10

God’s to blame for giving me ‘joy unspeakable and full of glory’ 1st Peter 1:8

God’s to blame for giving me ‘peace that passes all understanding’ Philippians 4:7

Its Gods fault that I am forgiven for he has promised that if I ‘confess my sin he is faithful and just to forgive me and to cleanse me from all unrighteousness’ 1st John 1:9

Its Gods fault that’ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13

Its Gods fault that I am ‘delivered from the power of darkness and have been translated into the kingdom of his dear Son’ Colossians 1:13

It’s God’s fault that I ‘have redemption through his blood even the forgiveness of sins’ Colossians 1:14

God’s to blame for ‘blotting out the handwriting of laws that was against me, which was contrary to me and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross’ Colossians 2:14

God’s to blame for ‘baptising me in the Holy Ghost and power’  Acts 1:8

God’s to blame for ‘sending his Son who came into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief’ 1st Timothy 1:15

God’s to blame for ‘every good and every precious gift that comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow of turning’ James 1:17

Its Gods fault that I have ‘all things pertaining to life and to godliness according to his divine power’ 2Peter 1:3

Its Gods fault that I have been ‘given exceeding great and precious promises; that by these I might be a partaker of the divine nature’ 2Peter 1:4

Its Gods fault that I am prospering and am in perfect soundness of health even as my soul prospers’ 3rd John 2

Its Gods fault that I am not poor for in Christ, ‘the wealth of the sinner is laid up for me’ Proverbs 13:22 because ‘he became poor that I might be rich’ 2 Corinthians 8:9

God’s to blame for ‘he daily loads me with benefits’ Psalm 68:19

God’s to blame for he ‘has made me a little lower than the angels, and has given me dominion over the works of his hands; he has put all things under my feet’ Psalm 8:4-6

God’s to blame that I am not condemned for in Christ ‘there is now therefore no condemnation to those who walk after the spirit and not after the flesh’ Romans 8:1

God’s to blame that I am not fearful for ‘God did not give me a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind’ 2 Timothy 1:7

Its Gods fault that I am free for ‘he that the Son sets free is free indeed’ John 8:36

Its Gods fault that all my needs are met, for he has ‘provided all my need according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus’ Philippians 4:19

Its Gods fault that I do not suffer from afflictions for ‘the Lord has delivered me out of them all’ Psalm 34:19

Its Gods fault that I am not stuck in ‘a horrible pit in miry clay for he brought me up and set my feet upon a rock and established my ways’ Psalm 40:2

Its Gods fault that I am not poor for in Christ, ‘the wealth of the sinner is laid up for me’ Proverbs 13:22 because ‘he became poor that I might be rich’ 2 Corinthians 8:9

God’s to blame that I am not lost for Christ ‘came to seek and to save me when I was lost’ Luke 19:10 ‘he is ‘my Good Shepherd who gave his life for me’ John 10:11

God’s to blame that I am not orphaned because in Christ, ‘I am adopted whereby I can call God my Abba, Daddy, Father’ Romans 8:15

Gods to blame that I am not depressed for my ‘God has given me the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (depression)’ Isaiah 61:3‘

Gods to blame that I am not weak for ‘through Christ I can do all things for he strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13

Its Gods fault that I am not guilty before God for in Christ I live ‘justified by faith’ Romans 3:28, ‘justified by his grace’

Its Gods fault that I am not afraid of dying for Christ is my resurrection and my life’ John 11:25

Its Gods fault that I am not fearful of judgement for the Lord he is ‘my righteous judge’ 2 Timothy 4:8 the’ judge of the living and the dead’ Acts 10:42

Its Gods fault that I have eternal life and this life is n his Son’ 1st John 5:11

I may be of Adams seed; I may well have his desire to blame God and others when things go wrong but because I am born again of incorruptible seed in Christ 1st Peter 1:23 I now find it impossible to truly blame God for bad things because he is a good God.

When we turn and blame God or others for our dilemmas, can it be that our speech comes with the hissing sound of a serpent? ‘The accuser of the brethren who has been cast down’ Revelation 12:10

What spirit then would drive us to accuse God of sending evil things such as sickness and disease or poverty? ‘God cannot be tempted with evil neither does he tempt any man’ James 1:13

‘Do not err, my beloved brethren.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:16-17

Jesus himself set the record straight when he said; ‘If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7:11

God hasn’t changed; he is still a good God who only gives good gifts and does good things for his children.

So by all means accuse God but at least accuse him of good things for which he truly is to blame”¦

Ps I am sure as you read the scriptures you will find a thousand reasons to blame God, search well and when you find them give him thanks for his goodness; it will change your life”¦

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Touched by the Love of God

‘Touched by the Love of God’ Chapter 1

GOD IS LOVE: 1st John 4:16

‘The love of God never fails; it will never come to an end. Prophecies will fail, speaking in unknown tongues will cease and the gift of knowledge shall vanish away.’ but ‘God’s love will never fail.’ 1st Corinthians 13: 4-7

To those who would accuse Jesus of doing evil, of causing them harm, allow me to ask; would such love kill an unborn child or take the life of a teenage son or daughter?

Would Jesus destroy the very life he created? Would he send poverty, would he abuse or hurt the very child he formed in its mother’s womb?

Would Jesus crush the broken hearted, would he oppress his own or leave and forsake his own child?

No! Jesus died for the unlovable and the ungodly. He willingly ‘laid down his life for you’ 1st John 3:16 and for all those who would reject him?

Have you not heard that, ‘while you were still sinners Christ died for you?’ Romans 5:8 Have you not read that, ‘he washed you from your sins in his own blood’ Revelations 1:5.

‘Jesus was despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows acquainted with grief, he carried your griefs and your sorrows,

‘Christ was wounded for your transgressions, he was bruised for your iniquities, the chastisement of your peace was upon him and by his stripes you are healed’ Isaiah 53:3-5

He took your infirmities and carried your sicknesses’ Matthew 8:17 and again he declares, by his stripes you were healed; 1 Peter 2:24, because that’s what real love does.

Jesus ‘died for you when you were ‘without strength,’ ‘while you were still an ungodly sinner, he died for you’ Romans 5:6-8 He loved his own which were in the world, indeed he loved them to the end’ John 13:1

Jesus, ‘left you another comforter’ the Holy Ghost who will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever he said unto you’ John 14:26

He left you ‘peace so that you need not be troubled’ John 14:27 and Joy that’s unspeakable and full of glory.

He ‘gave eternal life to you’ 1 John 5:11 and to all who would simply, believe.

Jesus healed all that came to him, Matthew 12:15 indeed he healed every sickness and every disease among the people Matthew 9:35

He fed the multitudes, Matthew 15:32-38 and cleansed the leper. Matthew 8:1-3

He raised the widows’ dead son and gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and a voice to the dumb. Luke 7:12-15

He preached good news to the poor, he delivered the captives and gave recovery of sight to the blind and brought liberty to those who were bruised (downtrodden and abused) Luke 4:18

Jesus took upon himself the sins of the whole world, 1st John 2:2

He was beaten until his appearance was like no other man, Isaiah 54:14 ‘they made his back like a ploughed field they laid long their furrows’ Psalm 129:3

He was crowned with thorns, spat upon, mocked and laughed at. Matthew 27: 29-31

He was nailed to a cross and even when in agony, even while forsaken (Matthew 27:46) and he forgave the dying repentant thief and, he forgave you and I. Luke 23:42-43 all because that’s what love would do…

Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10 he adopted you; indeed he gave you the Spirit of adoption whereby you can call God your Abba, your daddy, your Father and your God. Romans 8:15 Forever!!

Today is the very day that the Lord has chosen to give you a new life, a new beginning and all you have to do is to repent of your sins, ask him to rescue from sins power and to be your personal Lord and saviour”¦

This is your day to be touched by the love of God

‘Touched by the love of God’ Chapter 2

‘God is love’ 1st John 4:16

It is God’s nature to love; there is not one evil thought, word or action that can come from Gods heart.

He is love personified, he is love in action for true love itself is from him, ‘the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts through Christ (Romans 5:5) such love in Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8)

It was love that formed man out of the red dust of the garden of Eden and it was love that pursued Adams fallen race all the way to Calvary and on that lonely hill love purchased a pardon for all who would simply believe on Christ.

Some deluded bible teachers would tell us that God sends sickness or that God allows someone to have an accident, how foolish to make such a statement of a good God, a God who is love.

Thank God for his word that never changes, praise God for faithful witnesses like James the apostle who wrote, ‘Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God; for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempts he any man’ (James 1:13)

I remember one occasion being at a meeting when one young man stood up to give his testimony, he began with words that struck me like a fiery dart; he declared ‘God broke my back and put me into hospital for months so that he could speak to me’

I was stunned and ached against such an accusation for I knew it was accusing a good God of an evil deed. I sought the Lord and he brought me to the scripture above, the young man was awestruck at the word when I revealed it to him and said it was a revelation of truth to him.

Look at the next few verses of James chapter 1 and see that ‘Every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lusts and enticed’ (v.14) ‘then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin, and sin when it is finished, brings forth death` (v.15) Instead of blaming God we need to look to ourselves and our own actions which bring about accidents and injuries and indeed sometimes sickness.

When we blame God we are as guilty as Adam was when he blamed God for making Eve who Adam in turn blamed for sin.

When we ask, ‘why me God’ we are accusing Him of some evil thing which has touched our lives, when we say God allowed it we do the same thing, it’s time we realized that God is good all the time instead of just singing about it.

God is not into evil works; see verse 16-17 ‘Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning’

Its good things that come down from above, they come from an unchanging God of light not from the god of darkness, Satan.

Ask your self would you as a mother or father hurt your children in order to teach them something? Would you allow them to get cancer? Or would you allow someone to abuse them? Of course not, then why accuse a good God of hurting those he loves?

Jesus put it this way ‘What man is there of you if a son asks bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish will he give him a serpent?’ If you then being evil know how to give good things unto your children, how much more shall your father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?’ (Matthew 6:9-11)

Does that sound like God wants you to suffer?

No; goodness cannot flow from an evil heart a good tree brings forth good fruit because it is its nature, goodness flows from a heart so full of love that it overflows and gives good things to all that ask. Is sound health a good thing? Then it is a love gift, is sufficient finances a good thing? Are peace and joy good things? Then they are a love gift from a good God.

If you still doubt that God is good then ‘Christ coming into the world to save sinners’ 1st Timothy 1:15 must surely convince even the most hard hearted that He is love.

Surely a glimpse of the cruellest of deaths, a mere glimpse of Calvary’s butchered saviour would open the eyes of the most blinded of eyes”¦ for there even the most foolish could not help but be touched by the Love of God

‘Touched by the love of God’ Chapter 3

Love and Compassion go hand in hand, if love is the glove then compassion are the fingers that reach into the dark recesses of human misery and sets men and women free.

Compassion is not pity for pity is a source of many fine words while compassion works to remove suffering whatever its root.

In Psalm 86 David writes about the Lord’s nature saying; ‘ For you Lord, are good and ready to forgive; plenteous in mercy to all them that call upon you’ ‘But you O lord are full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and truth’

God’s word reveals our sinful nature but it always balances it with good news about a loving God who forgives all our iniquities and heals all our diseases (Psalm 103:3)

Every time the psalmist bemoaned his sinful nature, every time he spoke of his sufferings he spoke of Gods great mercy (Psalm 86:13) and reminded himself of Gods compassion, his grace and long suffering.

Love is like that, I mean true love; it always is willing to forgive and to show mercy and compassion, true love does not hold grudges, it runs to help the wounded even though they are suffering at their own hands.

Psalm 103 tell us that when we deserved death, love redeemed our lives from destruction, when we deserved wrath it crowned us with loving kindness and tender mercies (v.4) when we deserved Gods anger and wrath he poured out mercy and grace (v.8) for as high as the heaven is above the earth so great is his mercy toward them that fear him’ (v.11)

In the Old Testament we see a Father who loves his children, who would do anything to save them from their sins, a Father who gave them a blue print for living while warning them that departing from it would cause them great pain and death.

In the New Testament we see the Son Jesus doing exactly the same because ‘He worked the works of God who sent him (John 9:4) in the same measure as the Father loved, he loved, he showed the same mercy and grace, he revealed the Fathers compassion and healed the sick and fed the hungry.

Matthew (9:35) records that, ‘Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people’ that’s what love does, it heals the sick, it never walks away shaking its head or hides its eyes from the hurts of others. Love reaches out and touches the deepest need of every human being; the need to be loved, the need to feel wanted; the need to be counted worthy of someone’s time.

Compassion goes deeper than the physical needs of the human soul; it digs deeper and goes to the root of the problem desiring to bring us total freedom.

Jesus was ‘moved with compassion on the multitude because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd’ He had fed the people who had come seeking his help but the thing that moved him most was their spiritual hunger, their need of salvation, their need of a saviour.

Religion offers laws instead of grace and mercy, manmade offerings of impure grace and purchased mercy, it offers freedom in chains, shackled liberty and false hope.

Christ on the other hand shows compassion,

In Matthew 15:32 we read that ‘Jesus called his disciples and said ‘I have compassion on the multitude, for they have been with us three days, and have nothing to eat, I will not send them away fasting in case the faint in the way’

That’s what compassion does, it does more than just talk, it feeds the hunger in every heart, it meets a person’s deepest desire and fulfils his greatest need, the need to be forgiven and to be loved.

Compassion like love cares nothing for itself, it cares only for the needs of others,

Compassion is the divine nature of God revealed in Christ and in every believer whose heart has been melted by Christ’s love,

Compassion is an unworthy sinner being touched by the love of God

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As I Look out into the World There’s Some Things I See I Want to Talk about, Can I Talk about It?

Luke 7:18-23  ‘And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Are  you he that should come? or  should we  look for another?  

When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto  you, saying, Are  you he that should come? or  should we look  for another?  

And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.  

Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.  

And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me’

John had spent weeks even months in a dark dungeon with little company except rats so it is easy to see how he could have begun to question himself and indeed the messiah he baptised in the river Jordan proclaiming Him as the Lamb of God

When we take our eyes of Christ fear and doubt eat away at childlike faith and rob us of the truth that set us free. Without his presence we see walls instead of open doors, we see problems instead of answers and hopelessness instead of hope

God can only keep us in perfect peace as we keep our minds firmly fixed on him

What do you see when you look at Christ? Do you see a crucified saviour or an empty cross, a vacated tomb and a risen saviour who has given you victory over death and hell?

Do you see your sin or do you see a Saviour?

Do you see the sin that so easily overcomes you or do you see Jesus who became sin with your sin so that you would be the righteousness of God in him? Have you not heard that he is faithful and just to forgive you all your sins and to cleanse you of every sin as you repent and turn from them?

Do you see sickness and disease destroying your body, robbing you of strength or do you see Jesus who took your infirmities and carried your sicknesses and by whose stripes you are already healed?

Do you see yourself struggling with debt, drowning in poverty, hear a bank managers abusive remarks or do you see Jesus who became poor with your poverty that you would become rich with his riches?

Do you see an empty purse or a cruse of oil that will never run out? 1st Kings 17:14-16

Do you see yourself living a pauper’s life or do you see the Lord who has promised to provide all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus? Philippians 4:19

Do you see the devil when temptation overtakes you or do you see your saviour Jesus who always makes a way of escape when you ask him so that you may be able to bear it?

Do you see fear and defeat robbing you when unbelief sets in or do you see Jesus who always causes you to triumph?  Have you not heard that God did not give you a spirit of fear but of love and power and of a sound mind?

Do you see no way out of captivity and misery or do you see Jesus who releases the captives and who is your joy and your strength?

Do you see your many afflictions, or do you see Jesus who delivers you out of them all?

Do you see death when you have lost someone you love or do you see Jesus the resurrection and the life

Do you dwell on the loss of a loved one or on the gain that Christ purchased for them for in Him ‘death has no sting and the grave no victory’ for from the moment we are absent from the body we are present with the Lord? In Christ they are risen indeed

Do you spend your days in sorrow or do you see that while weeping lasts for a night joy comes in the morning?

Do you look at the darkness which can so easily overtake you, or do you turn your eyes toward heaven and see his glorious light; his life, his hope, his peace which will cause you to laugh in the face of adversity.

In Christ there is endless joy, hope that springs eternal, health that springs forth speedily and victory that is yours always”¦

Open your eyes and fix them on the Crucified saviour now risen for your sake

Dark days vanish when Christ comes, all things change when Jesus comes to stay

David Robinson

 

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