We have a purpose to show Jesus to others - we do this everywhere we go and with everyone we encounter. The question is, what message are we proclaiming with our actions? Are we showing people the Good News of grace and mercy, or are we showing them a burdensome religious spirit with judgement and condemnation? “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light

I think this true most of the time, not just some of the time. There is much work to be done in me and I thank God for His tremendous grace and mercy with me. I pray that my heart would be fertile ground for His word and His work. That He would give me the spirit of wisdom and revelation, that the eyes of my heart would be enlightened with the full knowledge of Him, that I may know the hope to which He has called me, what He has planned for me. I pray this for you too! #walki

Why do we think that someone else’s sin is worse than ours? And, why do we think that God will forgive some people, but not others? Celebrate His mercy and forgiveness, rather than wish for revenge or punishment for others - this is the kind of love that Jesus gives us so that we can experience the fullness of His grace! #grace #mercy #love #goodgoodfather #forgiven #childofgod #shalom #yourjourneytobeingwhole #dailydevotional

We are “Christ bearers,” Christians, and we are to represent Him everywhere we go in everything we do. This can feel overwhelming, but what if we think of it in this way instead - to be evidence (a witness) of God’s grace everywhere we go and in everything we do. Bearing witness of what Jesus has done for me, I can do that. Letting others know how God’s grace saved me, rescued me and set my feet in a rock, I can do that. Showing patience, kindness and compassion to others the

Forgiving people isn’t optional for a Christian. I think it’s one of the biggest issues I see in the Church, though. Too many people are holding grudges and keeping track of others mistakes or shortcomings instead of lending a hand or giving grace. Even unbelievers do this! Forgiveness is a requirement when you choose Christ, but too often we think it makes us a doormat if we aren’t cold-hearted. You can still forgive and have healthy boundaries. “Therefore, as the elect of G

I have a past. I’ve sinned and made some big mistakes. Sometimes I was deceived because I wasn’t walking closely enough with the Lord or I was too self-assured, and sometimes I was rebellious. Sometimes I was reacting to circumstances before I got my faith back underneath me - either way, I pray that I didn’t offend (even though I’m sure I did) and that grace will cover you as it has covered me. Everyone has a past and, if they are in Christ, that past is under the blood! Ev

I don’t know about you, but I am challenged by this quote from Joy Wesley’s mom. Lots of things can weaken our reason, harden our hearts, and pull us away from the presence of God. And, how many times have we allowed our physical needs and desires to dictate to our mind and our hearts? We must be cognizant of the way that this happens - examine our hearts and consciouses to keep our journey on track with Gods plans for us. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and kno

Take some time today to think about the grace God has poured out on you. How He helps you every day and how He empowers you. Think about the ways He has done this for others, too. Meditate on His great mercy and amazing grace. #beamazed #amazinggrace #mercy #praisethelord #yourjourneytobeingwhole #shalom #dailydevotional

I’ve been meditating on God’s faithfulness this week and remembering What my pastor taught last week about justice and mercy. God requires us to act justly (be fair and honest), love mercy (be kind and compassionate and love doing it), and walk humbly with our God (to reflect God’s character in how we act). But in God’s economy, His system, mercy wins. We tend to think of the Lord as mean and we tend to seek justice when ever we are wronged. But God doesn’t do justice against

Sometimes we feel guilt because we did something wrong or didn’t something we should have. This kind of guilt has a purpose - to get you to make it right or seek a remedy as best you can, to repent and to forgive yourself. Too many times though, we don’t do this. Instead, we “move on” but our conscience is troubled and it leads us to have regrets, bitterness, and shame. We can’t control whether someone forgives us, only that we forgive them and seek God’s forgiveness - and th

What you say matters, it really does! “In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” ‭‭James‬ ‭3:5-6‬ It doesn’t just mean the long speeches you might give when you’re angry, it includes the short l

It’s hard to keep the faith in the goodness of God when tragedy strikes. We wonder how many more children will die, how many more injustices will be perpetrated before Jesus comes back and reigns forever and ever. But our world is still broken - and WE are the Church! WE are the ones who are tasked with representing Christ to the others around us - the Bible calls them neighbors because they are within your sphere of influence, not because they are already your friends (in fa

Sometimes when I read this, it’s very reassuring. Sometimes when I read this it causes me to feel regret for the things God needs to fix. I know His mercy and grace have covered me and my sins and mistakes, but I still regret the collateral damage that resulted. I’m encouraged when I watch the lord work everything to the good for others who have suffered. I’m grateful to Him for letting me see it and for making them new too. Of course I look forward to the day when there will

God has healed me of so much! Praise His holy name! He has healed me physically, miraculously, and He has healed my heart in the deepest ways possible. This healing wasn’t quick, it was slow - just as a a physical wound takes time to heal. As He did His work in me, I had to stop ripping out the stitches by trying to go back to what He was healing me from. Often it is true that we’re our own worst enemy. I knew I was truly healed when I could look back on the pain or the situa

If you hate someone, you’re not just turning away from God and telling Jesus to take a hike, you’re blinded by darkness. Blinded! That’s what God says, not me. This applies to people who’ve done you wrong and hurt you. It also applies to prejudice and racism. If you hate someone God created, He takes it personally. He tells us to love one another the way He love us, and the way that we love ourselves - even our enemies. This kind of forgiveness is only possible through the Ho

We are made in Gods image - but this is an area where our human nature isn’t regally like His. Patience is an attribute and virtue of God’s, but we have to learn it and work at it. We are naturally selfish and demanding - we are born this way. We have to be taught to think of others and to show grace. Too often we try to identify God through the lens of our humanity instead of viewing our humanity the way God does. Of course, we can’t see what He sees, but He gave us an expla

You are loved. You are wanted. You are God’s special person and this is His Valentine to you - EVERYTHING He bought with Jesus’s sacrifice: Eternal life Forgiveness Salvation Righteousness Healing Freedom Grace Mercy Adoption into His family - for you are a child of God now! #happyvalentinesday #godlovesyou #childofgod #goodgoodfather #mercy #grace #healing #salvation #freedom #shalom #yourjourneytobeingwhole #dailydevotional

It’s a lot harder for us to give grace to some people than others. Do suppose God feels that way about us sometimes? I think He did in the Old Testament, but after Jesus came and lived like us, His compassion and grace became a free gift for each one of us. Thank you, Jesus!!! But, back to us… we’re supposed to show that same compassion and grace for others that the Lord shows to us. He can see our hearts though, and we can’t. We have to trust God to be just as we show grace

There is a disturbing trend in our culture these days, and it is creeping into the church because it sounds good to us. “Give yourself a break.” “You deserve a break today.” “You shouldn’t have to work so hard to have your needs met.” I’m sorry, but this isn’t In my Bible. The way I see it, I have a duty to work hard, and to rest well in the peace of God. God. But some are labeling hard workers as “workaholics” when they aren’t addicted to work at all, they are just doing wha

“Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living.” Amos‬ ‭5:24‬ ‭NLT‬‬ What is justice to you? Do you think it’s like what God wants? Is it based on only a person’s actions? …or their intentions? …or do you just want to see people pay for what they’ve done - “an eye for an eye” kind of thing? Jesus came to show us something different than - to teach us how to give grace, respond with kindness and compassion, and to forgive. Doing all of