Extravagant!

God's love is extravagant and intimate.

He loves us in a very personal way.

Jeremiah 1:5

He knows us before we were ever formed.

Matthew 10:30 GW

Every hair on your head has been counted.

God takes exquisite care of His children.

Our lives are valuable to Him.

Matthew 6:26

As He takes care of the birds in the air,

how much more will God care for us!

John 14:2

Though we may have troubles in this world, 

God has prepared mansions for our eternity.

John 15:13

No greater love exists than the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

His greatest show of love........JESUS!!!!

His love is extravagant..!

By The Grace Of God

There by the grace of God goes John Bradford  (go I)

This is a phrase attributed to John Bradford--an English reformer

He was awaiting death in the tower of London 

for his religious beliefs in the mid 1500's

and as he watched others being hanged made this statement.

Whether he ever stated this or not, the meaning is clear.

It is because of God's grace we can endure persecutions.

One could say, "I too might suffer the same fate".

Unfortunately, Bradford was later burned at the stake,

but he never wavered from his beliefs. 

Thank God we do not suffer this type of persecution in most countries.

But we do go through trials and tribulations daily.

We have money troubles, health problems, grief and loss.

We suffer at the hands of loved ones.

Friends disappoint.

We disappoint ourselves.

We endure pressure and suppression for our religious beliefs.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:10, 

"But by the grace of God, I am what I am...."

In other words, 

God's favor pours out on us giving a special ability

to go through the day to day trials and tribulations.

This ability results in a peace like no other.

We cannot earn grace, we simply receive it.

Today make a decision to receive God's grace.

God will empower you to go through whatever it is

you are in the midst of.

2 Corinthians 12:9 The Message

My grace is enough; it's all you need,

My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

Contentment

In this day and age contentment is hard to find.  We are bombarded daily with advertisers telling us to buy their product.  Products which will make us younger, prettier, wealthier, and healthier.  We as consumers spend millions on products.  We go into debt, work ourselves into sickness, we need bigger houses and storage to contain our "stuff", yet nothing works.  Contentment is elusive.

Paul writing to the Philippians in 4:10-13 "for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content".  At one time Paul had it all.  He came from a wealthy family in Tarsus.  He was a Roman citizen and a man of privilege.  But his life changed dramatically upon his encounter with Jesus. 

After, Paul traveled the country preaching the Gospel.  As he traveled, he relied on others for money, he was jailed, beaten, shipwrecked, arrested again, stoned and finally killed.  Yet, Paul remained content in whatever circumstances he found himself.

Paul was content for he knew who he was in Christ.  We also can know the contentment that comes for Jesus no matter what we have or don't have.

Joseph Prince stated, "Your standing is wrapped up in Jesus".

1 Timothy 6:6-8 AMP  [It is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward sufficiency) is great and abundant gain.  For I brought nothing into the world, and obviously I cannot take anything out of the world; but if I have food and clothing, with these I shall be content (satisfied).

Philippians 4:19  God meets all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Not So Humdrum

Our days can be humdrum.

We can lack excitement, variety and days can be monotonous.

We busy ourselves with daily "stuff". 

Activities done without thinking.

Going to work, school, caring for children, or doing housework.

Every day feels just like the last one. 

We are stuck.

Fortunately, we have a better way.

As we put God first, He can take the humdrum and turn it into extraordinary.

He can change our ordinary into exciting and astonishing.

Colossians 3:23

And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord

and not to men.

And suddenly what we do takes on new meaning.

Work, school, kids, and housework are done for the Lord.

It is for His glory and not ours.

Let God shine in you and through you in all you do.

Meekness: It's Not What You Think

Meekness.....

In today's world it means to be weak or submissive

however, the Bible teaches us to put on meekness.

Colossians 3:12

........put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, 

meekness, longsuffering

Webster's Dictionary defines meek as

1)  enduring injury with patience and without resentment

2)  deficient in spirit and courage

3)  not violent or strong.

Synonyms include words like: docile, lowly, resigned, spineless, spiritless, subdued.  

In Greek, meekness means "the wild horse that has 

become obedient to the bit and bridle"

Strong's Concordance defines it as "more than meek"

and

"not weakness but as exercising God's strength under His control.

Demonstrating power without undue harshness."

Simply, meekness is strength under control.

It is a fruit of the spirit.

It is a heart full of compassion.

It is yielding to God.

In His sermon on the mount, 

Jesus taught the meek are blessed.  Matthew 5:5

In the context of Jesus teachings, the meaning of meekness 

becomes something extraordinary.

Jesus is our greatest example of meekness.

Matthew 11:29

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

Psalm 25:9

The humble He guides in justice

and the humble He teaches His way.

Put on meekness.

It is the power to build up and not of tearing down.

Be a blessing to those around you and you will be blessed.

Grace!

What is grace?

It is God's unmerited favor.

We didn't earn it!

We didn't deserve it!

God gives us grace simply because He loves us.

In the Bible, the word grace and favor are used interchangeably.

They occur 156 times in 147 verses.

It is the Greek word Charis.

Strong's Concordance describes grace.

1) grace

• that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

2) good will, loving-kindness, favor

• of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

3) what is due to grace

• the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
• the token or proof of grace, benefit

4) thanks, (benefits, services, favors), recompense, reward

God's grace pours out to us to empower, reward, bless, and overcome!

It is His way!

Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and mercy. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly