(G)Leaning on Grace

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galations 5:22-23 I have studied and learned of the spirits fruit Inviting the Holy Spirit in me to take root How He inhabits my heart, mind and soul Filling each crevice, each empty hole. These fruit He inspires, they number nine And with his Spirit my heart entwined The seeds have been planted, in me He has sown With roots going deep, toward heaven I’ve grown The first and greatest of these I hold most dear Through trial and challenge I will persevere It is true sacrifice and all it entails Because through Him, Love never fails In brokenness my Savior restores my soul With praise and worship my God I extol I will still celebrate with great delight His Joy cometh, by dawn’s first light The King of Kings and Lord of Lords To me a wondrous gift He affords More precious is this than earthly jewels My fear dies away, His Peace rules...

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our "God is a consuming fire." Heb 12:29-29 Oh praise Him! Praise a God that loves us so much, that wants us to be with him so badly that he truly consumes us with his Holy Fire. There are many references in scripture to God's fire. People often refer to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit as being "on fire for the Lord". Fire is a consuming power. When you think of fire in the natural sense it burns until all energy it has access to is used up. A forest fire or brush fire travels and is fed and grows on the continuing supply of oxygen and combustible material. It will roll quickly through an area consuming all that is in its path leaving desolation and destruction in its wake. So how can we relate this type of image to a Holy fire of God? The all consuming fire of God is his way of lighting you up from the inside...

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him." The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. Lamentations 3:24-26 "The Lord is my portion". What a profound statement. When we finally realize that all we ever need or could ever want is wrapped up and delivered to us in one almighty, all-knowing, graciously loving God. He will deliver us from the evil that surrounds us in this world. He will provide for our every need. He will sustain us emotionally, physically and spiritually if we seek Him with all of our hearts and let our hope rest in His capable hands. Even when what we hoped for is drastically different from what we have recieved, we must give him praise through the good and bad, happy or sorrow-filled moments in our lives. His grace is sufficient for us. He asks very little of us: to trust and obey. It's not always the easy way or the popular way...

Who is this Jesus, come let us ponder: The Savior, A friend, King of Glory Light of the World to our breathless wonder He came to us one cold dark night An infant so perfect and small Beneath the heavenly star’s brilliant light To a virgin mother this god-child was born The Father’s abundant love delivered through his son For to us this little child would be salvations horn. The world was in darkness, evil had spread But through this child of God would come the shepherd By whom out of darkness the world would be lead. A Bright and Morning Star, The Lord, he came His light shone yesterday, today and tomorrow Throughout all eternity he would forever be the same God’s great sacrifice of love was destined to be made The Son of Man, the King of Kings on Calvary’s cross would hang, Through His blood, by His power, His grace would never fade. He offers us salvation, though the path is narrow He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life His eyes never leave us, just as he watches the sparrow His Hol...

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8 Oh how marvelous the idea of joy unpeakable. Joy that is inexpressible and glorious. Joy that only comes from the God of the universe through his son our Lord Jesus Christ. That's what each of us has with Jesus. Even when our earthly circumstances in this fallen world are pushing us down, seemingly crushing our spirits within we have to hang on to Him, we have to persevere by His strength not ours. In this verse, Peter, the rock, as Jesus called him is writing to the members of the churches scattered by persecution. The people of the first centruy church who were being driven into hiding or being tortured and killed for their faith. The 'christ-ones' who refused to bow to the Roman empire. He is reminding them that although they had no...

As I was reading my bible early this morning a thought occurred to me. That is scary I know...thoughts don't often just happen to me as I usually have to work pretty hard to get one to even wander into my tiny mind...but hey, I digress. I was reading first Samuel and it was talking about how Eli no longer held the Ark of the Covenant in high regard or even recognized the great work and blessing afforded his accestors by God during their journey from bondage in Egypt. It got me thinking..is today really any different? Do people today hold the same or any respect in some instances for the symbols of their faith? Christians as a rule hold the Cross as probably the most prominent symbol of their faith. There is also the ichthus, christian fish symbol used by the early church to identify meeting places. Many people today have bumper stickers, stick on insignia for their vehicles, jewelry such as necklaces, rings or earrings with these beloved images on them. But, what significance do th...