(G)Leaning on Grace

Not a day passes without a Facebook post, news story, grocery store discussion or workplace debate about the many opposing viewpoints on societal issues. Everyone has an opinion on which they staunchly stand proclaiming to anyone that will listen. Pro-life or pro-abortion, Obamacare or private insurance, gay rights or heterosexual marriages, tax increases or major spending cuts, open immigration or closed borders; all of these are consistently debated in this country by all. Each of these issues have multi-faceted extremely detailed arguments that each side can bring to the table. In my experience, when examining my own viewpoints on many of these issues, I find that my stance has changed with age, life experience and with an ever-growing relationship with God. Differentiations that I once thought trivial are now major players in my decision making process. By taking a hard look at my own choices, I try to understand why someone else feels the way they do on a given subject. While m...

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29 ESV This morning, as I spend some time with God, I am continuing the quest to determine the reason behind the fears that plaque my journey toward writing. As I read this mornings daily reading assignment in Acts, this verse really stood out to me. It’s as if God highlighted it, made it jump right off the page and into my heart.  Despite being imprisoned, beaten and warned not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus, the disciples did what they knew was right.  Peter’s response speaks volumes beyond mere words. Think about the responses of the powerful in our day. Has much changed in the way we humans respond to the world around us?  In the U.S. we may not be beaten in public or imprisoned, but our freedom to speak is being infringed upon. If we do not hold politically correct views we are considered to be intolerant and closed minded. This points out a primary integral component of a true relationship ...

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18 Prayer serves many purposes in the life of a Christian. Through prayer we can communicate with God, sharing our thoughts, our dreams, our worries. We can tell Him about our failures and our triumphs. We can petition Him on behalf of our loved ones or friends. We confess our sin and ask for forgiveness that is promised and provided through His grace and mercy when we exhibit true repentance. In the obedient practice and commitment to prayer we tap into the almighty power of God that is part of our inheritance as his child. "That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power ...

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 Afraid of the dark? Me too, or at least I used to be. There was a time when I wandered aimlessly in the disorientation that an all consuming blackness could bring on. I remember feeling totally lost with no sense of direction. Constantly groping for a lamp, a candle, even a match, anything that would bring the slightest bit of brightness into my world. Now, I'm not saying that everything in my life was horrible, on the surface it may have seemed normal, but I felt no sense of hope for future improvement. I did not see how my situation could ever get better and in fact my circumstances were spiraling out of control. My personal life, my home life, my health all reaching destructive extremes. I had my husband, but our relationship was rapidly deteriorating. My job was taking over my life ...

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 This is part of the Apostle Paul's letter to the church in Colossi. He is imploring these young followers to be devoted to prayer and to furthering the message of Christ. He reminds them that in their devotion they need to be watchful and thankful. Watchful of their behavior and that of those whom they follow because what they do and say can affect how new converts or seekers of the way will perceive Christ. It is still the same today. As we trek through our individual journey with Christ as our guide we must always be mindful of not putting stumbling blocks in the paths of others. We cannot expect ourselves to be perfect, because none of us are, but we should certainly strive to make decisions and take actions that best reflect our faith so as not to mislead. Once we identify ourselves as Christians we must be aware that we say and do represents to church and most especially the head of the church, Ch...