grace

Christianity is not the sacrifice we make, 

but the sacrifice we trust. 

(P.T. Forsyth)

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I just love to read and study the Word of God. There is so much to learn in the scriptures that we can never get to the end of it. Each day that I spend digging hungrily into the precious pages of the bible, God never fails to show me something. Even if it is just a small nugget of truth, it is always something huge to my spirit. Each revelation that my Lord gives me leaves me desiring another and another. 

I had been pondering 'grace' several weeks ago and even though we all know what grace means, I daresay that we really don't fully understand grace in its entirety. I don't think that we fully comprehend just how amazing the grace of God is to us.  I fear that we take it for granted so many times and that we don't spend near enough time thanking Him for His amazing grace in our lives. 

Grace is God giving us what we don't deserve and Mercy is God NOT giving us what we do deserve. 

The pure water of God's grace flows over our sins and washes them away. God's grace in our lives is that He not only forgives us of our sins, but that He has already redeemed us from those sins.

God's grace is sustaining. It meets us at the point of our need. It equips us. It gives us courage. It gives us wisdom and it gives us strength.

God's grace promises us the presence of God in our lives. 

Grace changes us.

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen"

(2 Peter 3:18)

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We are sinful, weak and fickle.

He is holy, strong and faithful

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Confession isn't confined to expressing sin. We also confess God's name. His truth. Our faith. Confession is simply agreeing with God or telling the truth in a matter. Confession gets us on the same page with God. 

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When we confess the faithfulness of God, we are reminding ourselves that He is the one who can handle those things that we can't. He is the one that is in control of those things that we aren't. We only have to believe in the One who can do all things.

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A faithful heart is not necessarily a perfect heart.

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Our part is to be faithful.

His part is to be a covenant God.

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God's laws exist so we can know life in its truest sense - not to void us of pleasure.

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Many times, we aren't growing spiritually because we aren't willing to change the way we are living. True repentance ALWAYS bring about change. Always. Our circumstances are never going to change if we aren't willing to. Sometimes we have to do the moving. Away from sin and toward a holy God.

Our failures can move us to tears and even bring us to despair, but in the end if we don't quit doing the things we are doing, then they are for nothing. 

If we desire to be who God wants us to be, we must be moving toward living a life of righteousness and holiness. If we truly strive for this in our everyday lives, it will change the way we act and the way we think. It will empower us and enable us to be like Christ. And we will grow in grace and wisdom and truth. 

"God, you are awe inspiring in your sanctuaries.

The God of Israel gives power and strength to

the people. May God be praised"

(Psalm 68:35)