Lest anyone should boast!

Ok, so today I am rereading Ephesians.  I love this book of the Bible.  Of course I love all the books, but this one just touches my heart every time.  The entire book will be completely underlined before too long.  But as I was reading, I came to the verse, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9

Every time I read that verse, I just smile.   I think of what salvation could look like if it were something we earned.  Could you imagine?  Everyone walking around telling everyone exactly what they did to get salvation and how that got them “in” to Heaven.  We know people like that in this world, and I have to tell you…being around them for any short period of time will  make you crazy.  How about spending eternity with someone like that?  No way!!! 

Our God is so good to know exactly how sinful man is.  He knew, if He did not make salvation a free gift, and provide the Holy Spirit to guide us in our life in order to change our hearts, it would be a disaster.  I am so glad He knows best in EVERY situation.  It brings me comfort and peace to know how He works.  And I know this from reading His Word.

I just wanted to share this with all of you.  First, just because it is an amazing thing that God has given us in our Lord Jesus Christ.  But secondly, because we need to make sure we are not “boasting” in our every day life.  It is so unbecoming.

God bless you all today.

 

A New Year, A New Life

It’s a new year!  That in itself excites so many people.  They dance in the streets, and sing, they even wish the best to people they don’t even know.  Of course the new year stimulates resolutions which are made in all good intention of completion.  But, within a few weeks, months, and sometimes only days, the resolution has been set aside.  I gave up on resolutions years ago.  Although I don’t condemn anyone who is seeking to better themselves.

That brings me to my point, how can we better ourselves?  We make the commitment, and then fall short.  But not to worry!  There is hope.  It doesn’t come in the form of a diet program, or fitness center.  No pill contains the secret ingredient, no special “low fat” foods.  Nope!  No friendship, not even “positive thinking exercises”.  And can you believe we fall for all this stuff? 

There is only one way to a new life this new year, and that is through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Because the Bible teaches us, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. BEHOLD, ALL THINGS HAVE BECOME NEW..”  (2 Corinthians 2:15) All things.  All things.  I LOVE THAT!  No matter what you have done in your past, you are forgiven and God no longer sees it.  God forgets it.  And you are new. 

Maybe you have been involved in things you are ashamed of.  Maybe you have done something you think no one could be forgiven for.  Maybe you can not even forgive yourself.  But God will.  Take His invitation this New Year for a New Life.  One filled  with forgiveness, love, peace, and fellowship with others who have been where you are but are New today.

To find out more about how you can accept this new life follow this link.

God bless you all this new year!

 

Lord, what will You have me do?

Today as I was beginning to “blog”, I thought about what Iwould like to say.  I thought about what was going on in Israel, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, and right here in America.  I thought, “If I could just write something that would get a lot of other people to view my blog, maybe they would read some of my other stuff.”  So I continued to think about what Iwould be discussing.  But then the Lord spoke to my heart, “Hey…whose blog, whose words, whose stuff here on this site?” 

Oh boy, maybe that is why I haven’t had anything to write lately.  I have been asking myself for the wisdom and the words.  And so this blog post is just a reminder to all…every day, ask the Lord, “what will You have me do?”

Obedience to the Lord is key to peace and joy.  I keep learning that over and over.  It used to be the Lord would teach me these lessons through big situations and painful consequences.  But now, I hear Him before it gets too out of control.  I like that.

God be with you today.