Great Encouragement for the Day

The mornings can always be a bit difficult...especially when you are sleep deprived.  I read this verse and it gave me the strength I needed to face the day.

Psalm 37:1-6

¹ Do not fret because of those who are evil

   or be envious of those who do wrong;
² for like the grass they will soon wither,
   like green plants they will soon die away.

 ³ Trust in the LORD and do good;
   dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
⁴ Take delight in the LORD,
   and he will give you the desires of your heart.

 ⁵ Commit your way to the LORD;
   trust in him and he will do this:
⁶ He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
   your vindication like the noonday sun. 

Despite the difficulties we encounter, the lack of sleep that often muddles our thinking, and the mind battles that we constantly are fighting...let us remember who is our Lord and Savior and know that He has given us the power to endure!  We need to trust in Him, commit our ways to Him, and depend fully on Him.  Keep running hard friends! 

Have a blessed day! 

~Grow in Grace~ 

2 Peter 3:18

Believing the Promises of God

It's a cold, rainy (surprise! haha) afternoon here in Oregon.  If you would, take a moment to sit down, maybe pour a hot cup of coffee (my personal favorite) or make a nice cup of tea, and meditate on the following verses.

“I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  John 10:10 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21) 

What powerful verses, huh?!

I love what Leslie Ludy writes: 

A longtime missionary once said, “We sell people a bill of goods when we tell them that Jesus is the answer to all their problems. The reality is that they are going to have lots of struggles, even after they come to Christ, so we shouldn’t paint Christianity to be some amazing experience.” 

Some churches have adopted popular secular songs from artists like Creed and U2, songs like U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” Our bookstores are loaded with books like Disappointment with God, When God Doesn’t Make Sense, and Deserted by God?. And modern Christian leaders spend an inordinate amount of time trying to help us “cope” with the disappointment, disillusionment, and depression that seem to go hand in glove with following Christ these days. 

But if all we have to look forward to in Christianity is disillusionment and disappointment, why would we even want to follow Christ? 

In John 10:10 Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” The word abundantly means beyond measure, over and above all that we could ask or think. Not day to day surviving, but day to day thriving. As Paul says, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20-21) 

It's good to think about, friends. Have a good rest of your Tuesday!

~Grow in Grace~ 

2 Peter 3:18 

I'll be Running the Race, Even While I Wait

Great Compassion

I have seen so many people close to me suffer and hurt.  It breaks my heart, but it is amazing to see the great and mighty power of the Lord during the very difficult and painful circumstances.  He gives such peace, grace, and strength to the weak, and He is not absent.  May we ever look continually unto the Lord for nourishment, comfort, and peace!  He will give bountifully to those who ask!!!

"With compassion for the hurting
You reached out your hand
As the lame ran to meet you
And the dead breathed again
You saw behind the eyes of sorrowAnd shared in our tears
Heard the sigh of the weary
Let the children draw near

What boundless love
What fathomless grace
You have shown us
O God of compassion
Each day we live
An offering of grace
As we show to the world
Your compassion."

~ Excerpt from a song by Stuart Townend~ 

As the Bible so emphatically and repeatedly states, we are to depend upon the Lord continually, and endure trials (of all sizes), knowing that we will be provided for and given the grace and strength that we need to get through.  

It may not be easy at all to tell ourselves the truth, but friends, we need too!  Life is hard and there are so many difficulties and challenges, but the Lord has promised comfort and care.  We need to therefore depend upon the great God of love, compassion, and mercy! 

~Grow in Grace~ 

2 Peter 3:18 

The Narrow Gate

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.  Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." 

~Matthew 7:13,14~ 

This morning was an "out of the norm" Sunday morning.  I woke up and there was snow on the ground!!!  I felt like a little kid again, I was so excited.  Here in Oregon, we only get threats of snow, and when it actually happens, it is a real treat.  Also, when it does snow in Oregon, everything closes down...seriously.  So, church this morning was canceled since the building sits on a steep hill, and the roads could be pretty slick.  Out of precaution, there were no services held.   Instead of sitting in a pew and listening to a sermon, dad, mom, and I decided to listen to one of John MacArthur's (Pastor of Grace Church in CA) sermons online. 

So, we bundled up on the couch, with steaming hot coffee in hand, Bibles in our laps, and listened to a great sermon on Matthew 7:13-14.  

What a convicting passage this is.  

There are 2 doors, as Matthew writes in this chapter.  There are 2 ways and 2 destinations.  One is marked, "Heaven", and there is one door that goes there and one that does not.  There are 2 possibilities and 2 choices.   Yet, only one is the right way.  

There is worship that is true and one that is false.  There is one religion that is true (the one that teaches Christ), and all else are false. 

An interesting point that Pastor McArthur pointed out when looking at this passage is that, "It is not enough to just study the narrow gate.  It is not enough to admire it's wisdom, to listen to sermons about the narrow gate.  It is not enough to look upon Jesus as a great teacher and good man.  It is not enough to talk about the narrow gate...we must ENTER into it!!  

"Enter by the narrow gate..." (Matthew 7:23) 

Many may discuss it, admire it, study it, and even respect it, but few they are who enter it!  

This was very interesting to think about.  

This gate serves two purposes, to let in and shut out.  

Those who do not enter by the narrow gate, are shut out.  

Friends, have you entered by the narrow gate?!  Or are you walking into the wide and broad passage way?!  

One leads to eternal paradise with the King and one leads to everlasting damnation.   

It is important that you only enter into this NARROW gate.  

Think upon this truth friends!  

I love what Acts 4:12 and 1 Timothy 2:5 teach:

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." -Acts 4:12

"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus." 

Seek Christ and His Kingdom which can only be found by entering into the narrow gate.  

Don't just look and gaze at the narrow gate....enter it!! 

Have a blessed Sunday! 

~Grow in Grace~

2 Peter 3:18 

Life's True Purpose

Challenging and encouraging words I read by Leslie Ludy (author and speaker): 

"It is easy to come up with formulas for following God, complex belief systems that help us clarify why He put us on this earth.  We read books, attend seminars, take personality tests, and try to define our deepest desires – all part of a crusade to figure out the meaning of our existence. But the answer to finding our life’s purpose is far simpler than we imagine.  In fact, it is so simple that most of us miss it completely in our desperate search for direction.

In John 15, Jesus gave His disciples what may be the most profound and beautiful command in the entire Bible.  He cleared life of all its complexities and confusion in one simple phrase.  He summed up the essence, the grandeur, the mystery, and the marvel of life in but a few life-altering words.  He said to them, “Abide in Me.”

What did He mean when He said, “Abide in Me”?  

He meant, “Find the meaning of life in Me.  Find your value and confidence in Me. Find your purpose and direction in Me. Find the source for all spiritual achievement in Me.  Find the strength to live each moment in Me.  Find the wisdom to navigate the many turns of life in Me. Find forgiveness from all your sins in Me.  Find the satisfaction of boundless joy in Me.  Find the most glorious peace in Me.  Find the most perfect love and acceptance in Me.  Find the most satisfying life for all eternity in Me.”  

To abide in Christ means to allow His life to possess us at all times and in every situation life brings.  To abide means saying to God with the inhaling of every breath, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” To abide means sharing in a holy communion with our precious Heavenly Lover, listening to His gentle whisper at every turn of life’s drama.  

God created us to abide in Him.  It’s that basic.  Abiding in Him is our life’s purpose.  Abiding in Him is what we were created for.  Abiding in Him is the reason we are here.  

We are here on this earth to intimately know and enjoy our God.  We are here on this earth to let our lives be used, owned, and operated by His almighty grace.  We are here to allow His life to evidence itself through our being.  And all these things rolled into one say – we are here on this earth to abide in Christ."

Amen! May I abide in Christ more and more! 

~Grow in Grace~ 

2 Peter 3:18 

God Moves in a Mysterious Way

God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

I sang this hymn today in church.  The words are so powerful, it brought tears to my eyes.  I need to "sing" this song to myself whenever I doubt the work of the Lord and His sovereignty. 

Have a blessed Sunday! 

~Grow in Grace~ 

2 Peter 3:18 

Knowing You

All I once held dear built my life upon 

All this world reveres, and wars to own

All I once thought gain I have counted loss

Spent and worthless now compared to this

Knowing You, Jesus, knowing You 

There is no greater thing 

You're my all, You're my rest

You're my joy, my righteousness

And I love You Lord

Now my heart's desire is to know You more

To be Found in You, ad know as Yours 

To possess by faith what I could not earn

All surpassing gift of righteousness

Oh to know the power of Your risen life

And to know You in Your sufferings

To become like You in Your death, my Lord

So with You to live and never die 

(Lyrics to a song I recently heard) 

   There is no time wasted when it is spent learning more about Jesus Christ.  There is nothing more important than growing in the knowledge of our Savior.  There is no greater joy than in having a relationship with the Lord.  There is no greater peace and comfort given than in trusting Christ as our Savior and hoping in Him alone as our Redeemer.   Truly, knowing Him is the greatest and most important thing in this life. 

  ~Grow in Grace~ 

2 Peter 3:18 

My Savior, My God

I want to ring in the new year by focusing on the truth.  

The lyrics to this song are so wonderful and powerful!

Please, take a minute to listen. 

Happy New Year! 

Here we come 2012!!

~Grow in Grace~ 

2 Peter 3:18