He Forgives & Forgets

 By: Joanne Viola

There are times I don’t want to forget the many times I have been forgiven, after all, this is the point of grace.

We tend to think of God as the God of second chances. But if we were to truly give thought to, and remember the many times we have been forgiven, we would realize the greatness of the gift of forgiveness. He extends forgiveness to us time and time again. We receive many more chances than two.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, 
it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” 
(Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB) 

Grace is the gift we receive over and over again, throughout our lifetime, and until eternity.

If we were able to turn back the hands of time, there are probably many mistakes we would not want to experience for a second time. We would probably undo many things done, go a different path, or make better choices.

However, in so doing, we would then miss the depth of God’s grace and mercy upon our lives.

We wouldn’t realize how great is His love towards us.

And here is the wonder of it all. God forgets our sins. He does not remember them once forgiven.

“I, even I, am the one who wipes out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins.” 
(Isaiah 43:25, NASB)

I want to live in the confidence of my salvation, knowing I am forgiven, but remembering the overwhelming gift of His grace and mercy.

God’s forgiveness frees me of wallowing in my sin, while permitting me to wallow in the gift of His love, grace, and mercy.

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 
As far as the east is from the west, 
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” 
(Psalm 103:11-12, NASB) 

God chooses to forgive and forget my sin,
so that I will never forget
the magnitude of the gift of His forgiveness.

Reflection: 
Take time today to meditate on the forgiveness and the depth of His grace poured out on your life.

 

Image by Dede from Pixabay

Gracious Words: How Our Words Impact Us

 By: Lauren Thomas 

Okay, ladies. Can we talk about our words. And no, I’m not singling you out. This is not an issue only we deal with. Though in the past I’ve come across articles espousing that women are more verbose (talkative) than men, more recent research says otherwise. Even James, half-brother to Jesus, wrote that “no one” can tame the tongue (James 3:8) – males included.

But women seem to have a bad rap for their words. Gossip is a big problem that many Christian women have to grapple with. Maybe gossip isn’t your personal struggle. But with all the off-limits speech that the Bible lists – things like gossip, slander, deceit, grumbling, complaining, foolish/filthy talk, crude joking, corrupting talk – I’m sure one of those has been a problem for you, whether on the giving or receiving side.

 

We’ve all been hurt by the words of another at some point in our lives. (Can we just lay to rest that saying about “sticks and stones…”?) Proverbs 18:21 tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Our words can build others up or tear them down (Ephesians 4:29).

 

I am a woman. I grew up in church. I know a lot (A LOT) of verses about how-to and how-not-to speak. But recently, a verse in Proverbs made me rethink some things about the power of the tongue.

 

Gracious words are like a honeycomb,

sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 16:24 ESV

 

Instead of interpreting this verse as “gracious words are like a honeycomb to the listener,” I read it as “gracious words are like a honeycomb to the speaker.” Words do hold power over the listener, but words hold power over the speaker as well!  The words we speak impact us just as powerfully as they impact those around us. When we speak gracious words, it is sweetness to OUR souls and health to OUR bodies.

 

If gracious words are compared to honeycomb, what could we compare ungracious words to? What about cancer? If that feels extreme, consider the similarities. Cancer can go for some time before being diagnosed. Cancer eats away the body. Cancer is hard to treat. Like a cancer, the impact of our ungracious words can be subtle at first. Our ungracious words slowly destroy us from the inside out. Our complaining can grow into criticism which feeds discontentment and dissatisfaction, which damages our soul.  

 

It can feel impossible to “tame the tongue,” but as I consider how my words are impacting me, it gives me fresh motivation to change my speech. I hope the same for you. I hope that as you consider the power of your words in your own life, you will join me in praying…

 

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    keep watch over the door of my lips!

Psalm 141:3 ESV

 

Reflection:

What kinds of “words” do you struggle with?

What verse could you meditate on to help you with this struggle?

How can you invite Jesus to be the guard at your mouth? How does Jesus want to help you change your speech?

I Sought the Lord

By: Jenifer Metzger

I sought the Lord, and He answered

me and rescued me from all my fears.

Psalm 34:4

Life often throws us curve balls. Something happens we didn't expect. A medical diagnosis, loss of a loved one, broken friendship, unfaithful spouse, loss of a job, the list goes on and on. Things happen and we are left feeling like our world is spinning out of control.

How will I recover from this? Will life ever be the same again? When will I heal? What does my future hold? These are just a few of the questions we ask ourselves over and over as we face these hardships.

This year has thrown a couple of curve balls my way -things I never, ever expected to face. My initial reaction is to cry out, "How did this happen?" To wonder where God is. But then He gently reminds me that He has been there the whole time. He reminds me of all the other trials I've faced in my life and how He was there then, too.

Sometimes we face trials due to our own choices. God can redeem and do a work to bring glory to His name. Sometimes we face trials because we live in a fallen world. God can do a work to bring glory to His name. And sometimes we face trials, not because God caused them, but He allowed them to bring glory to His name. Whatever the reason, when we seek God, He is there and He is working.

We need to regularly think back over our life and recall all the times God was with us in the fire. All the times He was working things out for His glory. All the times He walked us through the hardships of life. When we recall all He has done, we see that we can continue to trust in Him. We begin to understand that things may not always turn out exactly as we expected or wanted, but things worked out to the glory of God because He is good and He is faithful.

Friend, whatever you are facing today, seek the Lord and trust in Him.

I love this song and listen to it often, especially when I need the reminder to continually seek Him through the trials of life.

Discussion:
1. Intentionally paused today and think back over different times in your life when you faced a trial but God walked you through it.
2. Add this song to your play list and listen often.

The Graciousness of God

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy of: Jason Ayers

"The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved usand sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins." 

~1 John 4:8-10

C. S. Lewis once said,  “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”

The tendency for many of us (especially if we have been caught in legalism at one time or another!) is to believe that we have to be good in order for God to love us.


If that’s the case, then we’re all dreadfully stuck because I know I still do things every day that aren’t “good” - I holler at my kids or waste valuable time or am short with my husband or am impatient and unloving towards someone.


No, we don’t seek to be good in order to get the Lord to love us. We know He loves us, and that inspires change in our hearts.


That is why legalism is never enough. Legalism has you follow a set of rules (many of them man-made rather than God-issued) because you “have” to.


Christianity, on the other hand, says you come to Christ as you are, with all your sin and brokenness, repent, and accept His lavish grace. When you understand the amazing depth of the glorious grace of God, how much He loves you, and how compassionate, good, kind, and merciful He is, that is what then drives you to want to glorify Him from a heart of gratitude for what He has done and Who He is. That is what leads you to desire to live a life of obedience and goodness.


Hear me when I say, sister, that it’s not about cleaning up your act before you come to Christ.


It’s not about keeping yourself all cleaned up and perfect every moment of the day in order to stay with Christ.


It’s not about following all the rules.


It’s about walking by the Spirit (goodness is a fruit of the Spirit, after all!), abiding in Christ, and communing with the Father in prayer. And as your love for the Lord grows, as your sweet relationship with Him deepens, so then will the obedience in your life increase, as well.


Isn’t God good? He’s far more gracious than we could ever imagine!

Reflection Questions:

1) Have you ever put the cart before the horse in your theology? 

2) How can you refute the lie that you have to be good in order for God to love you?

3) Who can you share this encouraging truth with today?

Meals Hold Possibilities

 By: Joanne Viola

 

We are getting ready for our annual family vacation. Part of the preparation is planning dinners for all of us and then the food shopping.

A week of meals, three meals a day for seven days and ten people. Ten of us of varied ages, preferences, and allergies.

Meals can be a sacred time – the time cut out of each day where we all come together to the table. It is special even when we all do not eat the same foods so in actuality, it really is not about the food.

It’s about the people, family, and presence.

The verse crossed my path and has had my attention for several days now:

“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, 
to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” 
(Acts 2:42, NASB) 

This time together was more about forging community than simply eating a meal. There were four practices which unified and bonded the group of believers:

• They taught the new believers the instruction and words Jesus had shared with them.
• They had fellowship, meaning they had close relationship with one another. They spent time together, discussing life and sharing goods. They helped one another with their daily challenges.
• They “broke bread”. This not only meant Communion as a remembrance of the Lord’s Supper, but also included the sharing of meals. They invited each other into their homes.
• Prayer. This was corporate prayer which occurred in their larger gatherings, and also prayer in their private homes. It took place in the dailyness of life. They carried the burdens of one another.

The Book of Acts shows us how to forge community, relationships, and connection.
It reminds us to make the goal of each meal
about the people, family, and presence.

Reflection: 
How can we begin to view the possibilities hidden in every meal? How do you encourage conversation and connection during mealtime?

 

Image by Temel from Pixabay