GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION
At the time of writing, the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, a worldwide epidemic that mankind has difficulty in controlling. Thus far, 118 countries have diagnosed people with the Corona-virus COVID-19. It originated in China, and the government there has quarantined large areas of its country. The virus is being found in people [...]
The post Covid19 vs Psalm 91 appeared first on Peter Wade, Bible teacher.
At the time of writing, the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, a worldwide epidemic that mankind has difficulty in controlling. Thus far, 118 countries have diagnosed people with the Corona-virus COVID-19. It originated in China, and the government there has quarantined large areas of its country. The virus is being found in people [...]
The post Covid19 vs Psalm 91 appeared first on Peter Wade, Bible teacher.
At the time of writing, the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, a worldwide epidemic that mankind has difficulty in controlling. Thus far, 118 countries have diagnosed people with the Corona-virus COVID-19. It originated in China, and the government there has quarantined large areas of its country. The virus is being found in people [...]
The post Covid19 vs Psalm 91 appeared first on Peter Wade, Bible teacher.
At the time of writing, the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic, a worldwide epidemic that mankind has difficulty in controlling. Thus far, 118 countries have diagnosed people with the Corona-virus COVID-19. It originated in China, and the government there has quarantined large areas of its country. The virus is being found in people [...]
The post Covid19 vs Psalm 91 appeared first on Peter Wade, Bible teacher.
One big thing we can all learn is that God is a risk taker. We are going to have to trust the Lord, and that means being willing to take a risk and move out of our comfort zones.
There’s always a temptation to play it safe and just maintain what we have. But to succeed in life, you have to risk possible failure.
In the gospel of Luke, there’s a great example of the risk involved in trusting God.
Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. Luke 8:22-24 (KJV)
Jesus and His disciples were having great success, preaching and ministering in the cities and villages of Galilee. So when Jesus said, “Let’s go to the other side,” His disciples might have thought ‘Don’t rock the boat, Jesus. We’ve got it made. Why do you want to go to another place?’ But they trusted Jesus, and were willing to take the risk.
As we move on with Jesus, let’s go for it! Why? Because the regret of doing nothing is more painful than trying and failing. Everything worthwhile in life is a risk.
The woman with issue of blood took a risk (Mark 5:25-34).
When a woman had an issue of blood, she was considered to be unclean. She was probably banished outside the city gates with all the others who were unclean or lepers.
But when she heard the words of Jesus, she was willing to take a risk.
She was willing to take the risk of leaving the leper colony and being exposed as unclean. She risked not getting to Jesus, being rejected, being ridiculed and possibly not getting healed. But she did something great and ended up healed with a testimony of great courage and faith that no one could take away from her.
The greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing at all. A person who risks nothing does nothing and has nothing of real value.
Is God asleep?
Back in Luke 8, Jesus fell asleep, and the storm came.
Taking a risk with Jesus doesn’t guarantee smooth sailing, but it does guarantee you’ll see and experience wonderful miracles.
When you take a risk with God, it may sometimes seem that He has fallen asleep, and you’re alone facing the storm and about to sink. But look at verse 23. Another translation says that the boat was filled with water, yet they did not sink. With Jesus in your boat or life, you will not sink!
When we move on with Jesus, it will always be a risk, but it is always guaranteed by the words of Jesus.
…he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Hebrews 13:5 (KJV)
We can always trust that He will come through for us. So go for it!
To encounter means to run into or collide with the unexpected. So, a grace encounter is when we feel the furthest from God and when we least expect to experience God’s favor, but then unexpectedly run into or collide with the unearned, undeserved favor and goodness of God!
Blessings,
Arthur Meintjes
I went to my doctor yesterday for several bouts of sudden blurred vision within the past 7 weeks. I don’t know what’s going on, but there is one thing I do know – the devil has zero authority in my life. As a result of believing this truth and meditating on it often, when my […]
The post Satan Has Been Disarmed and Humiliated appeared first on Sandra McCollom.
Since our forebears ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, humanity has been trying to negotiate with God by using goodness as currency. The lie perpetrated by the Serpent is that the human individual can determine what is good and bad, and that he or she can achieve that moral standard by their own determination. What an illusion!
In a recent blog, Wade Trimmer refers to a survey revealing that 74% of Americans believe they are going to heaven based on their moral record. About the same percentage don't think their neighbors will make it. Wow! We are willing to give ourselves a break, but not our neighbors.
We somehow believe we can negotiate with God based on our concept of goodness. "Sure, we have done some sinful things, but we have also done some good. We have turned our lives around lately. Surely God will give us a break based on our intentions. We aren't in the category of Hitler or the Boston Strangler."
God doesn't negotiate based on our goodness or badness. The Father made a covenant with his Son who represents us. He fulfilled every aspect of righteousness, and the Father declared his sacrifice for our sins: Sufficient! The currency of the kingdom of God is not goodness, but faith. We believe in Jesus accepting his work as our own, and embracing his mission as our calling. The prophet Isaiah spoke of this hundreds of years before Jesus was born.
Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. -- Isaiah 55:1-2
It is difficult for us to get away from the belief that God is primarily wanting us to be good. Of course, he is not trying to make us bad, but our concept of good is flawed. We tend to define it totally in terms of not practicing bad behavior. Sadly, much of the religion that is identified as Christian is mere moralism, rather than life with Christ.
Put your moral currency away. It is not legal tender in God's kingdom.
Some people were reared to be polite, gentle and mannerly, but their hearts are filled with selfish intent. Others were not given such privilege in training and are rough around the edges, yet they have been captured by the unconditional love of God through Jesus. The issue is trusting Jesus as our goodness.
All of us try to manage transactions with God until we are struck with a true vision of who he is and what he has already done. Even after initial conversion, we tend toward a transactional relationship with God. We look for levers to pull, formulas to follow, and principles to practice in hopes of unlocking his treasure of blessings. The great transaction is done! God has acted in our behalf by forgiving our sins and granting us the blessings due to Jesus. When that truth becomes more than a meme, or a stanza in a song, we will begin living as the sons and daughters we are by virtue of his grace.
Put your moral currency away. It is not legal tender in God's kingdom.
This message about 1 John 1:9 by Dr. Creflo Dollar was just too good and too clearly laid out for me not to share it! Do We Have To Confess Our Sins For God To Forgive Us? I know this is a loaded question and has caused great debate among Christians in the past number […]
The post Do I Have To Confess My Sins For God To Forgive Me? appeared first on Sandra McCollom.
I love watching birds! We have a bird feeder in our front yard right in front of our porch swing and I love to sit on our swing, listen to worship music and watch the birds. Whenever I take the time to notice birds I’m always reminded of how joyful and care free they are and […]
The post Baby Birds, Recently Hatched! appeared first on Sandra McCollom.