Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit within me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.  

Psalm 51:10, 12 NLT

Have you ever been in a place in your life where you wish you could start over?  One of the first results of God's grace being received is the desire for a new nature, in which only the Lord can provide. Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a loyal spirit with me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you.  For God's grace does not just forgive our sins it begins the creation on a new nature that has its foundation in the grace and joy of God’s salvation.  This is not being religious at all, for God’s grace renews our thinking and emotions with the result of a life without guilt, shame or regret. God made him (Jesus the Christ) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV.  Today allow yourself the freedom of his grace to create a clean heart within you, with expressions of thanksgiving.  Because of his grace may your heart desire to say – make me willing to obey you!  Enjoy!

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.  After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right had of the Majesty in heaven.  Hebrews 1:3 NIV

Our sin nature is always in a wrestling match in what God says is the truth.  What is amazing about the grace of God is that it changes us from wrestling with the truth to knowing and living in the truth. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.  Grace brings about a joy in the depth of our soul which produces a heart of thanksgiving to God that is absolutely overwhelming.  Grace lets you know who Jesus the Christ is and then experience the impact of him providing purification for our sins. God's glory of Grace is magnificent. For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. Romans 8:29 NLT  Today may his grace give you the desire to celebrate this verse as the truth that set you free.  Enjoy!

Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.  Proverbs 20:11 NLT

What we call character is what either builds or destroys relationships.  Character is more than just a family name; it is the foundation for building life in a family, a neighborhood,  a church, a community,  or a nation.  For some it can be about themselves first, how they feel, what they want or how they see things.  In this place no one is really happy and wounded emotions can take individuals down roads of adultery, divorce, drunkenness, and survival modes of every kind.  Here families are wounded and broken, businesses fail, churches split and communities are in disarray.  God’s grace given in Jesus Christ is much more than saving someone so that they may go to heaven someday.  Grace brings a new character which is called freedom in righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17 NIV Grace has no jealousy, no bitterness, no regret and no unforgiveness.  It is described as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT. Today let yourself enjoy the life given to you through Jesus the Christ.  His character is now yours, right now in the place where you find yourself.  Your freedom is at hand, his blessing is now yours and you can be the blessing of God to your family, your business, your neighborhood, your church and your community.  Today is a good day to live in the salvation of your character. Enjoy!

O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.  You know when I sit down or stand up.  You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.  You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD.  Psalm 139:1-4 NLT

In our culture many find that their thought of God is less than awesome or magnificent. Although the creation is here and quite visible they cannot believe in the God who created it all. They come to their own conclusion that the creation created itself.  Yet in Romans 1:20 - For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen. Yet in the midst of all this the power of God’s grace in Jesus Christ can begin the creation of a new heart and mind. O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. In grace we may feel blessed in knowing the Lord is aware of everything going on in our lives. Today rejoice in your thoughts about what the Lord knows about you and allow yourself to rest, knowing he is in all the details of your life.  You will experience the thoughts and emotions of his grace, all of which come with no stress or regret.  Enjoy!

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure.  It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and good deeds.  It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  James 3:17 NLT

What is described here is the attitude that grace brings to a man or woman who has actually received God’s gift of grace.  This gives some definition to Philippians 2:5 NIV   Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.  When God’s grace touches the human soul, thinking begins to  become transformed.  The wisdom from above is first of all pure.  That means – unadulterated, uncontaminated, clean and wholesome. With that in place there is no condemnation towards yourself or others, tension leaves the room.  Now that is a new creation in Jesus the Christ.  The emotions that follow the wisdom from above – peace loving, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, good deeds, shows no favoritism and is always sincere.  This is a glimpse into the wisdom of what is called eternal life and what it is to look like right where we live.  Today, If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5 NIV. Enjoy!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. 2 Timothy 3:16 NIV

Isn’t it amazing that God describes his Scripture, his Word as his breath.  Remember the impact of his breath on Adam?  God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being.  Genesis 2:7. When the grace of God in Jesus the Christ penetrates the heart of a man or woman, then the Scriptures change from just words into his Breath.  His breath is meant to become our breath and we become a new creation without any condemnation in Jesus Christ.  Only then can we receive teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness from his breath. For without his grace we remain dead in our transgressions and consumed in our condemnation. Righteousness is deliverance from our guilt and from the power of our own sin.  This is the blessing of God’s Grace in his breath - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV. Learning to live overwhelmed by His grace brings the benefit of his breath in teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness to the very fiber of our being.  Let His Breath become your breath and you will have no regret!  Enjoy!

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters.  But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. Galatians 5:13 NLT

Freedom is wonderful and our nation talks about it a lot. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Question -  where is the freedom in sexual immorality; where is the freedom in cursing or harsh words; where is the freedom in un-forgiveness; where is the freedom in anger; where is the freedom in drunkenness; where is the freedom in divorce; where is the freedom in a critical attitude; where is the freedom in stress?  In these things there is no love and there is surely no freedom.  Well, it is while in this condition that we may experience the amazing grace of God that is in Jesus the Christ.  Through God’s grace we are given a life that encourages, blesses and finds expressions of kindness, goodness and faithfulness. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Today may you actually experience the freedom of his grace in how you feel and think.  No one will be upset because of your expressions of kindness and love for them.  Your family, your work and your community will never be the same when you live in the freedom of his grace. Do not use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  Enjoy!

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.  For God in all his fulness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. This includes you who were once far awauy from God. 

Colossians 1:15, 19, 20, 21 NLT

In the word of God “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God” which means what God promised he has brought to pass in his son.  The good news is that God loves us and has demonstrated it visibly through Jesus the Christ.  In this news we have been given life and health for our journey with our family, our friends and those we work with.  We can see that the nature of the gospel is to bring about the character of God in our lives and this is accomplished through his grace.  The life of his grace lets those around us see the beauty of the nature of God through our lives. To know Jesus Christ by His grace changes everything. Today let yourself enjoy the life of grace in how you see your opportunities.  Be willing to let your decisions and goals be visible expressions of the results of his grace in your life.  May your family and friends be blessed with the attitudes of Christ through you.  Enjoy!