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

We are a nation that is all about freedom, but what we are now calling freedom is anything but freedom. For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. Yet as a nation we seem to be losing our freedom and becoming enslaved to actions, attitudes, morals and emotions that are destructive to our families, our neighborhoods, our churches and even our nation. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  It isn’t just alcohol, drugs and all forms of immorality, but also violence in our attitude and actions. What is ironic is the more someone asserts his or her self-centered so called freedom, the more he or she becomes enslaved to their own sin. But there is a prescription for freedom, it is the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. So if the Son of God sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 NIV. This freedom of grace is not a belief system; it is a life that penetrates the very foundation of our emotions and thoughts, it is called a new creation. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Today enjoy your freedom of grace that has been given to you through Jesus the Christ. Let your day be free in grace so that you know your old habits and addiction (attitude and actions) are no longer a definition of who you are. Your freedom in Christ will bless you and bring refreshment to everyone around you, and boy could our world use some of that!  Enjoy!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Colossians 3:17 NIV

Being overwhelmed by God’s grace through Jesus Christ is a transformation that takes place within the desires of our heart and mind.  Instead of words, tones or deeds that are less than refreshing, grace gives a new desire of expressing in whatever we do with our words or with our deeds they are expressons of thanks to God. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Words and actions of grace will refresh and encourage you and others through their life and that will always bless you! Emotions that live in grace are always renewing and bring a great relief of thanksgiving.  Today, may the life of His grace come out of your mouth very naturally and be expressed on your face.  The joy you will experience and the refreshment it will bring will absolutely delight you. When this verse is a description of who you are, then you will have an outstanding day, and your relationships will have an emotion called joy. Enjoy!

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous.  He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.  

Romans 3:23, 24 NLT

This verse is God’s description of His gift to us, while we are in a less than stellar situation.  For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard which means we all have found in our nature the results of that.  Jealousy, lust, irritations, anxiety, anger, feelings of criticism along with all forms of judgment concerning ourselves and others have come to us naturally.  There is not enough money or education in the world that can remove these things from how we feel.  But when we take God at his Word and receive his gift of grace (undeserved kindness) that is given to us in Jesus the Christ all things begin to change. Through Jesus Christ it is God who declares that we are righteous.   Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. Righteousness first gift is deliverance from guilt and then deliverance from the power of our own sin. In righteousness emotions of condemnation end and grace replaces it with new emotions of encouragement, peace and joy. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. In grace there is a blessing of joy that can be lived and experienced through our life. Today enjoy the life of grace that is yours because of Jesus Christ.  Let your mind experience the emotions of joy as your words and tones express rejoicing and praise.  If you are willing to receive his undeserved kindness through Christ Jesus, you will understand the blessing of his compassion and your life will become a wonderful fragrance to your family, your friends and those you meet.  Enjoy!

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work.  Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.  Ecclesiastes 2:24 NLT

One of the great benefits of the grace of Jesus Christ is that it gives us the ability to find thanksgiving in the everyday things of life. So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work.  Just look at our newspapers, our news channels and think how much complaining, grumbling, stress and anxiety go on in our time so that we forget how to be thankful and enjoy what we do have. We were meant to enjoy the simple things such as eating, drinking and all those taste buds in our mouth that are just waiting to express themselves.  Grace can celebrate these individual moments with an attitude of thanksgiving (Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus) and that changes everything from how we feel to how we think.  Today let yourself find pleasure in the smallest things along your journey.  You, your family, your friends and those you come in contact with will be renewed through your attitude of grace.  Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.  Enjoy!

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.  I do not conceal your love and your truth from those I meet.

Psalm 40:10 NIV

What happens to the life of a man or woman who has received the grace of God in Jesus Christ? 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. Therefore I do not hide your righteousness in my heart. Your righteousness in my heart gives us a beautiful view of our life without condemnation or shame in our emotions and our thinking. I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.  With that in place, our faith in our Lord brings about a peace and joy in our journey and others are then blessed with his love through us. i do not conceal your love and your truth from those I meet.    When God’s righteousness has been received and become what we are, relationships can be rebuilt and renewed. Today let his grace and love continue to overwhelm you as you speak of God’s faithfulness and salvation.  In his grace your life can say –  I do not hide your righteousness in my heart, I do not conceal your love and your truth from those I meet.  Those you meet today will be very blessed to experience God’s grace for them through you. Enjoy!