For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Romans 1:21,22

It is one thing to believe that there is a God or even to believe in God.  The beauty of grace, which is the power of God's love given without condemnation, is meant to change how we think of God and therefore how we feel about ourselves. Grace lets us not just believe in him but to know God in a way that refreshes our emotions and therefore brings the desire to express joy and thanksgiving.  The man or woman that lives with a personality of joy will automatically give glory to God through their actions.  Today may you delight in finding ways to express joy and thanksgiving.  Let God's grace express through your words and attitudes the beauty of a thankful heart.  In this place you will always be known as an encourager and a delight to those around you.  Some of the most difficult situations are changed by expressions of joy and thanksgiving.  Enjoy!

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder.  Write them deep within your heart.  Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.  Proverbs 3:3,4

Being overwhelmed by grace gives us a great relief in our thinking, our living, along with the privilege of esteeming others as more important than ourselves with the result of gladness and joy.  Loyalty and kindness are two beautiful parts of grace and when they are allowed to be communicated through our lives, our Lord is blessed and people are refreshed.  That being true, we then are filled with joy and goodness. In this place there is no regret or sorrow.  Today may you enjoy these expressions of his grace through you.  Let your life have situations for loyalty and kindness to be seen through you.  Simple things like loyalty and kindness bring great refreshment which can be described as finding favor with both God and people. Enjoy!

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?  Who may live on your holy hill?  He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who keep his oath even when it hurts. Psalm 15:1-4

Heavenly Father, these are truths that overwhelm mankind.  These simple truths seem to elude us along our journey. When we find ourselves doing and living just the opposite of these simple truths, we then feel accused and at times worthless.  Father, it is in this place and condition that you have given and expressed your grace to us through Jesus the Christ.  Your grace cleanses us from the power and condemnation of our sin. Your grace gives us freedom of our emotions, thoughts, and words to experience your glory, rejoice in your life and live as an encouragement to others. Today may we live overwhelmed by your grace in the freedom of your love without condemnation and be a living expression of the good news of grace found in Jesus the Christ. Today these truths describe who we now are because of your grace given in Jesus Christ. Enjoy!

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

It really is amazing as to what we put our hope in through the days of our life. Hope can actually give our thoughts, emotions and desires a real sense of refreshment and encouragement.  Hope lives with God’s grace, to give us emotions of rejoicing in the life of our Lord, knowing that he is keenly aware of and involved in the details of our lives.  When we know this to be true, we can see the details of our journey in a new way, which curtails anxiety, stress and worry in the situations that may come along.  Today let yourself relax in the beauty of who you are because of his grace.  Let your heart be refreshed in your hope in him, for his goal for you today is your highest good.  Enjoy!