So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.  Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions?  If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is god, follow him.”  But the people said nothing.  1 Kings 18:20, 21

In the days of Elijah, believing in God was not the people’s problem. But what they believed about God did not impact their decisions, their morals or their lives.  Their priorities in life were about what would please them most.  So, even though they believed in God their belief was not founded in love for him and therefore they could not follow him.  If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal is god, follow him.  But the people said nothing. The power of God’s grace is that it can give belief that makes a new life. In this place true life is found in our relationship with the Lord which will impact those around us.  Living grace has no wavering between two opinions.  Today let his grace express life in and through you.  Grace can make you new in your emotions and thoughts in such a way that the pleasant look of encouragement will become who you are.  If the LORD is God, follow him, this is meant to be much more than thoughts, it is the refreshment of a new life in Him.  Enjoy!

You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.  Matthew 5:14, 16 NLT

It is Christmas, the promise of God’s grace is fulfilled in the birth of our Savior. In Jesus the Christ a new life is given to us which produces wonderful results.  One of the living results of God’s grace in our lives is the confidence we have in letting. Let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. The illustration of the life of grace here is seen as light, light that can be seen in all directions like a city on a hill.  But this light is also now our character which is the character of grace.  The life of his grace produces a new nature in us to “let” this new life be lived and seen in the midst of all our opportunities. Let your good deeds shine, they will refresh families, neighborhoods and communities. Today may you find that what you are “letting” is like a light shining on a hilltop and everyone around you, including you will be blessed.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.

Psalm 116:5, 6

There is a life of grace and righteousness in us when what we believe and say about God becomes who we are in the depth of our soul.  It does not mean troubles and opportunities all leave the scene, but seeing them with the attitude of grace brings the blessings of real emotions and thoughts that are renewing and can be relaxing.  When we allow his grace to touch our emotions we will discover what the Psalmist meant when he said – “when I was in great need, he saved me.”   Today, take a good deep breath from his Word and let your heart express thanksgiving for his grace and love for you.  Your nature is on a great journey of renewal and the freedoms you were created for are about to bring delight to you in every way. Enjoy!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   Romans 15:13

The words here - hope, joy, peace and overflow are definitions of a life of grace!  Here we see that our God desires for us on our individual journeys, to not just believe in him but to know him in the depth of all our thinking and emotions. His grace is given so that we may experience that life called eternal, and find ourselves in an optimistic mood, a mood of hope, a mood of joy and a mood of peace.  His gift is given to us with the strength of the Holy Spirit through Jesus the Christ.  When living in grace we can find ourselves overflowing with emotions of thankfulness, which impacts people in a very good way that live and work around us.  Today, lay aside anxiety, worry and stress and enjoy trusting in him.  It is a blessing to live a life that can be known as overflowing with hope, joy and peace.  Enjoy!

He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.

Proverbs 21:21

Why is it that we work so hard at going after so many things that we think are important, only to find out that while pursuing them, many of our relationships collapse and do not turn out to be what we hoped for?  Question - what is this righteousness and love?  Well, they are the outcome of God’s grace in a man or woman’s life.  Righteousness is the deliverance from guilt and deliverance from the power of our own sin nature. It is integrity and transparency all at the same time.  Love allows us the ability to bless others as we work and play.   His grace gives us the joy of being aware of the emotions, desires and goals of people we meet along our journey, and then finding ways to bless them as our Lord has blessed us.  Today let yourself experience his grace that gives you something to pursue that will not wear you out and will give you as well as others, joy in the journey. Here it is called life, prosperity and honor. Enjoy!

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins.  All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts.  Ephesians 2:1, 3

I always find it amazing that our Lord does not say that we were sick or desperately ill or just not doing well.  He says - you were dead in your transgressions and sins.  Being dead seems to be a very hopeless condition.  Yet it is in this condition that our Lord lavishes his grace upon us as a gift. WOW!  Not only are we not dead in our transgressions and sins because of grace, but we have been given that life that is eternal to live and enjoy the results of his grace right now. In his grace there is no stress, no regret, no guilt, no shame or any condemnation.  Grace is more than a word, it is the power of his love that is given so that someone who was dead may now live in the freedom of that life called eternal in Jesus Christ our Lord.  Today, enjoy his grace that declares that which was dead is now alive.  That is for anyone who receives his gift of grace.  Celebrate his grace in your life through your praise and thanksgiving. Enjoy

Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Philippians 4:4, 5 NLT

When we are actually living in God’s grace, we will have emotions that will be refreshing.   All because of grace, God now encourages us to rejoice! When we choose to be full of joy in the Lord we experience attitudes of being considerate to others. As a result, we can find ourselves full of joy in some of the most peculiar places. Today celebrate with joy what our Lord has given to you. May all who meet you be encouraged as they see your joy in the Lord. Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do.  Enjoy!

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.  We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who they are. Romans 3:21, 22 NLT

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him.  It is always wonderful when we feel right in our relationships, when there is no worry, stress or anxiety.  It feels good to not be ashamed or embarrassed about our past or even about some attitudes of the present.  Having faith in Jesus Christ comes by grace to create a new nature in us. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ.  If grace was to speak it would say relax, take a breath and enjoy what God promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. Today allow your faith in Jesus Christ to refresh you, to the point that you feel the desire to give thanks in his name. His grace in you today will let you relax in his love and you will have a good God Story to tell. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who they are.  Enjoy!

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  Ephesians 3:16-18 NLT

Here in God’s Word we have a prayer given so that we might grasp the reality of Christ’s love.  Grace recreates our nature giving us the ability to love God and then we discover loving God is our joy in worship. Worship is much more beautiful than something we just do on Sunday. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Worship can be described as the oxygen of the soul.  Worship is from the inside out and we find that it is empowered in love because of grace. Growing in grace can be defined as being established in Christ’s love with a result of the decreasing frequency of sin in our own nature. That is what is meant when he says then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.  On this new day may you have the power (grace) to understand his love, for you, your family and your friends.  Lift your voice in praise and thanksgiving, you will find a great delight in it. May those around you be able to experience the love of Christ because of you.  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.  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.  Romans 3:23-25 NLT

Sometimes we have a tendency to think of our faith in Jesus the Christ as some sort of religion. If Christianity has become our religion we will have a propensity to set up our own standard of judgment concerning ourselves as well as others.  Religion can never bring refreshment to our life.  Yet God, with undeserved kindness declares that we are righteous.  It is right here where being overwhelmed by the grace that is in Jesus the Christ can recreate everything. Have you ever wished or hoped that you could start over, in God’s grace you can. He declares that we are righteous.  He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin.  Grace changes everything, in how we see God, ourselves and others.  Today rejoice in what has been given to you by God through Christ Jesus.  Declared righteous means you can start refreshed and renewed today, with emotions and attitudes that become a blessing to you and everyone around you.  In his grace you can begin a new journey, with new habits that will just be delightful, now how cool is that?  Enjoy!

I say to myself, "The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him! The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.

Lamentations 3:24, 25 NLT

When the LORD becomes a reality to our life instead of some kind of belief system, his grace begins to recreate us.  Let us remember that his grace is the power of his love expressed and given without condemnation. Therefore, I will hope in him! The LORD is good to those who depend on him. With his grace in our lives we can now enjoy giving love to others in the same way that he has done for us.  What a wonderful journey life can be, even with all its highs and lows.  On this day may you say to yourself, the LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!  It will put a smile on your face as well as those around you. May all who meet you experience your life and joy in him.  Enjoy!