Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises? Absolutely not! If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:21, 22 NLT

What is so amazing about God’s grace is that it gives something to us that we cannot ever accomplish by ourselves. It is called freedom or known as a new life. This new life is given through what God promised his love would do through Jesus the Christ. Sin can never love; it only lusts because it is always self-seeking. Now here is the kicker, the freedom of God’s grace lets us choose how we will respond to our opportunities. We can now see clearly the difference between new life and being a prisoner. Bless those who curse you or curse those who curse you. Which one lives in freedom or new life? Today let your heart relax and be refreshed in who you are because of Jesus Christ. His grace lets you choose what direction your thoughts and emotions will go. One will give you a sweet relief and one will strap you to the ground. We now know why we sing – “Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.” Enjoy!

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. Psalm 92:12-15

What an interesting journey life is. We can hardly wait to grow up and become an adult. But along that journey we seem to have some less than stellar feelings about what we look like and who we are. It is in this condition that grace can renew, refresh and give great freedom. For in the freedom of grace we find a joy and strength that comes from the very life of God, it is called eternal. No matter what our age is, grace can and does make our life new every morning with the joy of thanksgiving. Today may you enjoy the promise of grace in your life. You are the expressions, the voice and the attitude of God's love to everyone around you. What you say and do in the grace of our Lord can bring a beautiful delight to everyone you meet and at the same time let you feel brand new.

The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7

One of the beautiful things along our journey through life is when we feel something and we describe it as feeling it with all our heart. This is not an academic statement, it is something that touches the very fiber of our being. The beauty of God's grace is that it takes our belief in the Lord from the academic into a relationship with him that touches the very soul of who we are. Grace impacts our heart like nothing else can and in this place our desires and emotions become free to express love, kindness and encouragement without the feeling of embarrassment. Here our marriage, our children and our relationships are refreshed in ways that cause us to praise and give thanks to the Lord. On this new day that has been given to you as a gift from the Lord, may you enjoy this freedom of his grace. May your heart be refreshed and encouraged along this new journey and may he then give to you the desires of your heart as you delight yourself in him. In this place there is no regret or sorrow.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

There is not a religion in the world that gives any soul rest; in fact all of them pile on burdens. Their picture of God is harsh at best and always willing to find fault with you. But the grace of God found in and through Jesus Christ has nothing to do with religion. His grace has no stress, no weariness and no condemnation of any kind. Grace heals brokenness, anxiety and feeling of judgment of ourselves and others. The grace of Jesus the Christ is always open for our life every moment of every day. Today may you experience the full pleasure of his grace for you. Wherever you may be, may his grace embrace you so that you may know emotions and thoughts of gentleness, rest and blessing. His life, his goodness and his joy are now yours because of his grace.

But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.” 1 Chronicles 21:24

One of the beauties of having a living faith is the impact it has on all our relationships. You see that God’s grace changes everything from what we believe about God to how we respond to those around us. The Lord is not a religion, a set of standards, a belief system or someone to help us along our way. He is life itself and in him there is no condemnation of any kind. This being true means the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was not something to help us, but it was given so that we might have life as he is. Allowing his grace to live and express itself in us, gives us a life with all its opportunities, the privilege of living with joy, kindness, patience and encouragement instead of stress, tension, anger and judgment. Today let his graces live in the freedom of your emotions and thoughts. Those you meet will experience life through you as our Lord intended and you will have the sweet relief of experiencing his blessing and life. Enjoy!

But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Ruth 1:16

Sometimes along the journey of life we forget what the impact of relationships has on our life. Maybe it is because of all the noise of the world or all the busyness or maybe just our desire to feel important. We even take our faith in the Lord and turn it into some form of religion or standards by which we judge ourselves and others. Well, God’s grace is relational and has no judgment or condemnation with it. His love in and through Jesus Christ is meant to give us new relationships with him and those around us. Grace refreshes our moods, our goals and even what we value. Today allow yourself the freedom of his grace to assure you that he will never leave you no matter where you may find yourself. His life is now your life and your life will be a breath of fresh air to those who meet you. Living in that freedom will bring you a sweet refreshment along your journey and flat out inspire those around you. Encouragement, thanksgiving and inspiration will just become who you are.

The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. Psalm 116:5,6

There is a true relaxing joy 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 Christ brings the blessings of real emotions and thoughts that are renewing and relaxing. When we allow the freedom of his grace to touch our emotions and thoughts 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 and mouth express praise and 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 blow your hair back. Enjoy!

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. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:18,19 NLT

What a beautiful short summary of the grace of God that is given to us in Jesus the Christ. Grace (God's love expressed and given without condemnation) is given so that we may finally live free from condemning attitudes about ourselves, others and even God himself. Free from addictions such as bad attitudes, food, drink and even drugs, because of his great love. On this new day, that will never come again, may you enjoy understanding and experiencing the great magnitude of his love for you. Praise from your mouth will flow like a river and you will experience joy that is unspeakable.

He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. Proverbs 15:31

Our natural nature does not like being told what to do and if left to its own, has a difficult time listening to correction which feels like criticism. Grace gives us a different ability to hear, see and understand. When living overwhelmed by grace we do not hear a rebuke as criticism, but as a good voice to help and encourage us along our journey. This being true, we actually feel refreshed, encouraged, loved and valued. On this new day, may you enjoy your journey of God's grace and the freedom it brings. May you have the freedom to receive impute from others which allows you to walk and live among the wise. Your home, work, and community will never be the same.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many grief’s. 1 Timothy 6:10

  The scriptures say here that money is not the problem; it is the love of money. The root of the love of money brings anxiety; the root of the love of money brings all forms of lust; the root of the love of money brings worry and is the ruin of many a family. It is here where the grace of God in Jesus the Christ can refresh us into a new creation. For all the wealth that is in the world, through all the generations of man, money always stays and we leave. The ability to earn money is meant to bring glory to God, delight to us and a blessing to others. It is designed so that we may become our Lord's cashiers, having the joy of seeing what his plan may be and saying I can fulfill that need. On this new day may you be overwhelmed by his grace concerning your money. Give thanks continually, encourage everyone around you always and find ways to bless what our Lord is doing through what he has put into your hands. Enjoy!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. Romans 8:28,29

Have you ever been at a place in your life where things are just not working? Have you ever had a season of life that you wished was over? I have and the Word of God that is before us is a refreshing reminder of who we are in Jesus the Christ. It renews the soul. Sometimes we just forget who we are in Jesus the Christ and when we do, we settle back into habits and thoughts that are less than stellar. Grace does not just save us; it gives faith life to live through the details of our journey in the power of God's Word. Several years before his death, Karl Barth - a Swiss theologian - came to the United States for a series of lectures. After a very impressive lecture, a student asked a typically American question. He said, “Dr. Barth, what is the greatest thought that ever passed through your mind?” The aging professor paused for a long time as he obviously thought about his answer. Then he said with great simplicity:Jesus loves me! This I know. For the Bible tells me so.” On this new day may you celebrate the beauty of his grace in you because of Jesus the Christ. May you know and live in the assurance that Jesus loves you and his purpose for you is given as a blessing. May you experience the reality of his love with praise and thanksgiving in and through your life. Enjoy!  

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6

How much we miss in our journey of life because our eyes are held down by discouragement, doubt, boredom or just plain unbelief. Faith is sure, hopeful and certain as to what God has said and promised. Grace that is in Jesus the Christ is renewing in our emotions and thinking so that our faith is confident that our Lord is in the details of our life. On this new day that has never been before nor will come again, may you find joy in seeking him, instead of seeking what he can do. There is no one like the Lord and his presence changes everything. Relax, enjoy and praise him on this new day for he has a plan and a future for you that will blow your hair back.