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. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. 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, our thinking, attitudes and emotions becomes transformed.  The wisdom from above is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  That means – unadulterated, uncontaminated, clean and wholesome. With that in place there is no condemnation towards yourself or others.  Now that is a new creation in Jesus the Christ.  This is a glimpse into what is called eternal life looks 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 (which is our sins) and consumed in our condemnation, guilt and shame. Righteousness is deliverance from our guilt and from being mastered by 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 a joy that cannot be contained. Enjoy!

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.  He existed before God made anything at all and is supreme over all creation.  

Colossians 1:15 NLT

If a man or a woman would want to know what God is like, they only need to look at Jesus the Christ.  “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 Christ.  In the grace of Christ we have been given eternal life (the joy of knowing the LORD) for our journey with our family, our friends, our neighborhood, our church and those we work with.  We can see that the nature of the gospel is to recreate the character of God in our lives and this is accomplished through his grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8). 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 can change everything that we would ever desire. Today let yourself experience 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!

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 NIV

Think of all the moments and relationships that could have been refreshed if someone was willing to speak with grace, kindness and gentleness.  Think of how many fights, quarrels and divorces that would not have happened if words and actions of grace had been heard and seen.  A gentle answer turns away wrath.  Imagine how many relationships could start to be healed if someone who is acquainted with God’s grace begins to speak and act like it. A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  To many times someone has spoken what they know as truth with all the wrong words, tones and expression.God’s grace is his power in the human soul to live in the freedom of life that is known as love, joy and peace.  Today, choose to live your life in the freedom of his grace! Ask the Lord to penetrate the depth of your soul with the life of His grace.   Everything around you will begin a new journey when you are the image of His grace.  Your day will begin to refresh those who come in contact with you.  There will be no heartache because of your words of gentleness, mercy and grace.  Enjoy!

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 NIV 

When grace has been given, received and penetrated our soul, then faith can be seen as alive and it will have a great impact on all our relationships.  You see that God’s grace changes everything from what we believe about God, to what we want to do for him and to how we respond to those around us. 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.  The Lord is not some kind of religion or a set of standards or a belief system, He is LIFE itself.  This being true means the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was not something to help us, but it was given so that we might know and have life as he is! Allowing his grace to live and express itself in us, gives us a life even with all its opportunities, the privilege of living with joy, kindness, patience and encouragement.  Today let the freedom of His grace live in your emotions and your thoughts.  I will not take for the LORD an offering that costs me nothing. Those you meet will experience life through you as our Lord intended and you will have the joy of experiencing life that is eternal.  Enjoy!

Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.  You care for people and animals alike, O LORD.  How precious is your unfailing love, O GOD!  All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.  Psalm 36:6, 7 NLT

The magnificence of the grace that is given in Jesus the Christ is that it gives us a new nature, a new and refreshing view of life around us. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.  We can see our world, the situations we find ourselves in, in a brand new way.  His grace gives us assurance that he is with us, completely aware of where we are and in that place we find a joy that goes beyond just believing. You care for people and animals alike, O LORD. How precious is your unfailing love O GOD!  Grace gives us the wonderful experience of knowing that we are truly cared for and consumned in His love.  All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings.  Today let the grace of God put away your stress, anxiety and old habits of thinking that are less than a blessing to you or to others.  Enjoy the expressions of grace that are yours in Jesus the Christ and then give them away to everyone you meet.  Your family, work place, church and community will never be the same.  This day can be overwhelmed by His grace and you will be refreshed in how you feel and process what is around you. Enjoy!

Don't fool yourselves.  Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people - none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.  Some of you were once like that.  But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 NLT

There has never been a family, a community, a state or a nation that has become better when these sins (behaviors) are the habits of its people.  The sadness of our time is that our nation not only does these things but now calls them good an acceptable. Don’t fool yourselves.  None of these will inherit the kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that.  But there is a living truth that our Lord has provided in the midst of all this, it is called grace. You were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  Grace is God's love in Jesus Christ to not only release us from habits that are filthy by nature, but to create a new nature that brings righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  (Romans 14:17, 18).  Righteousness is deliverance from the quilt and condemnation of our sin and deliverance from the power it has had over us.  Peace is the living harmony of the Holy Spirit living in us.which gives us a life without regret. Joy is the results of God’s righteousness and peace.  Grace produces habits that have their foundation in God's love and in that place there is no moral rot.  Today let the life of his grace set you free from habits that do not bless you or anyone else.  In his grace you have been cleansed, made holy and made right with God as sons and daughters, so now let you behavior praise him. This life is now and forever yours because of his grace in you.  Enjoy!

May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. Psalm 69:6 NIV

Thinking about ourselves first seems to be what is common to us naturally.  But what is natural to grace is the awareness of others in our emotions, our thinking and our desires that wants to inspire them.  The living gift of grace in Jesus Christ changes what is common to us naturally so that we are now aware of the impact our words, our tones, our expressions and even our desires have on those who are around us. Notice this prayer, May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord. No one is put to shame when attitudes of grace are heard and seen.  Today, rejoice knowing the impact you have on your family, your friends, your co-workers, your church and even those who do not like you because of the power of our Lord’s grace in you. O LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. Your attitude and actions can rekindle hope and bring about a joy that is absolutely renewing.  Ask the Lord to let the life of his grace have its way in you and you will have an awesome day.  Enjoy!

If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.  Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.  Psalm 66:18-20 NLT

Grace is God’s gift to us so that sin no longer has the power to destroy our emotions, our intellect or our relationship with Him.  Unconfessed sin brings about a condemnation concerning ourselves and others. In that condition our desires, our goals and our hopes that would be expressed through prayer are not listened to by our Lord. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.  The beauty of grace in Jesus the Christ is the freedom to confess our sin and to live without sin as the director of our thoughts and emotions.  When we are living in grace we will always find our joy in God and knowing He paid attention to our prayer. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.  Today may his grace bring to you the joy of praise, the joy of thanksgiving and even the joy of delighting in the Lord.  Let his love overwhelm you in how you see yourself and it will naturally flow through you to everyone around you. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.  This is a very good new day; our Lord loves the words, the thoughts and the emotions of your prayer. His grace brings a solid rejoicing relationship with Him. 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 (our values and morals) is what either builds or destroys relationships.  Character is more than just our family name; it is the definition of our life. Even children are known by the way they act.  Wounded emotions can take individuals down roads to adultery, divorce, drunkenness, slander, unforgivness and survival modes of every kind.  Here families are injured and broken, businesses fail, churchs are hurting 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 creates a new nature through the Holy Spirit, it is described as character - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in Galatians 5:22, 23 NLT. Today let yourself experience the life and character of God’s grace given to you through Jesus the Christ.  His character is now yours, right now in the place where you find yourself.  His blessing is now yours, now and forever and you can be the blessing of God to your family, your business, your neighborhood, your church and your community. Get your will involved in His grace and you will have a character that will bring about a very good day. Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure and whether it is right.  Enjoy!

For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ's blood on the cross.  This includes you who were once far away from God.  You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.  Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.  Colossians 1:20-22 NLT

Many times through our life we will hear someone say, "If God is so good why does he let bad things happen?"  Well, bad things happen because that is the nature of sin in which our world exists. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions.  It is while we are in this condition that God poured out his grace for us through the blood of Jesus the Christ on the cross. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body.  Grace brings us to life so that we may have the faith to trust, enjoy and love God and be a blessing to each other. Grace by its nature encourages, trusts and blesses, therefore relationships can be renewed, strengthened and refreshed. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross. Today may you be willing to be renewed in how you feel and think because of the grace of God that has been given to you, it always starts with thanksgiving. Do not let your old habits from your old nature have any place to express themselves through you on this day.  May your very presence bring peace to all who come in contact with you.  For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  Enjoy!

Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.

Proverbs 16:24 NLT

Words, what overwhelming power they have. Think of how many broken relationships have taken place because of words and tones that had nothing to do with kindness.  How many still feel wounded because someone said something that overwhelmed them with grief.  What is so amazing about God’s grace is the new creation it brings to our thinking, which changes our words and tones into blessings. Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.  Would you like your emotions to feel better, then ask God to pour out his grace upon you through Jesus Christ.  You will find a joy coming from you that sounds like - Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.  Today let this grace be expressed through you and you will experience a joy that you had only dreamed of.  The souls of men and women around you are waiting for this blessing.  Enjoy!

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  

2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

When God makes all grace abound something brand new takes place within the soul of our emotions. Abound is to overflow n quantity, and what overflows is grace. In that place we find ourselves refreshed so that we are actually are abounding (being fruitful) in good works. These good works will bring joy and appear as gifts of encouragement, kindness, and the meeting of physical needs.  God's grace allows us the freedom to live this way twenty-four seven, Wow!  Talk about being blessed, how about actually living in a place, no matter where we are found, that grace is given and abounding through us.    Today let yourself always become overwhelmed with his grace so that in all things having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  God's grace just makes a good day and allows you to see with new eyes as well as hear with new ears in the midst of our opportunities. Feel free to have tones in your voice and expressions from your face that cause others to desire the grace that abounds you! Enjoy!

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  

Colossians 3:12,13 NIV

Have you ever thought about what the LORD really thinks or feels about you?  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.  That is an eternal definition of His thoughts and what he feels about you, holy and dearly loved! Therefore there is granted to us an action to take, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  His grace lets us clothe ourselves with a new nature which are here called clothes, which impact our thoughts, our desires, our hopes and of all things our emotions. In fact, these clothes will bless everyone around us and bring to us a desire to Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  What is wonderful about these clothes is that they are a gift from the Lord and they are wrapped in grace.  Today enjoy what the Lord has provided for you to wear through his grace – compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.  These are wonderful emotions that will clothe your heart and you will find that what he has given you to wear is a perfect fit.  Joy and praise will come very naturally to you and these clothes never get old or wear out.  Enjoy!

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  

Psalm 63:1, 3 NIV

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you. There may be moments in our life when we can be in a great throng of people and yet feel drained and alone.  It is as if we are in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  There in that place we discover emotions that never give any life, they only seem to exhaust whatever we thought we had.  We name them as hopelessness, despair, sadness and depression.  But right in that moment our God offers his grace which is water for our soul.  It is his love that quenches all our thirsts and brings hope, joy, refreshment and an abundance of kindness. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. That is why his grace is called amazing and overwhelming.  This would be a great way to start a new day!  So allow yourself to desire the life of his love and grace.  Let your lips glorify Him and you will experience thanksgiving and rejoicing in the depth of your soul.  THERE IS NO ONE LIKE THE LORD!!! Enjoy!

Repent, all of you who forget me, or I will tear you apart, and no one will help you.  But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.  If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.  Psalm 50:22, 23 NLT

Our sin absolutely has no desire for God or his will; it lives only for self, there is no thanksgiving within it.  If left to itself, it will tear apart the individual, the family, the church, the community and a nation.  Yet, in this place God’s grace can be found. Repent, all of you who forget me… Here in his grace an invitation is given without limit or condemnation. What does this repentance look like? But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me.  His grace makes us new which changes everything, giving a life that is actually thankful to the Lord and esteems others as more important than ourselves.  Living in the grace of Jesus the Christ renews us, our family, our church, our community and even our nation.  It is a life, a salvation of no regret. Today may you actually desire to give thanks to our Lord as you consider your ways.  Let yourself find many varied ways in giving thanks for the life you have. There is no remorse, no brokenness or tearing apart in the grace of our Lord. Remember what he promises, I will reveal to You the salvation of God.

WOW! Enjoy!

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:1,2 NIV

Have you ever wondered what God really thinks or feels about you?  As dearly loved children, live a life of love, just as Christ loved us.  That is an eternal definition of God’s thoughts and what he feels about you.  Therefore, the blessing is given - Be imitators of God.  God's grace gives us this blessing and lets us clothe ourselves with tender hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12 NLT. We then become the images of God through his grace and with these new clothes, our thoughts, our desires, our hopes and of all things our emotions will be a fragrant offering and blessing to us and everyone around us. In fact, being imitators of God will bless us with a graceful kindness that will be defined as making allowance for each other's faults and forgiving anyone who offends us. Colossians 3:13 NLT. WOW!!! What is wonderful about being an imitator of God, being clothed in grace is that we become living expressions of the nature of God.  Today enjoy what the Lord has provided for you to be and wear through his grace – tender hearted mercy, kindness, humility gentleness and patience.  These are wonderful emotions that will clothe your heart and you will find that what he has given you to be, and wear is a perfect fit. 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

God’s grace in Jesus Christ really changes things.  You are the light of the world – like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  Wow, now that is a change.  In Jesus the Christ a new life is given to us which produces wonderful results. 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, churches and communities. Today may you find that what you are “letting” is like a light shining on a hilltop, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father. Enjoy!