For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16, 17 NLT

We are born with a nature that always has a tendency for low self-esteem, peer pressure which is condemnation of all kinds, easily irritated and the inability to forgive well. The problem is that for many of us, we also feel that God looks at us the same way we feel about ourselves and how we view others. But the grace of God is completely different. This love given without condemnation or judgment gives us the freedom to no longer be mastered by our old nature and changes our view of God, ourselves and others, it is called eternal life. It is a freedom that is known and experienced because of the grace found in Christ. On this new day that has been given to you as a gift of God, may you relax and rejoice in who you are because of Jesus the Christ. His grace will refresh your thinking, your emotions and your view of others. It is absolutely OK to rejoice, give thanks and not get irritated.

Everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:23

This statement in the Word of God is not one of condemnation, anxiety or stress. In reality, it is bathed in grace so that we may discover the life that has been given in and through Jesus the Christ. So what is faith? Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. It is not a system, belief or otherwise. It is the gift of God through his grace and it is living. Faith therefore can see and hear. I like to think of it this way, that grace is the river and faith is the channel along which the beauty of grace flows down to refresh and renew our souls. Being free from all kinds of condemnation, having thoughts and emotions that are relaxed and experiencing joy and gladness flow from the river of grace through faith into and through our lives. On this new day may you experience the life called faith by the grace of our Lord. May your fears, your anxieties and your regrets find no place to express themselves in the beauty of who you are because of the grace and faith of Christ.

If you, O LORD, kept a record of sins, O LORD, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness. Psalm 130:3,4

Sometimes along the journey through our life events take place that affect us in ways that overwhelm our emotions in all the wrong ways. They can be things we have done to others, things others have done to us, or just great disappointments in relationships we thought would be outstanding. In this place, for some reason we seem to have a difficult time with forgiving well. It is actually in this place that grace takes its stand. Grace in and through Jesus the Christ removes the heaviness from our broken relationships by giving to us the love of God without any condemnation to us or about us. In this place there is a freedom that refreshes our emotions, our thinking and our attitude. On this new day may you enjoy this freedom of forgiveness that is yours through the grace found in Christ. May all who come in contact with you feel and sense the freedom to stand and know your joy of them. God fully intended that his grace would overwhelm you in all the right ways and joy, kindness, hope and encouragement would become who you are.

Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:30, 31

From the time we are born we all are on a journey to find what it means to be loved and have value. For most of us, we try all kinds of things, such as money, physical relationships, education, careers, marriage and all kinds of entertainment. During this journey, for many the mention of the name, Jesus the Christ brings thoughts of religion of some kind or maybe a belief system or even standards by which I might judge myself as to my worth to God. None of which, by the way have any value for the fulfillment of life. What God planned was not a belief system of some kind, but by believing that Jesus is the Christ given by and through his love, we might have life the way our Lord intended it to be. To know the depth of being loved because of who we are, not because of what we have done. On this new day may you rejoice in the life that is now yours without feelings of condemnation, embarrassment, guilt or shame. This new day is yours as his gift so that you may delight in who you are because of Jesus the Christ.

Praise the LORD, O my soul and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion. Psalm 103:2-4

Sometimes during all the hurriedness and noise of life we forget the beauty of all the benefits that have been given to us. When that happens thanksgiving usually leaves the room and in comes a less than stellar attitude to replace it. Think of the rejoicing we can have over the ability to see, to hear, to feel and how about those taste buds? How about this beautiful benefit of grace – all our sins are forgiven. Living with a heart and attitude of thanksgiving could refresh all our relationships and change the course of our home, our community and our nation. On this new day rejoice, delight and praise our Lord for all that you are, all that you have and all that has been forgiven. Then feel free to do to others what he has done for you.

Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes. Romans 10:4

From the time we are born and along our entire journey we learn how to judge and evaluate ourselves and others. It may begin as peer pressure and we seem to learn to sense our value by what we have and who our friends are. These standards impact our emotions as to how we feel about ourselves, others and the situations we are looking at. This impacts all our relationships from God, marriage, family, the work place and the church. In this place we find condemnation, frustration and at times such fatigue that we divorce from the place we find ourselves to find something new. Grace that is in Jesus the Christ brings a totally new perspective of who we are and when enjoyed, allows a freedom in our emotions and attitudes about ourselves, others and even our Lord, that it causes thanksgiving, kindness and encouragement in the place we find ourselves. Grace gives a righteousness that cleanses our attitudes in such a way that we experience the beauty of the life of God’s grace in the details of our lives. On this new day that has never been before, nor will come again may you enjoy the encouragement of grace in your emotions and attitudes. This will bless you and overwhelm those around you with refreshment and joy. Be willing to go and celebrate this new day of grace in your life. Your smile will be habit forming right down to the depth of your soul.

I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don't just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 10:33 NLT

One of the great freedoms that is given by the grace of God in and through Jesus the Christ is the desire and joy to say things, do things and give things that will bless someone else’s life. Salvation's goal is not to take us to heaven; it is to give us the blessing of a new nature, the nature of Jesus the Christ. His nature loves well, forgives freely, rejoices easily and is a blessing to family and friends. Grace enjoys expressing itself with goodness and thanksgiving so that people in our lives are refreshed along their journey. On this new day may you experience his grace that will allow you to be the balm that begins to heal others wounds. May your words, your attitudes, your expressions and your goals enjoy the freedom of asking for forgiveness so that those around you are well. May you be known as someone who delights abundantly in the grace of God.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24

Along our journey of life we will have times that we wish were not. Sometimes it is because of attitudes and actions we have taken and other times it is just the results of our world that is in sin and therefore is dying. In both cases the words of grace have a great impact on the attitudes and emotions of people. If our attitudes or actions have been less than stellar, grace allows us the joy and freedom of asking for forgiveness for the goodness of those around us. Grace brings healing to relationships with pleasant words, tones and attitudes. Everyone needs a smile and encouragement as to who they are along their journey and grace gives the freedom to make it happen with joy. On this new day may you enjoy where you find yourself and allow the grace of our Lord to overwhelm you with pleasant thoughts, words and actions. Your day will be refreshed and so will those around you. Your relationships with God and man will be headed in the right direction and you will have the freedom to rejoice and be glad.

Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Colossians 3:9-11

Christianity was never meant to be some kind of belief system or religion by which we judge ourselves and others. For these things shackle a person to emotions and thoughts that always bring about condemnation of some kind. Think of this for a moment. As solid as the mountains look, as boundless as the sea appears, as high as the stars in heaven look, there was once a time in which they did not exist. Yet the gospel of John says it so clear – Through him (Jesus) all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. John 1:3. Christ is all – these three words are the essence and substance of Christianity. Salvation is an offer from the love of God; it is a free gift, not a demand. On this new day may you enjoy and experience the blessing of God’s free gift, Jesus the Christ. In him all emotions, thoughts, actions and attitudes are renewed by his amazing grace. It is now yours to enjoy and give away. Blessings!

Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4

The nature we are born with gives us the ability to be intolerant, impatient and at times less than kind towards those around us, even those of our own family. With this comes condemnation about ourselves, others and even God. The beauty of being overwhelmed by his grace is that we have the freedom to live without this condemnation, which changes all the relationships around us, especially our view of God. Repentance does not come from a feeling of condemnation, it comes as an act of worship because of his grace (his love and kindness expressed and given without condemnation through Jesus the Christ). For repentance is a change in our emotions, thinking and activities along our daily journey. This change gives glory to God, renewal to us and refreshment to others. On this new day, may you enjoy the freedom of his kindness that gives you a brand new day in your emotions, thinking and activities. May his grace overwhelm you along your journey and may you know that freedom of expression called grace. You and everyone around you will like this day. Thanksgiving and praise will become just who you are.