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

When grace has been given and received, then faith becomes 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 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.  The Lord is not a religion, 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.  All of which impact our relationships with goodness. Today let the freedom of His grace live in 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 grace.  Enjoy!

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home.  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet.  But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.  She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work?  Tell her to come and help me.  But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!  There is only one thing worth being concerned about.  Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her."  Luke 10:38-42 NLT

Have you ever been described as easily distracted, easily worried and easily upset? Well, God’s grace in Jesus Christ can change all of that. Grace will let you discover a love that expresses itself in delighting in the Lord, it is known as worship.  Worship is that one thing that is needed to be discovered for a good and healthy attitude.  Without grace we experience the emotions of stress in all its forms. You are worried and upset over all these details!  Worshiping the Lord puts all the details of life in proper perspective.  Today let his grace live through you and let it be expressed through your attitudes, thoughts and your actions.  In a life of grace there is no grouchiness or stress.  Here you will experience his joy in all the minutiae of your life and again that is called grace.  Enjoy!

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many.  But even greater is God's wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17 NLT

There is a living gift called grace given to us through Jesus the Christ.  It is not just some kind of forgiveness, But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness.  Righteousness will always bring a great contrast between what once we were and what now by the grace of God we are. For all who receive it will live in triumph over sin.  God's righteousness is a life delivered from the guilt and the mastery of our own sin.  It is a life with new emotions, new attitudes of encouragement and new actions that bless for all who receive it.  Today may everything in your life bring praise and thanksgiving for God’s wonderful grace.  Let yourself rejoice in this life in Jesus Christ that is eternal and as you delight in him may you experience triumph over your own sin.  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 refreshing view of life around us. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.  We can see our world and the situations we find ourselves in, in a beautiful 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.  Grace gives us the wonderful experience of knowing that we are truly loved.  How precious is your unfailing love, O GOD!  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

These actions described here are the results of the sinfulness of our natural nature.  There has never been a family, a community, a state or a nation that has become better when these sins 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. 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  (Romans 14:17,18). Grace can produce habits that have their foundation in God's love and in that place there is no moral rot.  Today allow the life of his grace to set you free from habits that do not bless you or anyone else.  In his grace you have been made right as sons and daughters, so now let you behavior praise him. This freedom is now and forever yours because of his grace in you.  Enjoy!

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, guilt and condemnation. 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. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Grace heals brokenness, anxiety and feelings of judgment of ourselves and others.  The grace of Jesus the Christ is always open for our life every moment of every day, you will find rest for your souls.  Today may you experience the full pleasure of his grace for you.  Wherever you may be, allow his grace to embrace you so that you may know emotions, thoughts of gentleness, rest and blessing.  His life, his goodness and his joy are now yours because of his grace forever.  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

Thinking about ourselves first seems to be what is common to us naturally.  But what is natural to grace is a freedom in our emotions, our thinking and our desires that wants to inspire others.  The relaxing gift of grace changes what is common to us naturally so that we are now aware of the impact our words, out tones, our expressions and even our desires have on those who are around us.  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 and even those who do not like you because of the power of our Lord’s grace in you.  Your attitude and actions can rekindle hope and bring about a joy that is absolutely renewing.  Let the life of his grace have its way in you and you will have an awesome day.  Enjoy!

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!