You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  But God demonstrates his own love for us in this:  While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Romans 5:6, 8 NIV

If men and women want to know what in the world does God’s grace do or what does it look like, these verses are a great definition of it. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this.  God recognizes that we were powerless, ungodly and sinners. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  In that condition God demonstrates his own love for us, he gives us his grace through Jesus the Christ.  Grace has to do with his love which is given to us without any condemnation concerning our circumstances so that we can be made new in our life.  If you have ever wished that you could start over, you can in the grace that is given in Jesus Christ.  Today trust in God’s grace for you. Christ died for the ungodly, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Come just as you are and experience the grace of his love for you.  Let your heart express thankfulness for his love for you.  This might just be the beginning of a brand new life to live.  Enjoy!

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Romans 1:21, 22 NIV

This verse is the results of a sinful life that says it knows God, but does not live like it knows God.  For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.  It is one thing to know that there is a God or to believe in God. A belief in God that produces no love for God is a futile, useless belief.  But their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  God’s grace is His love given as a gift, so that we are delivered from our own guilt and the power of our own sins addictions. Grace is meant to change how we view God and bring about a new creation in us which changes how we feel and think about ourselves. Grace lets us know God in a way that renews our desires and then produces emotions of thanksgiving.  The man or woman that lives thankful in grace, automatically gives glory to God. So today may you know who you are by your own actions.  Choose to allow yourself to delight in finding ways to be thankful.  Let God's grace express through your attitude the life of a thankful heart.  In this place you will always be known as an encourager and a blessing.  Some of the most difficult situations are changed with a heart of thanksgiving.  Enjoy!

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.  Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:16, 17 NLT

When we were young we began to learn the importance of who we are and what we are called.  Our name and the name of our family became important.  A good question to ask is - "When someone uses your name, what comes to their mind?" In grace there is a freedom, a richness and a joy in who you are because of the Lord Jesus the Christ. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.  In fact grace creates new emotions which sound like – sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Today enjoy the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.  Think of who you are now because of the grace of our Lord.  Whatever you do or say can give refreshment to those around you. Today is a good day for people to know your name.  Enjoy!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Colossians 3:15 NIV

Life itself is just an amazing journey, when you think we all start off in the same place, as infants. No matter what nationality or language, for most of us we start off being cared for, which gives meaning to our relationships.  But we all discover that many of our relationships become tense, so we continue to change relationships, which all affect our attitudes and emotions. So in the beauty of God's grace we have to learn something, it is called “Let.”  For this to happen we have to desire the will of God. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.  This can start us off again in a new place where we can learn joy in the midst of our life. Since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  It is here where relationships can be healed with the joy of peace. Today let in the peace that our Lord has for you.    Allow your will to be refreshed in his peace and you will have expressions, emotions and words that bring encouragement to others as well as thankfulness to you.  Enjoy!

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.  I will sing your praises among the nations.  For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.  Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Psalm 57:9, 10 NIV

If we are willing to start our morning being thankful, we will find our afternoons filled with praise. I will thank you, Lord, among all people. I will sing your praises among the nations. It is refreshing to be aware of God's grace and find our life being thankful at the beginning of each new day.  Why are we willing?  For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  Today before everything else starts to get your attention, open your mouth and let your heart express your thankfulness and praise to the one who is always faithful to you, then watch what happens. (Psalm 37:4) Enjoy!

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  I John 3:1 NIV

Talk about grace, God has lavished his love on us so that we may know, not guess or wish for, but know that we are children of God.  This is not a theoretical concept but a very real life that comes from his love. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us.  He is a Father who loves, who brings joy and who gives life that is called eternal. It is full of righteousness, peace and joy. We see all this through his grace on the cross of Jesus the Christ.  Today celebrate your life as a man or woman of God because of Jesus Christ.  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, so let his peace, let his joy, let his kindness and let his encouragement have its way in your thinking, actions and emotions.  Praise his name in everything you do and allow yourself to be lavished in his love. Your day could be renewing in all the right ways.  Enjoy!

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  Matthew 27:50, 51 NIV

Just a week ago we as a nation celebrated Easter, which is the resurrection of Jesus the Christ.  The death of Jesus Christ was not a religious moment, it was God’s grace coming into contact with humanity. And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. The curtain in the temple separated people from the presence of God because of their sins and only the high priest could go behind the curtain once a year for the atonement for the sins of the people.  The tearing of the curtain, from the top to the bottom was the action of God’s grace. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This declared that our sins have been atoned for and now because of his grace nothing can separate us from the love and presence of God.  Yet some who have experienced grace for salvation let their sins keep them from living life by the grace of God that tore the curtain.  Today because of the grace of God in Jesus the Christ let yourself be willing to live in the joy of his presence and love.  No matter where you have been, nothing can separate you from the life, the love, the kindness and the presence of God because of the grace found in Jesus Christ.  This is a good day to choose to celebrate God’s grace in your life.  In his presence all things live and become new.  Enjoy!

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord... who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:8, 9 NIV

When God's grace comes to us there is a result of a holy life. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord… not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.  To be holy we must begin with Jesus the Christ.  He is the root and beginning of all holiness. The way to be holy is to come to him by grace through faith and be joined to him.  He not only washes away our sin by his own blood, but he also delivers us from the power of our own sin. The result - he puts a new love in our heart (holiness) and that makes us practically a man or woman of God.  Today, enjoy being relaxed in the grace of God's love for you.  Actually living in his grace will bring refreshment to your life which will be a blessing for others who live and work around you.  Your very breath today can bring praise to God. Enjoy!

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  Romans 5:3-5 NLT

The only way we can rejoice, when we run into problems and trials is because of God’s grace given through Jesus Christ. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. It does seem that most everything that will bring some long lasting satisfaction to our life requires endurance of some kind.  Endurance seems to go hand in hand with at least some form of pain, it may be emotional, mental or physical.  Think of the effort of fine tuning of our physical body, or the challenge of education for the right career and even a good marriage requires the working of a love that at times feels like pain.  When God’s grace is allowed to give direction in our thinking and emotions our experiences through problems produce an attitude that will be a blessing to us as well as those around us.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. Today trust his Word so that you will not have that horrible feeling of disappointment and overall depression.  Grace will let you not only believe but experience his love for you on this brand new day.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  His love is refreshing in some of the most unbelievable circumstances.  Take a good deep breath of his grace and then verbalize your thanksgiving and praise.  You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!