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.

The nature of sin will produce results that are catastrophic to relationships. There has never been a family, a community, a church, a state or a nation that has become refreshed when these sins are the habits of its people.  Therefore the promise of grace was given. God’s grace is offered to remove sin's power and give us a new nature that will be a pleasure to relationships. 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.  Grace is the power of God's love in Jesus the Christ to release us from habits that are hurtful by our own natural nature. You were cleansed, you were made holy, you were made right with God.  Grace produces a new life that has its foundation in God's love, where there will never be any regret or shame.  Today allow the life of his grace to set you free from habits that do not bless you or anyone else. This new nature is now and forever yours because of his grace given to you in Jesus Christ.  Enjoy!

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

Let’s start with a question: Is there a conflict, then, between God’s law and God’s promises?  The answer that is given is: Absolutely not!  What is so amazing about God’s promises is that they give something to us that we cannot ever accomplish by our own efforts. If the law could give us new life, we could be made right with God by obeying it. But new life is given through what God promised his grace would do through Jesus the Christ.  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., God’s grace gives us the freedom to see clearly the difference between our new life and being a prisoner to our sinful life. Today enjoy being refreshed in who you are because of the promises in Jesus Christ.  His grace lets you choose what direction your thoughts and emotions will go. We now know why we sing – “Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me.” Enjoy!

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. 

Romans 3:21, 22 NIV

What a wonderful journey life is!  We usually try so hard to make things right in all of our relationships and yet we find we are powerless to change most things.  Righteousness is an amazing word which comes from the grace of God through Jesus the Christ.  It means to be declared free from any condemnation, guilt or shame because of our sin! Free from our sin’s authority or power over us.  But now a righteousness from God has been made known.  BUT NOW, is there two words that are more revealing than these?  Right is the midst of our sadness, frustrations and failures God has found a way to declare us righteous and give us a new nature through grace that looks like being born again (John 3:3 NIV).  This declaration is the life and power of His Grace in Jesus the Christ!  Martyn Lloyd Jones – “Would you like to know for certain at this moment whether you are a Christian or not?  I suggest that this is one of the best tests.  “But now,” is there something within you that makes you say, thank God!  Is there a “But now” in your experience?”  This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. Today may you live in the life that has been declared righteous by God because of your faith in Jesus Christ!  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 NIV

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 , but think what this kind of grace could do in our marriages and churches. Sometimes 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 ridicule 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 renews our moods, our goals and even what we value.  Listen again to the words and emotions of grace. 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. 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 get to meet you.  Living in that freedom will bring you a sweet refreshment along your journey and flat our inspire your relationships!   Encouragement, thanksgiving and inspiration will just become who you are. 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 wondered what God really thinks or feels about you?  Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved.  That is an eternal definition of God’s thoughts and what he feels about you.  Therefore, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  God's grace sets us free to clothe ourselves with new living 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 a very refreshing desire to that will change all relationships, 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!

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 NIV

There is a life of grace and righteousness given to us when what we believe about Jesus the Christ becomes who we are in the depth of our soul. The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  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 in the midst of it that are renewing and can be relaxing. The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. This is the story of someone who has been in a serious opportunity, but knows God is full of compassion.  When we allow his grace to gain access to 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 express thanksgiving for his grace and compassion 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!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.   

Romans 15:13 NIV

When God’s grace penetrates the heart of a man or woman, something new begins in them which brings refreshment. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.  The words here - hope, joy, peace and overflow are definitions of a life of grace!  Here we see that our God desires for us on our individual journeys, to not just believe in him but to know him in the fabric of all our thinking and emotions. His grace is given so that we may experience that life called eternal, and find ourselves in an optimistic mood, a mood of hope, a mood of joy and a mood of peace.  His gift is given to us with the strength of the Holy Spirit through Jesus the Christ.  When we are living in grace we can find ourselves overflowing with emotions which impacts people in a very good way that live and work around us.  Today, in His grace lay aside anxiety, worry and stress and enjoy trusting in him.  It is an absolute blessing to live a life that can be known as overflowing with hope, joy and peace.  Enjoy!

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 NIV

There is always a feeling of refreshment in our life when we experience joy and describe it as feeling it with all our heart.  This is not meant to be an academic statement; it is something that touches the very fiber of our being. The LORD looks at the heart.  The life of God's grace is that it takes our belief in the Lord from the academic into a relationship that reaches the very soul of who we are, all our thoughts and emotions.  God’s grace impacts our heart like nothing else can (the LORD looks at the heart).  In grace our thoughts along with our emotions are reborn an become alive with the desire to express love, joy and kindness.  Here our marriage, our children and our relationships have the great possibility of being refreshed in ways that cause everyone to rejoice and give thanks to the Lord and for each other.  Today enjoy this life of his grace.  Be willing to allow your heart to be refreshed in his grace and peace.  May he then give to you the desires of your heart as you delight yourself in him (Psalm 37:4).  In this place you will find no regret or sorrow.  Enjoy!

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 NIV

There is a life of grace and righteousness given to us when what we believe about God becomes who we are in the depth of our soul. The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.  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 that are renewing and can be relaxing even in the midst of opportunities! The LORD protects the simple-hearted; when I was in great need, he saved me. This is the story of someone who has been hurt, but knows God is full of compassion.  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 compassion 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!