Grace.  Where would any of us be without Grace?  Without God's Grace.

 

I can not begin to imagine what my life would look like,  had it not been for the Grace of God. 

His Grace sets me free from condemnation.

His Grace set me free from my sinful life.

His Grace gives me strength, hope and promise for a better life.

Grace.  Where would I be without Grace?

Heart Words

 

 

Do you ever feel like this?  I do.  Real often, I feel like this.  Why?  Because of overwhelming love.

You see, I am so in love with my Lord and Savior that I find it difficult to find the proper words to tell him, much less, describe that love.  That is why I am so thankful that He can see, hear, listen and read my heart.

I can almost feel and taste the words but my tongue and vocal cords can not form or put sound to those words.

But God knows my heart, Jesus knows my heart, the Holy Spirit living within me knows my heart. 

To often all I can say is a simple, "I love you Jesus" or a simple "I love you God".  These words I say while my heart is bursting at the seams with genuine Agape Love.

One day I shall stand before my sweet Lord, and He will teach me the words to describe my love for Him.  Until that day I will go on saying the simple "I love You" words because I know He can hear the other words through my heart.

No Quick Fixes - Unglued Bible Study

I am doing a Bible Study on the book Unglued, written by Lysa TerKeurst.  Lysa is President of Proverbs 31 Ministry.  This is one godly, energetic, enthusiastic, encouraging woman who does not mind taking her mistakes in life and sharing them with millions of woman in an effort to help them not make the same mistakes.  For the readers who have lived the life of a sometimes Unglued mother, wife and friend, she want to help them be over comers. 

When I read a book by Lysa, I can visually imagine she and God walking hand in hand as he tries to console her.  This is just after she has had one of her Unglued, word spewing hissy fits with whoever has pushed her too far. 

Lysa is so straightly led by the Lord in her life and in her books.  This woman talks to God, she hears God speaking to her through His Spirit and then she acts on his leading. 

She shares her ups and downs on becoming unglued, boldly sharing as she leaves herself exposed for others to read about.  All of this she does with one goal in mind, to save others from the pain and regret that comes from becoming Unglued.

There is currently around 15,000 women in this Bible Study that is taught by Melissa Taylor, who is the Online Bible Studies Leader, another amazing, godly, energetic, enthusiastic and encouraging woman.  When you watch her videos, you can feel her excitement about leading others in these studies.

While you are at it, check out the Proverbs 31 Ministry website.  I have added the link below.  There are many godly women working for this Ministry located in Charlotte, NC.

This book will have you wondering just when Lysa was in your house, watching you, hearing you become unglued.  Because friend I do promise you that you will see yourself in almost every episode that she talks about in these first couple of chapters that we are studying this week.

There is so many wonderful quotes from Lysa in her book.  Everything is backed up with scripture that she teaches us.  Some of my favorite quotes in the first chapter is:

Progress. Nothing More. Nothing Less. No Quick Fixes.
 

“Imperfect changes are slow steps of progress wrapped in grace…imperfect progress.”
 

 “God gave me emotions so I could experience life, not destroy it.”

“We can’t always fix our circumstances, but we can fix our thoughts on God.”

“I can face things that are out of my control and not act out of control.”

Quotes by LysaTerKeurst

 

I love this because anytime we go from Pit Black angry to Snow White calm, there is lots of gray shades to travel through from the black to white, it takes progress, lots of Imperfect Progress.  But as long as we are making progress, we will get there, we will learn to stop speaking, before we start spewing. 

God's love and light shines outward from these 2 ladies.  They take their wisdom and share with you and me in these Bible Studies. 

All you need is a computer and a book.  Hey, if you have a computer it is easy to find the book.  Checkout Proverbs 31 Minister as they have the book available.  As does Amazon and I have not check but even WallyWorld might have them.  And of course, all of the local Christian stores most likely have them on the shelf.  After all, it has been on the Wall Street Journal Best Book #1 slot for weeks.

It's all about learning, having fun, fellowship and worship.  God is Good.  Join us.

http://melissataylor.org/  (look for sign up info on the right hand sidebar)

http://lysaterkeurst.com/  (The amazing author of Unglued)

http://www.proverbs31.org/

Geez, how many times can you say amazing in one blog post???

Thanking God

Giving God Praise and Thanksgiving

I have taken up the challenge of writing down things that I am thankful for during each day.  I first read about this challenge on a journal blog entitled Holy Experiencee written by Ann Voskamp. 

Ann Voskamp wrote the book titled One Thousand Gifts.  I recently purchased the e-book and have been so blessed with each page.  Ann Voskamp has a very unique writing technique and I am a big fan. 

I would encourage anyone that hasn't read or doesn't own the book, rent it, buy it or borrow it.  Just read this book for a wonderful blessing.





Words Like Flames

Good advice but all too often we fail to follow our own advice.  How quickly a simple litte difference of thoughts and opinions can become sharp and ugly words spewing off the tongue, past the teeth and burning the lips as they are hurled at someone.

ZAP! that fire covered word slaps the person you love smack in the face.  You see the pain that the flamed word causes and at first, your face smirks with pleasure.  But all too soon that smirk turns into pain that is mirrored off the face of that person you love. 

What Happened???  How did it go this far?? After all, it was only a little difference in opinion just a few minutes ago and now two people are covered in pain.  No one, especially her, likes to admit that she have made a mistake.  As well, no one else, especially the one that she loves, is willing to admit that he made a mistake.  So...the pain goes on....

No one want to speaks first, but just a few minutes ago, TOO much speaking was going on.  The silence goes on, the pain goes on. 

Both are wrong, but neither will admit it.....PRIDE has reared it's ugly head.  Satan is happy that his main weapon of choice has found it's target.  The silence goes on, the pain goes on. 

Godly esteem vs. Self-esteem, Excerpt from “Refreshment in Refuge”

Godly esteem vs. Self-esteem, Excerpt from “Refreshment in Refuge”

Poem by Julius Sturm

Pain's furnace heat within me quivers, God's breath upon the flame doth blow; And all my heart in anguish shivers And trembles at the fiery glow; And yet I whisper, "As God will!" And in the hottest fire hold still.

 He comes and lays my heart, all heated, On the hard anvil, minded so Into His own fair shape to beat it With His great hammer, blow on blow; And yet I whisper, "As God will!" And at His heaviest blows hold still.

 He takes my softened heart and beats it; The sparks fly off at every blow; He turns it o'er and o'er and heats it, And lets it cool, and makes it glow; And yet I whisper, "As God will!" And in His mighty hand hold still.

 Why should I murmur? for the sorrow Thus only longer-lived would be; The end may come, and will tomorrow, When God has done His work in me; So I say trusting, "As God will!" And, trusting to the end, hold still. --Julius Sturm