Grace

October 23rd – 2 Corinthians 12:9

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2 Corinthians 12:9

Have you ever prayed for something with all your heart, only to have God say no? Maybe you prayed for a door to open, a situation to change, or for something you desperately wanted to work out, but it didn’t happen the way you hoped.

It’s hard to understand sometimes, isn’t it? We wonder why God didn’t answer the way we wanted Him to. Especially when our hearts were so invested in the outcome. Paul knew what it was like to ask God for something and not receive the answer he wanted. But God reminded him that His grace was sufficient and His strength was made perfect in weakness.

Sometimes God’s answer is no, not because He doesn’t love us or hear our prayers, but because His purposes are bigger than what we can see. And sometimes, instead of changing our circumstances, He gives us the strength to walk through them.

I’m learning that faith isn’t just trusting God when He says yes. It’s trusting Him when the answer is no, too. We may not understand His reasons today, and we may still feel disappointed. But we can rest in knowing that His love for us never changes. When God says no, His grace is still enough, His strength is still available, and His love is still holding us.

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October 22nd – John 15:15

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John 15:15

Have you ever stopped to really think about what it means to be called a friend by Jesus? The Son of God, the One who created us, loves us so much that He invites us into a relationship with Him. Can you think of anything more wonderful?

Of all the things we could ever be called in this life, I can’t think of a greater privilege than being called a friend of Jesus. He doesn’t just want us to know about Him; He wants us to know Him personally. He invites us to talk with Him in prayer. To share our hearts with Him, lean on Him when life gets hard, and walk with Him through every season.

Our Lord knows our struggles, fears, failures, and our deepest hopes. And still He loves us. The beautiful thing is that Jesus doesn’t wait for us to get everything right before He loves us. His love is faithful, patient, and beyond anything we could ever earn. And while He is our Savior and Lord, He also welcomes us close as a friend.

What an incredible gift! May we never take for granted the privilege of walking through this life with Jesus, knowing we are loved by Him and invited to draw near to Him every single day.

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October 21st – Proverbs 3:3

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Proverbs 3:3

When life feels hard, what want most is to be treated with kindness and understanding. But Proverbs 3:3 reminds me that these are the very things I should be giving to others, too. I need to give grace when someone disappoints me. And choosing kindness when I’m frustrated.

Living in truth means being honest, keeping my word, and letting God’s Word guide the way I live. I’ll be honest, I don’t always get this right. Sometimes my feelings get the best of me, or I find it harder to show mercy  when Ive been hurt.

But I don’t want the way others treat me to determine the kind of person I am. I want God to keep working on my heart. I want Him to help me respond with love instead of frustration, and understanding instead of judgment.

With so much anger and division in our world today, I think we could all use a little more mercy and truth. My prayer is that God continues to shape my heart so that the kindness I show, the words I speak, and the way I treat others reflect Him.

October 21st – Proverbs 3:3 Read More »

October 18th – Ephesians 4:2

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Ephesians 4:2

What does it mean to bear one another in love? It means being willing to give people grace. Even when they test our patience, disappoint us, or have a different opinion. And it means remembering that we all have days when we don’t get things right.

Sometimes loving others means listening instead of judging. Or being patient, and choosing kindness when it would be easier to walk away. That doesn’t mean we always have to agree, nor accept hurtful behavior. But we are to treat others with the same grace and compassion we hope to receive.

Actress Katherine Hepburn once said, “Love isn’t what you expect, it’s what you’re willing to give.” A beautiful reminder that love isn’t just about what others do for us, it’s about what we’re willing to offer them. Jesus showed us that kind of love through His mercy and sacrifice. And with His help, we can learn to love more generously and hold one another up rather than tear one another down.

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October 16th – 1 Corinthians 16:14

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1 Corinthians 16:14

The world around us seems to grow more divided by the day. Where anger is loud and hate is even louder. But as Christians, we have an opportunity to be different. God’s Word reminds us to do everything in love, and that means more than loving those who agree with us or treat us kindly.

Do everything love means being mindful of our words, attitudes, and the way we treat people. Especially when we disagree. We can stand firmly in our faith without being unkind, speak God’s truth without tearing others down, and hold on to our convictions without losing sight of compassion.

It’s easy to respond to anger with anger or to judge someone without knowing what they’re going through. But Jesus calls us to a higher way. He calls us to love our neighbors. To show the grace shown us. And to remember that every person we encounter is someone He loves.

We may not be able to change the hearts of everyone around us, but we can ask God to keep changing ours. So before we speak, react, and before we decide how to treat someone, let’s ask ourselves this. “Am I doing this in love?” May the way we live reflect Jesus so clearly that others see His love at work in our hearts.

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October 13th – Philippians 1:6

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Philippians 1:6

Do you ever feel like it’s one step forward and two steps back? You try to be more patient, more loving, more trusting, and more like Jesus, but then something happens and you find yourself reacting in a way you wish you hadn’t.

The truth is, even as Christians, we all stumble. We have moments when our old habits creep back in. Times when our emotions get the best of us, or we fall short of the person we want to be. But here’s the beautiful thing. God never gives up on us!

He knows we’re still growing, and He isn’t finished with us yet. When we surrender our hearts to Him, His Holy Spirit works within us, changing us from the inside out. Little by little, He softens our hearts, renews our minds, and teaches us to respond with more of the love, grace, and patience of Jesus.

Growth doesn’t always happen as quickly as we’d like, and sometimes we may not even notice how far we’ve come until we look back. But every stumble doesn’t mean we’ve failed, and every difficult day doesn’t erase the work God is doing in us.

The same God who began a good work in you is still working on you today. So give yourself grace, keep turning to Him, and don’t give up just because you’re not where you want to be yet. God is still shaping you, teaching, and still making you more like Jesus, one day at a time.

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October 6th – Isaiah 58:11

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Isaiah 58:11

Have you ever felt like you were running on empty? There are seasons when life leaves us tired, discouraged, and wondering how we’re going to keep going. Sometimes our circumstances feel like a drought, and our hearts become dry from carrying too much for too long.

But thankfully, God doesn’t just give us enough strength to get through one difficult moment and then leave us on our own. He continually guides, sustains, and nourishes us. Because He isn’t a well that eventually runs dry. He’s the never-ending source of living water for our souls.

I love that Scripture compares us to a watered garden. A garden doesn’t stay green because it received water once. It needs to be continually nourished. In the same way, we need God every single day. And just as a garden can still grow through a dry season when its roots are connected to a steady source of water, we can continue to grow even in difficult seasons when our roots are firmly planted in God.

Maybe today you feel strong, or maybe you feel completely worn out. Either way, the invitation is the same. Come to the Source. We don’t have to save up yesterday’s strength for tomorrow. God will meet us with fresh grace and everything we need for the day ahead. He knows when our hearts are thirsty. He knows when we need refreshing. And He promises to be faithful.

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September 24th – 2 Corinthians 12:9

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2 Corinthians 12:9

The world teaches us to hide our weaknesses. And to act like we have everything together. We don’t want anyone to see that we’re struggling or have things we can’t handle on our own. But Paul tells us something completely different. He says, “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses.”

Why would anyone boast about being weak? Because our weakness is where we discover just how strong God really is. For it’s when we’re on our knees realizing we can’t do this on our own, that we’re finally in a position to say, “But God can.”

Maybe you’re in a season where you feel tired, overwhelmed, or broken. Or maybe you’re looking at something in your life and thinking, “I don’t have what it takes.” And you may be right. You might not have what it takes. But God does.

We don’t have to pretend we’re strong when we’re not. We can bring our weakness to Jesus and let His grace meet us there. For His grace is enough for the struggle, for the waiting, for the uncertainty, and for whatever today holds.

So don’t be ashamed of the places where you’re weak. Those may be the very places where God wants His power to shine the brightest. Because our weakness doesn’t make us useless to God. It gives Him room to show His strength through us.

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September 22nd – 1 Peter 1:16-16

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1 Peter 1:15–16

What does it really mean to be holy? Holiness doesn’t mean we’re perfect, never make mistakes, or somehow earn God’s love by being good enough. We could never do that. Holiness means being set apart for God, belonging to Him and allowing Him to shape the way we think, speak, respond, and live.

And notice that Peter says to be holy in all we do. Not just at church, or when people are watching. Holiness reaches into our homes, marriages, friendships, conversations, attitudes, choices, and even the thoughts we keep hidden in our hearts.

Sometimes holiness looks like choosing forgiveness when we’d rather hold onto the hurt. Or keeping our mouths closed when we really want the last word. Sometimes it’s walking away from temptation, admitting when we’re wrong, loving someone who’s difficult to love, or choosing obedience when God’s way isn’t the easiest way.

We’re never going to do this perfectly. But God isn’t asking us to become perfect overnight. He’s transforming us little by little, teaching us to become more like Jesus. To live differently. And not because we’re better than anyone else, but because we belong to God.

September 22nd – 1 Peter 1:16-16 Read More »

September 21st – 1 John 1:9

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1 John 1:9

God’s forgiveness isn’t like ours. Sometimes we say we forgive someone, but deep down we’re still holding onto the hurt. We remember what they did, bring it back up when we’re angry, or keep a little piece of the offense tucked away in our hearts. Sometimes we even refuse to forgive at all. But God doesn’t forgive us that way.

When we come to Him honestly, confess what we’ve done, and ask Him to forgive us, He does. There is no catch. No hidden grudge. No keeping our mistakes over our heads. No wondering if He’s secretly holding our failures against us. He forgives. Completely.

And maybe that’s hard for some of us to understand because human forgiveness can be so different. We may worry that we’ve messed up too badly or that God must be disappointed in us. But His love doesn’t disappear when we fail. Our mistakes don’t make Him love us less.

That’s the beautiful thing about grace. We don’t have to hide from God when we’ve messed up. We can run to Him. So if there’s something you’ve been carrying today, don’t let shame keep you away from Him. Confess it. Give it to Him. Receive His grace. Because when God says He forgives, He means it.

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