He works in His perfect way

In the midst of learning and re-defining what grace is to me, I have also been learning how sovereign God is over everything... yes, I say everything! 

We see all over the Bible how God advances Himself and His glory, His name and His fame over and over again when it looks LEAST possible for us. Don't believe me? See for yourself.

1. He promises the heir when Abraham and Sarah are too old to have children.

2. He splits the Red Sea when Israel is hopelessly trapped by Pharaoh's army.

3. He gives manna when there is no food in the wilderness.

4. He stops the Jordan River when it's time to take the land.

5. When a city stands in the way, He makes the walls fall down.

6. When the Midianites were as many as the sand of the sea, God whittled Gideon's army down to 300 so God would get the glory for the victory.

7. When Goliath defies the armies of the Lord, God sends a boy with a sling and five stones.

8. When the Son of God is to come into the world, God calls a virgin to conceive.

9. And when the mighty devil himself is to be defeated, a Lamb goes to the slaughter.

And those are only a few of the examples...

God is God. We are not.

"Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

Luke 18:27

The Quarter

A Christian several years ago, a preacher from out-of-state, accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change. As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.' Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this small amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as a 'gift from God' and keep quiet.'

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, and then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change." 

The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town?"

"Yes" he replied.

"Well, I have been thinking a lot lately about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday."

When the preacher stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, "Oh God, I almost sold your Son for a quarter."

Our lives are the only Bible some people will ever read. This is a really scary example of how much people watch us as Christians, and will put us to the test! Always be on guard -- and remember -- You carry the name of Christ on your shoulders when you call yourself "Christian."

Better Than I Deserve

This is an excerpt from a book I just read called "Living the Cross-centered Life" by C.J. Mahaney

It was a crowded morning in Starbucks. I was standing with several customers who formed two parallel lines leading toward the counter. As my turn came to step forward and order coffee, the young man serving me smiled and said, "Hey , how are you?"

For a frequent number of years I've been giving a particular response to that frequent question. I do it as a way of preaching the gospel to myself every day; I've also found it at times to be an effective opening for sharing the gospel with others. I used the words again that morning in Starbucks.

"Better than I deserve," I answered.

Simple. We deserve nothing, yet we get everything. We get eternal life when we deserve eternal damnation. 

Every day is full of grace. Grace is all around, love is all around, God is all around. 

Live with joy! We get the best deal out of this! We get everything better than we deserve for the cost of... free 99! free 99?! Free 99! :)

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God"

2 Corinthians 5:21

week 10

i find myself insufficient all the time.

insufficient to do His work and to obey His will.

sometimes i find myself lonely and walking by myself.

and in His grace, He makes me sufficient and adequate to do His work.

thank you God for I never have to walk or live this life alone.