Posts Tagged ‘grace’

Blessings Are More than Money

July 25th, 2010

Think about this for a second – what do you think of when I say “God will bless you?”  Do you think of money?  Do you think of health or healing?

I suspect that most people hear “God will bless you” as “God will make you rich.”  In fact I would go so far as to say that there are probably even some who tithe because we think God will make them rich (of course, you know better than that).

But that misses the point of a blessing.  A blessing is when God releases supernatural forces to work in your favor (I “borrowed” this from my pastor).  It is a gift from God.  It might be a something you’ve asked for and expected.  Or God might just totally blow your mind.  In fact, I bet God wants to totally blow your mind.

Oh, how we need God’s grace!  How we need his perspective when it comes to blessings.  I fear that we so often think of blessings only as financial or material.

Money Can’t Buy This

Today I was able to witness one of the biggest blessings I’ve seen in a while.  It’s not the kind of blessing that we normally think of, but a blessing none-the-less.  In fact, it might be a bigger, more substantial blessing than we would first think.  But it was definitely a blessing that money simply can’t buy.

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Sin Stinks

August 3rd, 2009
Baby Skunks (and gunshots)b
Image by nebarnix via Flickr

The other day I was driving to work and ended up going past a (then-deceased) skunk lying in the middle of the road. Believe it or not, there was a particularly pungent odor around the skunk. I could smell it well before I saw the skunk and it’s scent lingered even after I had passed that cute little varmint.

The skunk wasn’t ugly. Actually, it was kind of cute. But that cute little bugger packed an odoriferous punch that was nearly beyond compare. There was certainly no way that a little Febreez would have covered the malodorous air of our furry little friend.

I believe that our our sin stinks. It makes it impossible for us to be in close relationship with God – and there’s no way we can cover up the smell. And we sure can’t pretend our sinful stench simply isn’t there.

That’s where I’m going to leave this one. I have other posts related to forgiveness and the grace of God. You should definitely check those out.

But we do need to remember that these are not an excuse to continue in sin – it still stinks.

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What Can God Do?

July 26th, 2009

Today at lunch Curt said something that surprised me. It’s something that I’ve known – and is clear in scripture. But for some reason, it struck me today.

Curt is a former roommate of mine and a friend to me and Katherine. We used to hang out more but today at lunch was the first time in a while. The food was good and the conversation was easily blessed.

He said that when he was praying a few days ago, he was asking God how to help people know what he (God) can do in their lives. And that God just impressed on him that people begin to have faith in what can happen in their lives when we share what God has done in our lives.

God has done amazing things in Curt’s life. I am continually astounded by the grace that God has given him and how much his relationship with God has improved over the last year or so. While Curt has a strong heritage of faith through his mother, he hasn’t always waked in a tight relationship with God.

What God has done in Curt’s life often encourages me and reminds me of what he can do in each of our lives. God is truly amazing and can do absolutely anything. My life is a testimony to his grace and power. So is Curt’s. And so is Katherine’s.

If you need to be reminded of the amazing things God can do in your life, get to know Curt and ask him about his. Or ask me about mine.

And if God has done amazing things in your life, be sure to share them with others.

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How to Improve Your Relationship With God

July 25th, 2009

A deep and abiding relationship with God is a wonderful, awe-inspiring thing. It is the the desire of God’s heart and is the very thing all of humanity was created for. This kind of a relationship with God is nothing short of a gift from God.

We grow into this kind of relationship as we are formed into the image of Christ – a process that begins when we submit our lives to God through Jesus and which will continue until his work is completed in us. It is a work that God does in us but which involves us as well.

I don’t want there to be any confusion – God forms this relationship with us if we will let him. Everything that we can do is a response to what he has already done.

Here are some things that you can do to improve your relationship with God – the same things that I can do to improve my relationship with God. This list is not intended to be all-inclusive and is in no particular order. In fact, it’s intentionally short so that you can leave your suggestions and comments as well. » Read more: How to Improve Your Relationship With God

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It Takes a Village

August 21st, 2008

You may have noticed over the last few days that I’ve posted several pieces showcasing the work of other people. There’s a reason for that. I listen to them and what they’ve posted is good.

One of the fallacies of modern middle-class USAmerican life is that we have to be able to do it all on our own. That, especially in areas of faith, is simply not the case. We were never intended to live out our faith by ourselves. Rather, God intends for us to live in community – in proximity to and in relationship with other people. People who agree with us and people who don’t. It is in that place that we experience the blessing of God as we walk in unity (not unanimity) with our neighbors. It’s there that the Lord commands a blessing.

In community and relationship, we learn to extend and receive grace. To forgive and be forgiven. And, while our primary relationship will always be in Christ, that relationship should be expressed in the way we live with others on the earth that we have been given.

From one villager to another, be encouraged: read widely, converse openly, and serve freely.

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The Way Back Machine

July 29th, 2008
Back to the Future DeLorean Time Machine
Image by AdamL212 via Flickr

No, I’m not talking about a machine that will take you back in time. Rather, I’m talking about the process of getting back.

Sometimes I discover that I’ve lost ground in different areas of my life. That things have shifted and I don’t like the physical, spiritual, or emotional place I am occupying. This can be as simple as ending up in the wrong lane while driving in traffic or it can involve the erosion of relationships.

For example, earlier this year I was very focused on watching the health of my diet and exercising. And I was making great progress in controlling my weight and improving my health. In fact, I believe that God had granted me some favor in this area. But I got busy at work, started staying up later in the evening, and became lazy. And while I haven’t necessarily gained a lot of weight, I am not where I would like to be.

A couple of years ago I made great strides in paying off my bills. I had paid off all of my credit card debt and was making good progress on paying down other bills. Then I lost focus and I am no longer in the sweet place I used to to hang out.

Several years ago, I lost focus in my spiritual life. For any number of “valid” reasons, I stopped going to church, spending time with other like-minded believers in Christ, and spending time with God in the Bible, prayer, and meditation. The result – I quickly learned the value of my ability to lead my life apart from God. I became a prodigal.

Perhaps you have found yourself in that same place – it can be in any area of your life. Maybe you’ve found yourself in financial bondage. You may be discontented with your health. Or maybe you are not where God has called you to live spiritually.

You may not be as far down the path as I have gone. But God is calling you back nonetheless. Do you find your love for God waning? Do you lack vision or purpose? Are you searching for meaning? Have you worked hard in the Kingdom but find yourself disconnected from God?

» Read more: The Way Back Machine

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