Tag: RichInMercy

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Wrapped in Kindness

Each morning when I come out to the living room my routine is the same. My coffee, my Bible, my journal and my blanket. Even in the middle of summer and yes, it always includes my blanket.

This is my comfort zone, my happy place, my quiet time when its just the Lord and I.

As I was finishing yesterday’s blog this phrase came to mind, wrapped in kindness. It stayed with me all day long and this morning it was still resounding in my heart. So much so, that I want to share a few thoughts and verses with you.

“God has been kind to you. He has been very patient, waiting for you to change. But you think nothing of his kindness. Maybe you don’t understand that God is kind to you so that you will decide to change your lives.” Romans 2:4 ERV

As a child, I never understood why preachers felt they needed to preach “hell fire and brimstone”. It was scary but it didn’t convey the heart of God.

We all know that we don’t measure up in our own efforts. That’s why God displays His kindness – kindness is revealed in His love, His mercy, His grace, His forgiveness and it’s those very things that bring us to a point where we want to change and dedicate our lives to Him.

“Think about what we have in Christ: the encouragement he has brought us, the comfort of his love, our sharing in his Spirit, and the mercy and kindness he has shown us. ” Philippians 2:1 ERV

He gives us the courage, the power, the desire and the ability to walk in His love, to be free from fear.

“ The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.” II Timothy 1:7 ERV

God is patient and He is kind. He is love. “ Love is patient and kind.” I Corinthians 13:4 ERV

“God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. 23 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. 25-26  God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life’s blood, so by faith in him we could come to God.” Romans 3:22-25 CEV

He treats us so much better than what we deserve – that’s grace, that’s kindness on display.

I pray that you have accepted that gift and that each day you experience being wrapped in God’s kindness.

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But God!

Last evening a friend and I had a wonderful recounting the many miracles we have seen in the last year. Some large and some small but God provided them all!

So, let me share just a few of the thoughts and verses that caused us to praise the Lord.

When we feel limited by our own thinking we can tap into God’s wisdom and His thoughts.

“Every word we speak was taught to us by God’s Spirit, not by human wisdom. And this same Spirit helps us teach spiritual things to spiritual people. That’s why only someone who has God’s Spirit can understand spiritual blessings. Anyone who doesn’t have God’s Spirit thinks these blessings are foolish. People who are guided by the Spirit can make all kinds of judgments, but they cannot be judged by others. The Scriptures ask, ‘Has anyone ever known the thoughts of the Lord or given him advice?’ But we understand what Christ is thinking.” I Corinthians 2:13-16 CEV

Jesus said that when the Holy Spirit came He would guide us into all truth.

“The Spirit shows what is true and will come and guide you into the full truth. The Spirit doesn’t speak on his own. He will tell you only what he has heard from me, and he will let you know what is going to happen.” John 16:13 CEV

God wants us to know His thoughts and His ways. He’s not trying to hide spiritual truth or wisdom. In fact, Proverbs tells us to seek wisdom more that we would search for silver or gold.

“ But God was merciful! We were dead because of our sins, but God loved us so much he made us alive with Christ, and God’s gift of undeserved grace is what saves you. 6 God raised us from death to life with Christ Jesus, and he has given us a place beside Christ in heaven. 7 God did this so in the future world he could show how truly good and kind he is to us because of what Christ Jesus has done.” Ephesians 2:4-7 CEV

“Dear friends, God is good. So I beg you to offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. 2 Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.” Romans 12:1-2 CEV

When we face storms and trials, God wants us our thoughts to be focused on Him.

“I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!”

I hope you will put these two words at the forefront of your thinking, But God. When things seem hopeless, when you are weary, when you feel you are inadequate, when you are afraid just remember But God!

He is the One who has designed good things for us and He is the One who has defeated the world!

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Great Riches

Rich – what does that word bring to mind? At this time of year it can be used in several ways.

Our conversation was rich with laughter.

The fudge was rich.

The presence of family and friends is rich.

That’s a present fit for a king but it requires his riches to buy it.

Rich: 1.wealthy: owning a lot of money or expensive property 2.worth much: worth a great deal of money 3.costly and fine: made from or consisting of things of the highest quality

What things in life make you feel rich?

Remember a couple of days ago when I used the verses from John 1 about the Word (Jesus) became flesh. Ok, so hold that thought for a moment and let’s look at Colossians.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 KJV

Let the word dwell in you richly or let’s put it this way. When Christ, who is the word, dwells in us we become rich in wisdom. Now there’s a novel concept, rich in wisdom. Wisdom is a commodity that money can’t buy but dwelling in the Word makes wisdom available.

“Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking. It is for peace that you were chosen to be together in one body. And always be thankful. 16 Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:15-17 ERV

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.)” Ephesians 2:4-5 ERV

Now there are some gifts that we all desire – peace, thankfulness, wisdom, mercy and grace. A relationship with Christ, the Word, brings the richness of these gifts to our lives.

Merry Christ – mas!

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If, Ands or But

Sometimes I get up and know that the Lord is speaking right to me. This is one of those mornings and I’m going to let you come along and listen in. This is a point He has driven home to me many, many times and He knew I needed to hear it once again.

BUT GOD…who is rich in mercy and love – anytime things seemed stacked against me, I remember this, BUT GOD! How can I not come out a winner when I know that no matter what happens there’s a BUT GOD in the plan.

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.) 6 Yes, it is because we are a part of Christ Jesus that God raised us from death and seated us together with him in the heavenly places. 7 God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace. 8 I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God.” Ephesians 2:4-8 ERV

There isn’t a problem too big or a reward so great that they aren’t solved or enriched with BUT GOD. The enemy of every Christian is satan and he sends many challenges and problems to discourage and destroy. BUT GOD… Then there are also rewards and opportunities that look too good to pass up BUT GOD will show me if they are traps to get me off course or if they are really opportunities He is sending to bless me.

The old saying; No if’s, and’s or but’s about it, was used to drive home a point that something was solid or unchangeable; BUT GOD. God is the miracle worker and nothing is impossible with Him.

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 CEV

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was barren, with no form of life; it was under a roaring ocean covered with darkness. But the Spirit of God was moving over the water.” Genesis 1:1-2 CEV

From the very beginning God has been here creating, establishing, forming and planning an abundant life for me. He will establish each day and set me on the right path because He is rich in mercy and love.

As I go about my day, when things come up, I will remember BUT GOD and know that He is for me so anyone or anything that is against me has to face no one else BUT GOD!

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If Not For Mercy

Mercy is the word that was forefront in my thinking yesterday afternoon and all through the night. Not the mercy that I should extend to others but the mercy that has been lavished on me.

God is rich in mercy!

How many times have I been the receipient of His mercy? Countless! Many are the times I have failed, knowingly and unknowningly. His mercy is new every morning.

We all have seasons in our lives when we walk away from God. Our ambition leads us on a life of selfishness. Pride, self-reliance, justification, greed, anger, reckless living, bitterness, even low self-esteem all raise their ugly voices and scream for recognition.

Just like the prodigal son who walked away from his father’s house for a better life, we walk away thinking we can have it better on our own than we did living with the One who loves us most. Eventually, we come to the realization that life will be better with the Father. Ashamed and embarrassed we head home. Our speech is prepared.

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.” Luke 15:20-24 NLT

Those words “filled with love and compassion” are the very essence of mercy. Notice the Father didn’t ridicule or lecture the returning son, He celebrated his return. Here we see both the mercy and the grace of the Father. He didn’t give the son the punishment or chastisement he deserved, mercy. Instead He gave him the blessing and favor he hadn’t earned, grace.

Mercy is life changing!

“But God is rich in mercy, and he loved us very much. 5 We were spiritually dead because of all we had done against him. But he gave us new life together with Christ. (You have been saved by God’s grace.) 6 Yes, it is because we are a part of Christ Jesus that God raised us from death and seated us together with him in the heavenly places. 7 God did this so that his kindness to us who belong to Christ Jesus would clearly show for all time to come the amazing richness of his grace.” Ephesians 2:4-7 ERV

Mercy and grace are God’s gifts to us, gifts of His kindness. Our Father wants us to be constantly aware of His love and forgiveness. This awareness isn’t so He can lord over us, reminding us of our past sins and failures. Not at all. Instead, it changes our hearts to be more like Him and we can extend mercy and grace to those who need it.

Let mercy change your life. Receive it from the Father and then give it to others!

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