Also, I am sharing my thought on prayer over at the devotional blog today, March 9th.

I hope you will have time to stop over at Laced with Grace…

Current Mood: Blessed †

“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” ~ Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV)

Do you feel that you have disappointed God? To be honest I do some days. The way how I treat others; not always in a way He would like me to. Some days I don’t live forgiven even though I am.

Will my actions deny me entrance to heaven. No, of course not. But still…

Before I continue with this week’s look at living fearlessly, let me share a quote from ‘Fearless‘:

“‘Cash in too many mercy checks, and sooner or later one is going to bounce!’ The devil loves this line of logic. If he can convince us that God’s grace has limited funds, we’ll draw the logical conclusion. The account is empty. God has locked the door to his throne room. Pound all you want; pray all you want. No access to God.’ ~ Max Lucado (emphasis mine)

You know, I fear that when (not if) I get to heaven, that our Lord would raise an eyebrow because I didn’t follow the path He has laid out for me. I am afraid that I miss something; I miss being compassionate to someone He has put in my path…Again, what if…

In his book, Max Lucado pointed out people that have messed up ‘big-time’ (Peter, David, the Samaritan woman). Guess what? God and Jesus restore them all, forgave their sins. All three of them received grace. And you know what? So are we: forgiven and received grace.

Do I want to mess up? No, I don’t. But in my human state I do. Looking at Peter, David, and the Samaritan women, I have good company. Peter denied Christ three time (Mark 14:66-72), David took another man’s wife (2 Samuel 11), the Samaritan woman had more than one husband (John 4:1-42). Where their sins greater than mine, or visa verse? This is not the point. All sins are the same in God’s eyes. I don’t have to fear to disappoint Him – He already knows that I will slip up. He has provided my way to heaven in Christ.

I think that Casting Crowns have hit the nail right on the head when they penned the song “Who am I”. I want to close my post with the bridge of the song:

“Not because of who I am,
But because of what you’ve done.
Not because of what I’ve done,
But because of who you are.”

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: You are forgiven, so that you can live fearlessly; you will not disappoint God.

Current Mood: Forgiven †

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” ~ Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)

The song “City of our Knees” by Toby Mac is a song the local Christian radio station has been playing often for the past four weeks. The lyrics are marvelous…you can find them here.

Have a glorious weekend…Remember: One day all nations will know that He is God, every knee will bow and confess Jesus as Lord.

Current Mood: Okay

“Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him!” ~ Psalm 68:4 (ESV)

The month of March we are meeting up at Laurie’s place “Women Taking A Stand“. Hop on over to connect with other Thankful Thursday Bloggers.

The older I get the less I am attached to tangible things in my life. However there are some items that are in my possession that I would really, really miss…One of them is my Bible and the other item is my MP3 player (thanks to our son’s generous heart)…

You see, the player is full of music, His Word and sermons. I have the player with me daily at work. Disconnecting with the world around me, connecting with His Word and sing a song, helps me to get through the most challenging days.

One of my latest favorite album that is on the player is Chris Tomlin’s album “Hello Love”…Oh, God so blessed this man for creating songs that connect me with Him…If you have not listened to the album, you can listen to one of the songs here. Actually you can win the album at the end of March here at Grace Alone for the my 5th blogging anniversary (wow, can’t believe I have been blogging since 2005 – I guess time flies)…

This week I am thankful that I have my daily ‘companion’ to disconnect from the world to find encouragement through His Word and songs .

What are you thankful for this week?

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: sometimes we need to disconnect from the world to keep the focus on the more important things.

Current Mood: Blessed † & Thankful

Have you ever tried to convince an atheist that God exists? Or a postmodern thinker that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life?” Not easy tasks. In fact, they’re impossible. We can’t do it.

Only God can give faith to a skeptic. Only God can reveal truth to a heart. The Bible says that no one can come to Jesus unless God draws them first (John 6:44). But He does draw. He does reveal the truth about Himself to individuals. He wants people to know Him. And He wants us to make the introductions.

I’ve never convinced an atheist there is a God, but I’ve seen God do it. My friend Victor was raised by a military father who taught him that God did not exist. That there is nothing after death. That life is about what you can get out of it for yourself. And he believed it all.

But then God began to put “doubt” in Victor’s mind. As a young man he began to sense there had to be a great power behind the wonderful complexities of the world. He began to investigate all kinds of spiritual things including Taoism, Buddhism, and other eastern religions.

Then Victor came to one of my Bible study classes. For three months he learned what the Bible says about God, faith, and salvation. He heard about Jesus. When our class was over Victor told me he believed in God. But he didn’t know what to think about Jesus.

Time passed. Victor watched his wife grow in her new relationship with Jesus while he struggled with the idea of faith. But God continued to woo him. God slowly unveiled truth about life, eternity – and Jesus – to Victor.

Two years later Victor came back to Bible study. This time his hunger to know God was obvious. Victor devoured truth. And he met Jesus. God took Victor from atheist to skeptic to believer. And I got to have a front row seat!

God has allowed me to witness similar miracles dozens of times. I spent several years teaching the Bible to adults who’ve never studied the Bible before. Everyone’s story is different. Each person’s journey with God is unique. But God’s truth about Himself, life, and eternity is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And He has revealed this truth in the Bible.

I used the experience God gave me to develop a Bible study for spiritual skeptics and new Christians. This study provides biblical, historical, and scientific evidence to support creation; the reliability of the Bible; and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. “God’s Truth Revealed” is a straightforward journey through the Bible to help participants understand the importance of knowing God, not just knowing about Him. Each chapter also includes the real-life story of an individual like Victor who became a Christian as an adult.

Do you know someone that God is wooing? If someone in your life is asking questions about faith or God that is evidence that God is actively working! Ask God how you can join Him in what He’s up to. There isn’t anything more exciting.

Kathy Howard

You can find Kathy at Kathy Howard. You can purchase Kathy’s book “God’s Truth Revealed” at Amazon and Christian Books.

Current Mood: Blessed †

Oh my, you have to check out the new design Lori from Lori’s Reflections came up with for Laced with Grace. Please visit Lori’s ‘New Beginnings‘ post to find out more about the redesigned team blog and how you can enter the contest.

I am so giddy about the new design that I even created a new button for it (please do not hotlink the image):

Thank you for stopping by today…Now hop on over to Laced with Grace to celebrate with us…

Current Mood: Happy

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” ~ Psalm 28:7 (ESV)

As I had mentioned yesterday in my post “Fear of Change” God has been working on my heart — I don’t seem to mind changes as much as I used to…One thing I know for sure though, just like David pointed out in the above Psalm “The Lord is my strength…”.

In going with my theme for this year, the changes that happening currently in my life, I face fearlessly (most days). We are having changes again at my work, but this time I am thrilled!!!! We are getting a wonderful, knowledgeable supervisor in our region. I am really excited to work with her; she has taught me so much when I went through training 2 1/2 years ago. Also God answered my prayer for help with my work-load. We were able to hire another person who has worked previously for the company and knows all the ins-and-outs. The best part – she is a believer (God you are marvelous!!!!!)…

The second change that is happening I am thankful for this week has to do with LWG. My sweet friend Lori from Lori’s Reflections redesigned out devotional blog. The launch is on March 1st!!! I am so excited about the new design. Lori did an awesome job. I hope that you will take some time next week to explore our redesigned team blog. There will also be a drawing of a neat little price. But you have to stop by to find out what…Lori, thank you from the bottom of my heart to make the change happen — it was time after 3 1/2 years …

One other change that I am making (something I wanted to do for a long time), I will have on the first of every month a guest blogger at “Grace Alone…”. This upcoming Monday, Kathy Howard will stop by to introduce her new book “God’s Truth Revealed“. I am excited about the opportunity to have Kathy share her ministry with my readers.

So, what are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving your link below.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Even thought life can change, God never changes!!!

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Current Mood: Blessed † & Thankful

As you remember, Karon had a wonderful guest blog on February 1st. Karon’s new book “Unafraid” so perfectly fits for my 2010 theme “Living Fearlessly”…

Some of the questions Karon posted at the end of her blog:

• What change are you facing now? What has your response been – to fear or to build?
• How have you overcome a fear of change in the past, or what have you learned from your fear in the past that helps you now when change happens?
• Why do you think we fear change so, and how do you think God wants us to respond to it in our lives?

I haven’t handled some of my life chances well; honestly I down right struggled. My dad’s death, my move the US, my son moving out just to name a few. Today, I do not want to share anything from my past, but would like to respond to Karon’s first question. I want to encourage you with my words…

Girls, I am turning 50 this year!?! Standing before a fork in the road I am wondering what I would like to do with the rest of my life…

Several weeks ago I open my Bible to the epistle of James. The following verses the Lord impress upon my heart:

“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”” ~ James 4:13-15 (ESV ~ emphasis mine)

James is telling us not to look too far ahead. Hm, interesting…Don’t get me wrong; I still make plans and have dreams for the future…but I am looking now first to get His approval to move ahead. I am not waiting to see a direct sign from heaven, however I know that He has my blue-print of life in His beautiful hands. He will open or close doors.

I am excited to step out in faith, knowing that He will be there all the way. I know that I will still encounter valleys but that does not strike me with fear. He has a pretty good ‘track-record’ in my life. He is always ready to send someone special into my day to encourage me.

Sweet one, I know that this life is not easy. God placed some special women in your life as well. They are more than willing to share your fears, dreams and hopes by praying over you. Don’t be afraid to ask your girl friends to stand by you. I am blessed and thankful that I have these special women in my life…they help me to live life with less fear.

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: Live life for the here and now…giving your hopes and dreams to Him; He has your blue-print in His hands.

My series based on Max Lucado’s book “Fearless” will continue on March 8th. I hope you will join me than again for “Living Fearlessly in 2010″…

Current Mood: Okay

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 (ESV)

Lent is my favorite season. Although I think often about Christ’s sacrifice, during Lent I really like to ponder on the Cross.

Giving something up during the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday is something I do each year. This year I had to really think about what to give up…So, starting today, I will not visit Facebook for the next 40 days. I hope that God will give me the discipline to hold up the 40 days. 40 days doesn’t seem long, but goodness – it is 6 weeks voluntarily staying away from my world-wide friends (and my sweet niece in Germany I just connected with).

One of my local friends said: “You shouldn’t – you try to build your photography business”…But you know what? To me that means that I have to daily combat this urge — laying down my life to honor Him and His sacrifice.

So, this week I am thankful for Lent; its meaning for my personal walk of faith. May God give me the discipline I need during the next 40 days. Lori had shared a ministry site with me last week (pst – if you like books you might want to subscribe to Lori’s review blog). Check out Sovereign Grace’s February sale. I picked up three books; Living the Cross Centered Life will be my read through Lent .

I am also thankful that Alanna contacted me to share a very cool Lent project for kids. Check out her Lenten Grass Project which is based on an old Finish tradition.

What are you thankful for this week? Please do share with us by leaving your link below. Hopefully we all can make a few visits to each other this week (okay – I hope I can – you all have been so good visiting each other)…

Thank you for stopping by today. Remember: We have an amazing God; He sent His son to rescue us from ourselves.

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Current Mood: Blessed † & Thankful

I remember the day Daniel and I left Germany. My dad and I sat down in the waiting room of the airport to have a heart-to-heart talk. Looking into my dad’s sad eyes, I knew it would be the last time I see him this side of heaven.

He died a month after we had left.

After receiving the call at 4am on March 23rd 1991, I was angry at God, the world and myself. I cried for 3 days. How could a loving and just God take a man who loved and served Him at a age of 52? How could I, his daughter, leave Germany knowing that 6,000 miles would be between us? Why was I not allowed to leave the US to attend my dad’s funeral? I was heartbroken for years.

It took 6 years and a Sunday sermon to get over the death of my dad. That particular Sunday morning, God spoke peace to my heart; that one day I shall see my dad again, celebrating new life in heaven.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” ~ Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Word count: 259

This short memoir is my submission to Mary DeMuth’s 259-WORD MEMOIR KINDLE CONTEST in honor of her new book “Thin Places“. The contest runs until tomorrow night, February 12th, 2010 – still time for you to enter . To find out more about Mary’s new book and the contest, please visit “Thin Places Blog Tour“.

Current Mood: Okay