Do you ever think saints who’ve gone before us were some extraordinary people that you could never be? I have news for you: they were just regular folks like you and me. Really. Their secret was God’s grace and power. When we live in the Holy Spirit, amazing things happen despite us. You see, even sanctification is all about grace. Let’s look at the first Christian martyr Steven as an example: Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and…
Are you struggling with life? Or are you at the end of your rope? I have good news for you. First of all, you are loved. And, second of all, God wants to help you. I know, it is a bit astonishing. But God did not send Jesus to save you and then leave you to manage on your own. The Holy Spirit is here to help us out. We just need to ask for help. This is not an…
Do you know that everything is grace? For real. We can brag about grace but nothing else. But in grace there is plenty to brag about. Grace is even more wonderful than we can ever understand. Because grace changes everything and everything is grace. When we live in grace, we don’t have to puff up our egos or try to be better than we are. You know, we are all just grace-magnets, that’s all. Nobody is better than others. Whatever…
How do you deal with life’s imperfections? That’s what I’ve been thinking about today. How do you live with flaws? Because life is not perfect. Every house I’ve ever lived in has had some sort of flaw. Every job I’ve ever had has some down sides. Every person I’ve met has some habits that leaves room for perfection. And, last but not least, I have way to many flaws myself. What to do then? How to deal with all these…
The world says losing is for losers. The Bible says losing is gaining. Which one do you believe? The world says you need to cumulate stuff, fame, wealth in order to be happy. The Bible says if you lose it all, you will gain everything in Christ. It sure sounds backwards. But it is the way to life everlasting. Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside…
Have you met Jesus? Do you know what it is like to be experiencing grace? Last week I promised that I will be blogging through Mary DeMuth‘s and Frank Viola‘s brand new book The Day I Met Jesus: The reavealing diaries of five women in the gospels.The first diary is of the woman who caught in adultery. Then they all went home, 8 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all…
The first letter to Thessalonians starts the way I would like to be described and remembered. Every time we think of you, we thank God for you. Day and night you’re in our prayers as we call to mind your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in following our Master, Jesus Christ, before God our Father. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3, MSG’*) I would like to be a person recalled by my work of faith, my…
