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Tag: shame

Open Your Hands to Receive

Open Your Hands to Receive

Today I was reminded of opening my hands to receive what God has for me. It shocked me a bit because I had thought I was open for God to move freely in and through my life. But I was reminded to empty and open my hands to receive. So I must have had something in them to keep me from being open-handed. That got me thinking: what kind of things do we keep in our hands even without noticing…

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Forgiven Sins Sink to the Bottom of the Ocean

Forgiven Sins Sink to the Bottom of the Ocean

Do you have guilt over something you’ve done in the past? Even after you’ve repented and been forgiven? I’m delivering good news to you. Once God has forgiven you, he chooses not to remember your sins anymore. How do I know? The Bible tells us God will trample our sins under his foot. So all our forgiven sins sink to the bottom of the ocean. Once they’re forgiven, they’re gone down under.  He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue…

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Grace in Practice

Grace in Practice

We can waste so much time on regretting things or wishing things were different. Or we might live in continual shame that incapacitates us, keeps us from becoming what we were meant to be. So if you’ve ever heard of God being merciful for his children, it’s time to put grace in practice. And if you haven’t heard about grace, it’s about time somebody tells you the good news of Jesus Christ. You see, grace is not a dogma to believe…

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Christianity as Grace

Christianity as Grace

When you’re exhausted you don’t want to be pushed and told to try even harder. Especially when we are down we need grace. Jesus is calling to him all who are weary. He will not urge us to try harder, instead, he gives us rest. And when we have rested, he will empower us with his grace to do what we can’t do on our own. I see Christianity as grace and that’s why it’s difficult for me to understand…

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Do You Wash Your Hands like Pilate?

Do You Wash Your Hands like Pilate?

Today, I was contemplating on the text on Pilate washing his hands for responsibility of Jesus’ death. I understand his dilemma: the crowd wanting Jesus dead and Pilate wanting to keep his job while (he and) his wife not finding Jesus guilty. What to do? Whom to serve? And did the hand washing work? Did he get rid of his guilt or not? How about you? Do you wash your hands like Pilate? How does that work? I’m afraid washing our hands…

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Do Not Paint Over Your Brokenness

Do Not Paint Over Your Brokenness

Have you been through a lot? Are you tired of bad news? So overwhelmed with the sorrows that you don’t know how to go on. Or are you tired of faking that everything is all right when it’s not? Listen. No matter what: Don’t paint over your brokenness. Bring it to Jesus. Don’t hide your pain. Bring it to Jesus. We won’t be thrown out just because we are broken. We are not even meant to be perfect and strong…

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Do Not Give in to Shame

Do Not Give in to Shame

This message will be short and sweet but extremely important: Don’t let anything keep you away from God. Don’t let anything keep you from receiving the gift of faith. Don’t let anything keep you from embracing grace day by day. There’s nothing in your past that could make God love you less. Don’t give in to shame. There’s no mess that big that would keep God granting you grace. Don’t give in to shame. There’s nothing that makes you unqualified…

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The Ruler of Your Heart?

The Ruler of Your Heart?

What is the name of the ruler of your heart? Shame? Fame? Game? Or a significant other? Sometimes shame keeps us from coming to Christ with the mess we’ve made. We think we are not worthy of God. So we keep away from Christian gatherings and God himself. But here’s the news flash: no one is worthy of grace! Just listen to Jesus: “Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I’m here inviting the sin-sick, not the spiritually-fit.”…

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