Grace- beautiful song from The Wilds

Grace from The Wilds

Our choir has sung this song and it's so beautiful. I'm finding less encouragement from CCM lately, and much more in songs or hymns like this. 

Singing praises to the Lord is a great way to bless Him each day. It is important to praise Him many times each day I'm finding. He is good. 

Funerals

We have had a couple of funerals recently, and they are always different, aren't they? Whether held at church or the funeral home, the music, the order of service, speakers, Gospel presentation...those things seem to set the stage so to speak. I've been really impressed by how the funerals capture the people being remembered and honored. Some are almost high energy with so much to say and see and learn. Others are quieter and more serious. Some have a holy reverence to them, others are trying to cheer us as the person did in life. Some make you think about how your own funeral will be; how will I be remembered? Have I done my best for Jesus? Still others are just a time to mourn and finally get to reflect on the life you will miss here on this side of Heaven. At todays, the seating was such that I just got to stand for a minute looking at many precious saints whose lives have touched my own tremendously the past two years. 

I am thankful for our precious church family. We've been through a great deal together. Not being involved in a church, serving, living, loving, and toiling together is choosing to miss out on the greatest blessing in the life of a Christian. Church life should fill most of our time outside of taking care of our family and work. It doesn't leave tons of time for other things, but it is so worth it. Those other things ideally will be serving your community and trying to reach them for Christ, or strengthening families God puts in your path. 

In this age of social media and internet, it can be easy to ignore the reality of serving in our community, but good societies are built on strong communities and communities are built on strong families. We're so fragmented in the USA for a variety of reasons, but we can counteract some of those if we will take the time to give of ourselves in person with the people living, working, and dying in our town. 

New Booklet from Grace to You

This arrived today for someone in my home, having been ordered several weeks ago. God is so faithful. His timing is always perfect ♥

 

How to Turn Persecution into Production- Sermon by John MacArthur

A good sermon to start a day of work with! May our love abound when the hurting seek to hurt. 

I know my Redeemer lives and reigns victorious, and He is all powerful. More importantly, He alone rightly discerns the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. 

https://www.gty.org/sermons/1758/how-to-turn-persecution-into-production

Ephesians 3:14-21 NASB1995

[14] For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, [16] that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, [17] so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. [20] Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, [21] to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

https://bible.com/bible/100/eph.3.14-21.NASB1995

Encouragement

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Rom 5:3-5

Feelings cannot dictate what is true. Scripture alone tells us what is true because it is God-breathed.

Man's traditions cannot tell us what is true. Traditions come and go. They are not God-breathed.

Works-based salvation, which acts as though grace, faith or belief are a work, promotes lies. We are saved by God's grace, His unmerited favor, through faith--belief and trust in Him, and not of ourselves--nothing we do saves us, it is a gift of God. It is what we think--agreeing with God about who and what we are, and Who and What He is, that saves us. Believing is not a work. It is worth repeating because in these recent days, there are cults that twist Eph 5:8 and explain it as meaning something other than what it clearly says.

Cults tell you what the Scriptures say; they actively teach you what they say so that when you read the Word of God yourself (which they do not encourage), you interpret it how they say, which promotes blasphemy and false belief. It by-passes the power and work of the Holy Spirit, although He can break through if He desires and if a person is genuinely seeking to understand. 

Praise God for giving us a living Word.

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Hebrews 4:12-13

one of my favorite songs

Reformation Truth

My sweet son sent this to me a few months ago, probably near Reformation Day 🙂. It's the most rock-ish song I prefer to listen to. The message resonates so much as a person saved from man's religion.

Praise God that He is the Victor. There is no debate to be had on what is true. God's word stands above all else and He is the only One to be trusted.