Today I want to share from my archives.  I wrote this back in 2013.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. Ephesians 1:3-12

He knew me from before I was ever born.  Before creation, God knew me.  He knew every-time I would fail Him, every time I would doubt Him and still chose me to be His adopted Child.  He, according to the good pleasure of His will, predestined me to be His Child–to make me holy and without blame before Him in love by covering me with the sacrificial blood of Christ.  He then blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places with Christ.  This is the hope we who believe can hold tightly to when we are filled with self doubt and feel overwhelmed with our failures.  Christ carried out guilt and fears with Him to the cross in addition to our sins.  When we wallow in our own unworthiness, we open the door to sin having power over our lives.  It is always important that we take our focus off of ourselves and place that focus on the only one who has the power of victory over sin—Jesus Christ.

Continue reading How to Know the Security of God’s Grace →

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace Ephesians 1:1-7

Chosen in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. How Amazing is that!!

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

Continue reading Do You Really Have an Appreciation of Grace? →

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me. Psalm 119:10,11,18,19

 

Can I really cry out like David, that I have sought God with all my heart? Has it been the plea of my heart not to wander from God’s commandments? That would be my desire; yet, how often in this lifetime did I wander after counterfeit joys? A pilgrim wandering about on a journey of life down many roads; yet, every road ultimately lead me back to home-to God’s love. It has been His wondrous Grace every step of the way, teaching me to love His laws and commandments more. Rebellious hearts that we are, search for “freedom” from the laws that might bind. We want to speak of freedom as though it were “free to do as we wish” in search of joy at the expense of all. We bow down to worship at the altar of self; only, to then find emptiness and despair.

Continue reading Where Is the Truth of Liberty and Freedom Found? →

Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:17-18

Oh, how sweet a sound to be called the beloved of Jesus Christ! That we might as His beloved ever keep our focus upon Him, His Grace and to forever seek to know Him more. It is so easy to lose sight of Him as we journey through this world. We see the evil forces surrounding us. People filled with pride, hate and disdain for the precious name of our Savior. There are the radical forces in this world whose desire is to destroy all who would profess the name of Jesus. There are those who in the name of “love” hate any who love the commandments of God. Others so filled with love and worry about their own selfish “feelings” that they hate truth.

And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:19-21

Continue reading How to Not Lose Your Balance in The World →