Amazing Grace
Mary Southerland- "As a child, I can still see my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Cash, as she wrote the word “grace” on the classroom chalkboard. “What does the word “grace” mean to you?” she quietly asked. Even though the word was somewhat familiar, I had no clue what “grace” actually meant. Mrs. Cash simply smiled at my best friend, Katrina, who raised her hand to explain that “grace” was a girl’s name. Evidently, that was not the correct answer.
The pastor of that small, country church I attended often used "grace" in his sermons and many of the songs we sang at church contained "grace" in their lyrics. I had heard it and sung about it, but when it came right down to it, grace was ambiguous to me at best. I am afraid that is the case with many of us today. If we are not personally experiencing, walking in and serving through the grace of God, our efforts and works are futile and empty. Mrs. Cash simply turned once again to the chalkboard and wrote this acrostic that is now inscribed in my bible and my heart: G God’s R Riches A At C Christ’s E Expense All that God is — all that God has — is available to us every minute of every day. With every breath we take and every beat of our heart, His riches are ours because of what Jesus Christ did on the cross. Those infinite riches are credited to our life account, deposited there by Jesus Christ. The supply of grace is eternal, beginning the moment we surrender to God. God is our provider. The word “provider” comes from two Latin words, “pro” which means “before” and “video” which means “to see”. In other words, God will see to every need beforehand. The Good Shepherd meets every need of every sheep, every day in every way. That’s grace. John 10:4 "After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they recognize his voice." (NLT) The Shepherd is always ahead of his sheep, out in front, which means that any attack upon the sheep has to consider him first. What peace and security we can have knowing that God has gone before us through every valley, across each raging river of life making the crooked paths straight, hammer- ing down every mountain before us. He knows what tomorrow holds and will give us everything we need to face it. When we begin to understand and walk in the truth that God monitors every circumstance, we will also begin to understand and walk in grace. In fact, we need to filter life through God’s grace. When I (Mary) graduated from college, I worked as a summer intern for a music and youth pastor in Grand Prairie, Texas. That summer changed the direction of my life as I experienced in a new way, the power of God working in and through me. One Sunday morning, the pastor called me into his office to let me know that the music and youth director with whom I worked was being fired immediately.
I was devastated. Not only had this man and his family become precious friends, but his leaving meant that I was without a job and a church I had grown to love. In the shaky days ahead, I experienced the reality that God’s grace really does cover it all. Within weeks, God moved me to a church in Dallas where I met an extraordinary young man named Dan Southerland. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank God for the grace-filled trial that brought Dan and me together. God’s “mercy” and “loving kindness” provide all kinds of experiences. Some we call good. Some we call bad. But each one comes through a checkpoint of grace before it touches our lives, transforming us into trophies of grace. Mercy is when God gives us what we don’t deserve. Justice is when we get what we deserve, but grace is when we get what we don’t deserve. You may find yourself in a frightening place filled with darkness and doubt. Your fragile heart may be wondering if God even knows or cares where you are or what you need. Let me assure you - He does. Don’t think for a minute just that because you cannot see the hand of God or sense His presence, it means that He is not working. Nothing could be further from the truth. The grace of God is always at work in our lives. You can count on it! Let's Pray-
Father, thank You for Your grace that covers me. I cannot comprehend exactly what grace is, but I choose to accept it as Your precious gift to me. I may not always be able to hear Your voice or understand what You are doing in my life, but I praise You! Help me learn how to embrace my pain and use it for power in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen."
#78 Testimony- Kathryn Kuhlman
The amazing ministry of Kathryn Kuhlman has proved the fact that the Holy Spirit intercedes, prays, pleads and goes to meet us in our desperate need. One of the leaders of the Catholic healing ministry, Father Francis McNutt, has explained that thousands of Catholics went to her meetings seeking healing and remission, and thousands of them found health. Miss Kuhlman's large healing services were in no sense a shrine. She happened to be a woman prophetess. She did not claim to be an evangelist or a preacher. She was certainly no healer—we leave that word to the metaphysicians—but she established a ministry where Jesus was honored through the omnipresent Holy Spirit, and people from all denominations came hoping or believing they would receive healing. Doctors were present to confirm those healing. The services were conducted in such a way as to cause people to expect the Holy Spirit to work. These healings were the sovereign work of God.
1416-1420 One-line Scriptures for those of you who want to learn some more verses this week- or to review them from when they were first posted-
1416- Ps. 125:1 "They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth forever." 1417- Ez. 20:9b "I made myself known unto them." 1418- Is. 56:5b "I will give them an everlasting name." 1419- Is. 51:16a, c "And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand . . . Thou art my people." 1420- Is. 51:8b "My righteousness shall be forever and my salvation from generation to generatiion."
#78 Hymn- There Is a Balm in Gilead The information about this song, is taken from the book by Robert J. Morgan, THEN SINGS MY SOUL (p. 85)
The first Africans on American shores arrived in chains. Their hellish voyage aboard slave ships was only the beginning of their sorrows. The breakup of their families, the oppression of bondage, the whips and shackles, their loss of dignity . . . it all combined to kill both body and spirit. But the souls of the slaves found release through singing. And a unique form of music evolved called the "Negro Spiritual" . . . With swaying bodies, they would stand, eyes half-closed singing ones like, "There Is a Balm in Gilead" based on Jeremiah 8:22.
Church Notes:
We're to have a zeal for the work that we do, whatever it is. We're to ask, "Where do I fit in? What am I equiped to do to serve the church? Be emotionally charged with the passion of God, removing any sin or darkness from your life. Develop a hunger for God! Serve where you are, doing it for His glory, fighting against worldly pleasures. Do not lack in zeal, but be fervent in Spirit to serve the Lord. Be diligent, consistent and intentional to advance Christ's Kingdom. Lean into Jesus!
Some encouraging words-
Only God knows all the factors in your situation. Only He can coordinate all aspects at the most opportune time. Your part is to obey and leave the future in His Hands. Let Him be God. He will not procrastinate; God's time is always best. From God's perspective, your waiting in extended prayer, is an investment. He may be developing stronger faith through your perseverance!
Upcoming posts:
29th- NEW YEAR, NEW YOU- Lilka Raphael 4/5- GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD- Jacie Conley 12th- PROFESSING TRUTHS- Emily Marszalek
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