What A Difference Jesus Makes

The world may not care if you live or die, but Jesus cares. He died on a cruel cross to save you from sin, and He lives to give you eternal life.

His Word, His Glory, His Music, His People  became precious when you trust Him and dedicate your life to Him. When Jesus comes in He gives you "New Life" in Him. That’s what being "Born Again" is all about ---  abundant,  everlasting life!

Ephesians 2:4-5  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace ye are saved.

God in Jesus has the ability to take that which has been wrecked by sin  and turn it around for His glory. He’s in the life altering business!

I praise the name of Jesus that He takes people who believes in Him from where they are---just as they are and saves them from hell by grace, not by works. Accepting Jesus in your heart is the most important decision you will ever make.

Spared By Grace

Another birthday. But for the grace of God I wouldn’t be here. Looking back, I count the times God spared me. He spared me, an infant, from the death diagnosed by a doctor. He spared me from a 15% survival-rate breast cancer. He spared me from a split-second  possible head-on-collision. He spared me from  a gangrenous ovary by emergency surgery. He spared me from hell through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

What unknown hazards has God spared me? I don't know, but I know I'm blessed.

 If it had not been for the Lord on my side

Tell me where would I be, where would I be . . .

He kept my enemies away

He let the sun shine through a rainy day

He wrapped me in the cradle of His arms

When He knew I’d been tattered and scared 

If it had not been for the Lord by my side

Tell me where would I be, where would I be

Margaret P. Douroux

This Little Light Of Mine

There are times when we become weak and unusable to the Lord. Our light grows dim and the flame of our testimony is nearly extinguished. When those times come the saints have a friend in Jesus---a tender, compassionate Lord, waiting to rekindle their weak flame.

It would be easy for the Lord to quench our feeble flame and simply snuff us out. But God is always willing to forgive and restore us when we call on Him. confessing any sins, 1 John 1:9.

God didn’t save your soul to allow you to have your light snuffed out along the way. He saved you to do a work of grace in your life that would endure through eternity. He saved you with the assurance that He would complete His work in you.

Phil. 1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Has your light  grown dim? Oh, you are still serving the Lord, but the Spirit of God isn’t in control as it once was. Come to Jesus. Ask Him to rekindle the flame and cause your light to shine brighter than ever.

God Is Good

Child of God, never forget that God has been good to you, that He loves you dearly, and that He has a wonderful plan for your life. He is far better to us than we deserve.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

He has promised us complete satisfaction. Psalm 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Only Jesus can satisfy your soul.

God  gives us the best that He has. He gave us Jesus, salvation, the Bible, His Holy Spirit, Heaven, hope, life, forgiveness, eternal life, and much more.

The Psalmist said, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him,” Psalm 34:8.  Those who trusted Jesus for salvation, held His hand by faith, and walked with Him down the pathway of life have never come away dissatisfied.

By The Grace Of God

Grace: This is one of those special words that belongs to the child of God, a word the world  doesn't know how to properly appreciate.

Grace is the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns us to Christ. Grace – the unmerited favor of God -- keeps, strengthens, and  increases us in Christian faith, knowledge, and affection.

I’M SAVED BY GRACE -- redeemed from a sinful, perishing pit and given eternal life. That's Amazing!  Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

I’M STRENGTHENED BY GRACE:  2 Cor 12:9, "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness . . . .  

Your road may be dreary with days filled with struggle, but rest assured there is grace sufficient for every need and every trial. That’s the promise of God and that’s the hope of the saints!

The Desires Of Your Heart

Life is a race and is often fraught with problems and difficulties, but if we  keep our eyes on the Lord and in His Word, the race is easier and we find peace within.

Psalm 37:3-4 Trust in the Lord , and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

I’m glad the Lord isn’t so strait-laced that He only answers “worthy” prayers. For example:  Gale and I sold our house in Arkansas about twelve years ago, wanting to  move closer to one of our kids in our old age. A few seven-hour-one-way-house-hunting trips later we found pickings were slim in SE Texas and time was running out.

The Lord had been blessing me ever so much, so I prayed. “Lord, could you give us a house without stairs and make sure our furniture fits. And, it would be real nice to gaze out a large window as I eat and watch the birds and squirrels play in the yard.” I  felt a little guilty about the window request, but the Lord found us the perfect house, window and all.

I think of that answered prayer when I read  “He gives thee the desires of thine heart”. Delight yourself in the Lord, for God is good.

Which Way Is Right?

Frank Sinatra used to sing the song, “I Did It My Way”.  Self-help books flourished the last decade or two, encouraging people to live life “their way”.  But David writes about a perfect way.

Psalm 18:30,32 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.  It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect.

Jesus tells about a way of destruction and a way of life.

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

There are various opinions about which way is truth and life, which way to God and Heaven.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Which way are you going?