On the grave of John Newton, author of "Amazing Grace," are these words:
John Newton, Clerk. --- Once an infidel and libertine, --- A servant of slaves in Africa, --- Was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour, --- Jesus Christ, --- Preserved, restored, pardoned, --- And appointed to preach the faith. --- He had long labored to destroy.
On one occasion Newton said to a friend, "I am not all that I should be or what I want to be, but thank God I am not what I used to be."
He wrote his testimony. --- Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, --- That saved a wretch like me. --- I once was lost, but now I'm found, --- Twas blind but now I see.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
It doesn't matter what you did or how you lived, you are God's when you trust in Him. He takes you from an old life and gives you a new life. He claims you as a trophy of grace.
Thanks to Calvary I'm not the person I used to be. I've been changed.
Saturday, August 19, 2017
Friday, August 18, 2017
Standing On The Promises
The land Abram walked over is the prize for his faith.
Then God enhanced the prize by promising more. So many will descend from him that they can’t be counted.
That’s quite a promise considering his wife can’t have children. But Abraham believed God and that was counted for righteousness. I like to call Isaac their miracle baby.
Genesis 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
God wants to do the same for believers today. He wants to multiply our faith. Our minds can’t comprehend all that we will receive if we get our hearts right with the Lord -- if we submit our lives to His will.
The walk of faith is a walk of progressive revelation. As we walk in obedience to what He has already revealed, He will show us more as time goes by. That’s how the Lord works.
If we want God’s best, we should be willing to follow where He leads.
Then God enhanced the prize by promising more. So many will descend from him that they can’t be counted.
That’s quite a promise considering his wife can’t have children. But Abraham believed God and that was counted for righteousness. I like to call Isaac their miracle baby.
Genesis 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
God wants to do the same for believers today. He wants to multiply our faith. Our minds can’t comprehend all that we will receive if we get our hearts right with the Lord -- if we submit our lives to His will.
The walk of faith is a walk of progressive revelation. As we walk in obedience to what He has already revealed, He will show us more as time goes by. That’s how the Lord works.
If we want God’s best, we should be willing to follow where He leads.
Thursday, August 17, 2017
What A Savior!
Isn't it astonishing that the One who has all power in Heaven and earth endured the horrible without saying a word.
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Jesus could’ve spoken the word and the very iron in the nails would have crawled back into the earth.
He could’ve disbursed the molecules of His executioners with a single thought.
He could’ve called twelve legions of angels to rescue Him.
Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
But His love for sinners was too great.
Instead, He willingly took our sins upon Himself and died on a cruel cross in our place so believers like us would not perish but have eternal life. Unbelievers will parish.
What a Savior!
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
Jesus could’ve spoken the word and the very iron in the nails would have crawled back into the earth.
He could’ve disbursed the molecules of His executioners with a single thought.
He could’ve called twelve legions of angels to rescue Him.
Matthew 26:53 Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
But His love for sinners was too great.
Instead, He willingly took our sins upon Himself and died on a cruel cross in our place so believers like us would not perish but have eternal life. Unbelievers will parish.
What a Savior!
Wednesday, August 16, 2017
God Will Take Care Of You
Thousands of years before Elijah needed a drink of cool, clear water, the finger of God traced out the path of a little brook and even fed him.
1 Kings 17:3-4 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
Do you have a need? It may seem that the Lord isn't moving your way -- that He’s going to leave you to twist in the breeze.
Truth is, God has already met your need before the need arose. He will supply it in His own way and in His own time.
Be patient and faithful to the Him and seek His will for your life. He will take care of you.
Ps 84:11, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
1 Kings 17:3-4 Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan. And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there.
Do you have a need? It may seem that the Lord isn't moving your way -- that He’s going to leave you to twist in the breeze.
Truth is, God has already met your need before the need arose. He will supply it in His own way and in His own time.
Be patient and faithful to the Him and seek His will for your life. He will take care of you.
Ps 84:11, "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Forgiveness And Restoration
There have been many occasions when I came to the Lord confessing my sins and failures, seeking forgiveness and restoration.
Each time I found Him to be a faithful Friend to those who have fallen by the wayside.
If you are one of them you need to know that you still have a Friend in Jesus. He hasn't forgotten you. He hasn't forsaken you. He still loves you as much right now as He ever has.
Jesus forgave Peter for denying him three times at His trial and used him in a mighty way.
He wants you to be willing to confess your sins, begin again to follow Him, and just love Him like you ought to.
Psalm 51:10,12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. . . . . [12] Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Each time I found Him to be a faithful Friend to those who have fallen by the wayside.
If you are one of them you need to know that you still have a Friend in Jesus. He hasn't forgotten you. He hasn't forsaken you. He still loves you as much right now as He ever has.
Jesus forgave Peter for denying him three times at His trial and used him in a mighty way.
He wants you to be willing to confess your sins, begin again to follow Him, and just love Him like you ought to.
Psalm 51:10,12 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. . . . . [12] Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Monday, August 14, 2017
Blessings In Christ
Luck or coincidence should have no place in the Christian vocabulary. We don’t wander aimlessly through life and stumble across blessings. Every good gift we receive comes from the Lord.
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:
There’s no greater blessing than to be “In Christ". I wish everyone knew Him personally.
Sins forgiven, an adopted child of God, grace and peace and eternal life are only a few benefits of Salvation.
Except for the love of Jesus, surrendering to death at Calvary's cross, no one could be “in Christ”.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
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:
There’s no greater blessing than to be “In Christ". I wish everyone knew Him personally.
Sins forgiven, an adopted child of God, grace and peace and eternal life are only a few benefits of Salvation.
Except for the love of Jesus, surrendering to death at Calvary's cross, no one could be “in Christ”.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Comfort With Cancer
As we face trials -- let’s say cancer, overcoming it through the help and comfort of the Lord equips us to give strength and comfort to others who also face cancer..
2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
I’ll never forget the comfort God gave me twenty years ago during breast cancer treatment. My greatest fear was nausea. I asked the Lord to keep me from getting nauseated. During months of chemotherapy, I never got nauseated. The sweet spirit of God was constantly with me.
If you get cancer, you need to know Jesus. Seek Him if you don’t know Him. He’s the best cancer friend you will have – always comforting you.
I was recently diagnosed with cancer again. I know the Lord will get me through this one too, but if He wants to take me home to be with Him, that is OK. I'm ready to go.
I serve an amazing God.
2 Corinthians 1:4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
I’ll never forget the comfort God gave me twenty years ago during breast cancer treatment. My greatest fear was nausea. I asked the Lord to keep me from getting nauseated. During months of chemotherapy, I never got nauseated. The sweet spirit of God was constantly with me.
If you get cancer, you need to know Jesus. Seek Him if you don’t know Him. He’s the best cancer friend you will have – always comforting you.
I was recently diagnosed with cancer again. I know the Lord will get me through this one too, but if He wants to take me home to be with Him, that is OK. I'm ready to go.
I serve an amazing God.
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