Grace Pondering...

My Personal Experience....

I have never experienced the love of God as I currently do now! Inside of me, it's like the torrent flames of a billowing inferno consuming every part of me and what I do and it just keeps getting bigger. It fills every place and space of my existence with overwhelming power; whether I'm at work, home, sleep, etc. It's the presence of my savior!
You may ask, "what did you do to enable you to get this kind of experience with God?" The religious answer,  do more, more praying, more bible reading, more church attendance, more sacrifice, etc. The real answer is simple; simply believe on him whom God has sent to redeem you, (Jesus)!

The Paradox.....The more I did to try and get God to love me, the less of God's love I was able to receive. My entire thinking on the matter from God's perspective was wrong and I didn't even know it. There is nothing we can do to persuade God to love us more than he already does! The answer lies within the work of the cross, "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" - (John 3:16)

God's Part.....He loves us and He gave His son to demonstrate that love!

Our Part..... Believing; receiving more and more of God's love has everything to do with us believing this simple message, apart from our trying to merit God's love.

This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE on him whom he hath sent - (John 6:29)

Through the cross, God did all the work so that our part would be simple, just believe! Believing is the key to receiving more and more of Gods great love. I do less than ever to receive God's love; but, because I'm receiving more of God's love I'm doing more than I ever dreamed possible!

Following God 101.....#3

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, THEY ARE THE SONS OF GOD - (Romans 8:14)

The Spirit of God is always unveiling to us the finished work of the cross - and who we are as his sons! God is leading us to a place of confident assurance and perfect rest in knowing how much he truly love us!

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God - 1 John 3:1

No Pointing Fingers

As ministers of the gospel it's never been our assignment from God to fault find or to point out to people their sins. We are all in the same boat (so to speak), and we all nee Jesus! It's when we open our heart to the gospel (Good News), that we realize it's through the offering of Jesus on the cross - that God took care of the sin problem for us all!

We... ministers of the new covenant are to be stewards of the mysteries of Christ! We are to continuously unveil the glory of the cross and the person of Jesus. We are to help make known unto you the believer, (Who You Are In Christ) & (Who Christ Is In You)...the hope of glory, the hope of the world!

Following God 101.....#2

The Lord is my SHEPHERD; I shall not want - (Psalms 23:1)...

I am the GOOD SHEPHERD, and know my sheep, and am known of mine - (John 10:14)...

It's the goodness of God that leads us into the sheepfold and keeps us there! No one would ever truly want to depart from the security of the loving shepherd. It's the place of bountiful provision and so much more! It's where we experience the overall goodness and favor of God.....So where is He leading us to? To the places of peaceful rest into the lush green pastures of his grace! Beside the still (peaceful) waters from which we can drink deep of his glorious presence and be refreshed!

Following God 101.....#1

God's promise to New Covenant believers is to write his laws into our mind and in our hearts... and be to us a God - (Hebrews 8:10). Our mind and heart is the first place where God's desire and design for our life becomes evident. How do we know if we are following God? When we pursue the passion of our mind and heart, this passion comes from God!

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure - (Philippians 2:13).

Alabaster Box

The alabaster box has been broken, (Jesus on the cross).  The fragrance of grace, (New Covenant Realities) fill the earth!

Through the eye's of a child!

Arriving at Sunday school Sunday morning I was greeted in the parking lot by an always enthusiastic 7-year old boy by the name of Conner. As usual he was eager to help me in any way he could to get things ready for the morning service. I had to leave church for a few minutes to run an errand for a friend and upon returning, Conner's dad showed me a video he took of Conner while I was gone. In the video Conner was standing in front of the church holding a microphone and practicing preaching. Immediately I asked Conner's dad if it would be ok if I ask.....