Tag: salvation

Posted on in Being Gracious, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Personality, Wisdom

Stubborn

I recently had similar conversations with two people about stubbornness as a character trait. Of course, we talked mostly in generalities, not identifying ourselves as stubborn! šŸ˜‰

We all agreed that stubbornness can be a positive or negative trait, depending on the context. One form of stubbornness comes with perseverance in trials, where one simply pushes ahead and refuses to give up. This may include certain military leaders, parents fighting for their children, or someone seeking justice. (Stubbornness does not mean staying put in an abusive situation. Do what you can to leave and get help!)

That said, sometimes, stubbornness is a refusal to compromise or work with others. In that sense, stubbornness can hold one back. The Bible refers to stubbornness as rebellion. The Israelites rejected God and were referred to as a stiff-necked people! Yikes.

Naturally, someone can be stubborn and experience both situations at different times. In fact, many character traits can be strengths or weaknesses depending on circumstances. For instance, confidence taken to an extreme can become arrogance!

After those two conversations, I kept thinking about stubbornness. How do you tell if stubbornness propels you forward or holds you back?

The first thing that comes to mind is… your heart. Are you seeking the benefit of others? Are you standing on strong principles? Are you willing to compromise if certain conditions are met? Or, is your heart hardened by fear or pride? Are you stalling for personal gain?

I’m sure there are some other factors to consider, but for the sake of brevity, I encourage you to start with those questions above. If you are dragging your feet, maybe consider why and work through it with Jesus.

Jesus made you for a purpose. Whether or not you are stubborn, He already knows. I guarantee He has good plans for you. He can use all of your personality traits for His glory and your good! Don’t let resistance or quirks keep you from Jesus!

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God, thanks for making each of us unique. Help us understand our strengths and weaknesses so we may bless others and bring you glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Do you consider yourself to be stubborn? Why or why not? How is this a positive, and when does it become a negative?

Tasks: God gives each of us time to get to know Him, but He will not wait forever. If you have not chosen to submit your life and heart to Jesus, now is the perfect opportunity. Don’t wait!

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Fear/Don't Fake Brave, Gratitude, Journey of Grace, Kindness, Life is Short, Miscellaneous, Wisdom

God’s Kindness, A Calling Card

Recently, I was talking with a lady who was widowed about a year ago. Understandably, she has been missing her late husband quite a bit, especially as we head into the holiday season. As a result, she has been reading books and articles about the afterlife.

It may be comforting to read about what our loved ones are experiencing in Heaven (if they go there), but she mentioned some ideas that made me a little wary. Humans who die do not become guardian angels, for instance!

I did my best to answer her questions about my own grief journey. Then, I guided her to the Truth…that is, I pointed her back to Jesus!!

Later, my friend said, “God’s judgment doesn’t seem as bad as one would expect,” based on her reading of other people’s near death experiences. I didn’t ask what she was referencing, but still, I felt the need to gently clarify a few things for her.

First, God’s judgment and wrath is very serious. He doesn’t play favorites, punishing some sinners but not others. We see this over and over in the Bible.Ā 

In the Old Testament, God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. Then, we read about the Flood, and later, King David losing a child as a result of adultery. We also see Judah being exiled to Assyria and Israel being exiled to Babylon after generations of debauchery. And, these were God’s chosen people!

In the New Testament,Ā new Christians (Ananias and Sapphira) were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit. There are other cases of pending judgment in the book of Revelation.

Second, God’s judgment is not unjust or without warning. He sent His Word through many prophets over many years, and later, Jesus Christ Himself! He warns us about the consequences of our choices. He asks us to confess our sins and turn from evil, choosing Life over Death. Then, He repeatedly gives us opportunities to repent and make things right.Ā 

Apparently, we are slow learners, but I’m thankful He is so patient with us!

Nonetheless, there are consequences for our actions. For better or worse, we reap what we sow. Indeed, the Bible says we will be held accountable for our words and our actions.

Third, God’s mercy, grace, and forgiveness are bountiful. If we know Jesus and have accepted His FREE GIFT of salvation, we don’t have to be afraid of death or judgment. I am guessing this is what my friend meant to say.

Romans 2 is all about God’s law and judgment, but Romans 2:4 says that God’s kindness leads us to repentance. I love that! We see His generosity all around us, and His kindness is like a calling card. Oh, how God wants us to know Him and be with Him!Ā 

It’s like when someone goes out of their way to bless you, help you, or meet a huge need. You are so thankful, you can’t help but live differently. You may ‘pay it forward’ or return the favor, or just become really close to the person because you appreciate what they did for you.

So it is with God’s kindness. He overwhelms us with His goodness, and we can’t help but bask in His love! We can never repay Him, but we can live differently as a result.

Only God’s love (through Jesus) can bring the true change we need. When we know how much He loves us, our lives will start to change. In gratitude, we can acknowledge the good things in our lives and give Him full credit! Let’s come to Jesus and receive His peace and joy today!

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God, You are so gracious and good to me. Thanks for all You do! Help me not take Your kindness for granted. I want to make choices that honor You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: Have you accepted God’s free gift of salvation? How has God been kind to you? How has His kindness changed how you think and act (i.e. repent)?

Tasks: If you are curious to learn more, check out the book, Heaven, by Randy Alcorn. (There are still some things we just won’t know until we get there, but the author gives a comprehensive explanation and breaks down key points based on Scripture.)

**If you don’t know if you will end up in Heaven after you die, make that decision today!**

Posted on in Journey of Grace, Miscellaneous, Perseverance, Prayer, Wisdom, Worship

Build Your Life

This year, I have been listening to the One Year Chronological Bible on my phone. I highly recommend the accompanying Bible Study Guide and Daily Reflections linked above. (I’m not an affiliate, I just find these resources helpful!)

I also have the same version of this Bible in paperback, which has been restructured (not rewritten!) as if it all happened in order. It is a fun way to ‘read’ the Bible and helps bring a different perspective!

Overall, I enjoy hearing God’s love come through, but at times, it is a little heartbreaking!Ā In the books of Isaiah and 2 Kings, God keeps calling out to His people, Israel, and they keep refusing to listen. How sad!

God kept giving His people chances to put away their idols and change their ways. But, they continually ignored Him, eventually going into captivity in a foreign land (Babylon) as punishment. God sent His judgment, but not before He promised to rescue His people and bring them back to Jerusalem.

To me, this sounds a little familiar to our present day situation… We may not be in literal captivity, but we do have several restrictions (or recommendations) in place right now. Perhaps God is using this time to reach us at a deeper level.

Are we listening?Ā Are we turning our hearts toward Jesus or doing our own thing?

For me, it is clear we need to have God, our Rock, as our firm foundation. We cannot build our lives upon the idols of self-sufficiency and false humility. We cannot brag about how well we are doing when it’s only possible because of God’s grace. Similarly, we cannot say we love God and then show disregard for those He created.

You can see how far that’s gotten us lately!

Every day, we have a new chance to build our lives. We can be wise and build with intention, planning for the rough times ahead. Or, we can be foolish, building passively “as things come up” or just waiting for things to change. Are you building a strong foundation or shifting sand? It’s not too late.

Every day, God gives us a new opportunity to walk with Him. We cannot go wrong with Jesus Christ as our firm foundation. It’s not that it’s always rosy, but He helps us navigate the thorns and smell the flowers. šŸ˜‰

When we invite Him to help us, He leads us through each difficulty and sets us up for success.

God sees every hair on our heads. How comforting it is to know He cares about each detail of our lives, no matter how big or small. He loves us so much.

If God brings us to a challenging situation, we can pray, and then trust He will cover us with His grace and mercy. We don’t have to be afraid or try to figure it all out on our own!

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God, thanks for being our anchor and our firm foundation. Thanks for holding us secure amid life’s storms and trials. Please strengthen us for this next season and help us trust You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Questions: How do you know your foundation is secure? Should you wait for it to be shaken and crack or do you do routine maintenance?

Tasks: Listen to this song, “Build My Life,” by Pat Barrett.

Don’t wait until it’s too late to know where you stand with Jesus Christ. If you want to be with Him for eternity and need His help to live life fully now, pray this prayer:

Dear Lord,Ā I admit that I am a sinner and have done many things that donā€™t please you. I have lived my life for myself only. I am sorry, and I repent. I ask you to forgive me.

Jesus, I believe you died on the cross for me, to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I come to you now and ask you to take control of my life; I give it to you. From this day forward, help me to live every day for you and in a way that pleases you.

I love you, Lord, and I thank you that I will spend all eternity with you. Amen.

Posted on in Books and Movies I Like, Miscellaneous, Prayer

Salvation Is Here!

**If you are reading this post, it’s because you came looking for more information. Perhaps it was a conversation we had, or perhaps you read my book. If you are hungry for a more fulfilled life, here is how to follow Jesus.Ā 

First, God is not a genie to give us all our hearts desire, but rather, He is where we find true joy and purpose. Our sinsā€”the bad things we do, or even the good things we fail to doā€”separate us from God who is Holy and Just. We deserve eternal death as punishment.

But His Son, Jesus, took our punishment upon Himself. He came to reconcile us to God through His willing sacrifice and death on the Cross and Resurrection (Isaiah 53, Philippians 2:6-11).

Now, it is our choice to accept Jesusā€™ blood as payment for our sins, so we can have peace with God and live out His plan for our lives. Today is the day of salvation, and this decision requires humility, faith, and action.

Here are some Bible verses to consider:

John 3:16 says, ā€œFor God so lovedĀ the world that he gaveĀ his one and only Son,Ā that whoever believesĀ in him shall not perish but have eternal life.ā€

Romans 3:23 says, ā€œFor all have sinnedĀ and fall short of the glory of God.ā€

Romans 6:23 says, ā€œFor the wages of sin is death,Ā but the gift of God is eternal lifeĀ inĀ Christ Jesus our Lord.ā€

Romans 5:8 says, ā€œBut God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While weĀ wereĀ stillĀ sinners, Christ died for us.ā€

Romans 10:9 says, ā€œIf you declareĀ with your mouth, ā€˜Jesus is Lord,ā€™Ā and believeĀ in your heart that God raised him from the dead,Ā you will be saved.ā€

Romans 5:1 says, ā€œTherefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christā€

Romans 8:1 says, ā€œTherefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesusā€

If you would like to accept this free gift of salvation, pray these words as an act of faith:

Dear Jesus, I am a sinner. I believe You died and rose from the dead to save me from my sins. I want to be with you in heaven forever. Please forgive me and make me new. Be my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you for your grace and mercy. Help me live for you. Amen

If you prayed that prayer with sincerity, let me be the first to welcome you into Godā€™s family! Congratulations! This is a cause for great celebration!

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, ā€œTherefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!ā€

Without a doubt, this is the most important decision you will ever make because there are eternal consequences. Yet, living for God in the here and now can be a challengeā€”even for those of us who have been walking with the Lord Jesus for decades. In order to learn more about your new life of faith, you need support.

Here are some next steps:

First, start reading the Bible. I would suggest beginning with the gospel of John. Learn about Jesus from those who knew Him best!

Second, connect with a local church for discipleship. Tell someone about your decision to follow Jesus. This is helpful for growth and accountability.

Third, email me at nat.grace.lemonade@gmail.com. I’d love to cheer you on!