SPECIAL GRACE GIVEN

  God said,  "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28 God is so gracious to us. He knows when we need rest. Several weeks ago, I had retina surgery and rested my eye. It is healing and I am doing well. During this time I followed the Lord's words and rested. Looking forward to being back within a few days. God blessings to all!

Philip Doddridge wrote "Blest are the humble souls that wait with sweet submission to His will; harmonious all their passions move, and in the midst of storms are still." Sometimes we get very discouraged with ourselves. We try working on the faults we see and it gets us frustrated when we don't see change. Be patient with yourself as you would with others. Just ask God to help you each day change the things that you can change and trust Him to change the things He can change. Change in life is inevitable, but making sure those changes are from God takes prayer and seeking His will for your life.  When change comes that is not of God, it is wise to again, go to prayer and seek His will in the situation and His guidance. Maya Angelou said, "I can be changed by what happens to me. But I refuse to be reduced by it." Blessings!

Jesus told his disciples that some of those standing there would not taste death before they saw the kingdom of God come in its power. There are many differing explanations. But it is mostly attributed to the coming of the Holy Spirit being breathed on those in the Upper Room. Some say it was referring to the Transfiguration.  I have heard and read other descriptions but I think the two above have more credenence.  But if you remember, in Matthew 17:1-8, Mark 9:2-8, and Luke 9:28-36, it talks about the Transfiguration. Three disciples, Peter, James, and John, saw Jesus in a special glory. 2 Peter 1:16-18 also refers to it on the mountaintop. Jesus shone with a great bright light and Moses and Elijah appear and Jesus speaks with them. So Peter, James and John saw Jesus standing in His Glory. The description about the Holy Spirit being breathed shows great power coming from God to be on and in those who would be about the work of Jesus, spreading the gospel. The important thing ...

  Paul, was a special messenger. An Apostle. Jesus Christ chose Paul personally to represent Him for the faith of God’s chosen ones. Jesus wanted Paul to lead and encourage them to recognize and pursue the knowledge of the truth which leads to godliness. Who better to represent Him than a man who persecuted Him and His followers in the beginning and who had a personal encounter with Jesus Christ himself on the road to Damascas. He could speak with conviction and truth. The Lord wanted them to have hope and a divine guarantee of eternal life, the life which God, who is ever truthful and without deceit, promised before the ages of time began. This is what God has given us. Truth. A divine guarantee of eternal life with Him. The Lord has loved us so much that He wants us to have hope, yes, but also to have that guarantee of eternal life with Him. We can be like Paul, and share this news with those who do not know it.  Don't forget Jesus gave us instructions, he said, "Go therefo...

"Every act of irreverence for life, every act which neglects life, which is indifferent to and wastes life, is a step towards the love of death. This choice man must make at every minute. Never were the consequences of the wrong choice as total and as irreversible as they are today. Never was the warning of the Bible so urgent: 'I have put before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life, that you and your children may live.'" Erich Fromm What we seem to forget is that God loves us. He sent His son to die on the cross for all of us. He created us. But remember it is up to us to accept what He did for us and receive it so we can become His children. If we reject it, then we are not His children. I accepted Christ along time ago, about 72 years ago. I made a choice because I love the Lord. And I know He loves me. My children made the choice to choose Him because they love Him. We are grateful, yes, but we also accept the responsibility that comes with the fact...

  Jesus said, "Peace be unto you." Imagine you were with the disciples in the Upper Room; the doors are locked. Everyone is afraid of the Jewish leaders coming after them. Not only were they fearful, for their lives, but they lost their rock, Jesus. The man they leaned on, and depended on. He was with them for over 3 years, teaching them. Their friend. They could always count on Him. They ate with Him, played, slept, and prayed with Him. Now He was gone. Their whole world had been turned upside down. They didn't know what to do. They were in the upper room, the last place they had been with Jesus. What is it like for you sitting there with the disciples? Then suddenly, a man appeared in the room. They aren't sure who He is and they are wondering how he got in the locked room. The man says, "Peace be unto you." When he said this, he held out His hands and shewed them His side. It was Jesus. Can you imagine how thrilled the disciples were to see Him. Their jo...