He is such an awesome person and I love him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY! BUB!!!!!!!
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
AUGUST 17th I got a new brother!
Today 29 years ago, I got a new sibling. My brother. He is such a charmer. He is so kind and generous. He is so tenderhearted. He is humorous, he has been the source of a lot of laughter over the years.
What is Grace?
This is a question in my study for this week.
What IS Grace? What is it?
Goodwill, Lovingkindness, undeserved favor....sure.
Here is the Websters version:
1. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
2. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
3. Mercy; clemency.
4. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
5. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
6. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
7. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.
8. An excellence or power granted by God.
9. A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.
Our feable English language doesn't come close to defining what God's Grace is to us.
Ephesians 1: 1-2
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you....this is not just a salutation...for as much as Paul loved this church I think this is what he had in mind when he said....Grace to you from God...
grace:
1. that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2. good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3. what is due to grace
the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
the token or proof of grace, benefit
a gift of grace
benefit, bounty
4. thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
So I say to you today.....GRACE! to you from God our Father....
What IS Grace? What is it?
Goodwill, Lovingkindness, undeserved favor....sure.
Here is the Websters version:
1. A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
2. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
3. Mercy; clemency.
4. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
5. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
6. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people.
7. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God.
8. An excellence or power granted by God.
9. A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.
Our feable English language doesn't come close to defining what God's Grace is to us.
Ephesians 1: 1-2
1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace to you....this is not just a salutation...for as much as Paul loved this church I think this is what he had in mind when he said....Grace to you from God...
grace:
1. that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2. good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3. what is due to grace
the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
the token or proof of grace, benefit
a gift of grace
benefit, bounty
4. thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
So I say to you today.....GRACE! to you from God our Father....
I am forced to restore....
I studied Psalm 69 and in the first few verses David says. "I am forced to restore what I did not steal"
That jumped off the page at me, because of my background. Product of the times, statistics? I don't know the answer. I'd say alot has been stolen from me. And now, I am forced to restore it, myself. I felt that way for a long time. I had to be restored, I had to do it.
Memorial Day Weekend 1995. I made a commitment to God and started praying. I had some prayer books which really helped cuz they were full of scripture. So I could look them up and do a little reading.
From that time on I didn't always live right. I thought *I* needed to clean up my act. *I* needed to get myself right, before God would accept me. It has taken years to figure out that God is For Me. God Loves Me - as if there were no one else. He's not couting the hairs on my head...He Knows the number and it changes daily. He knows me that intimately. It is His desire to bless me, He's not out to get me. I finally "get it."
In the past 5 years I have read my bible alot and prayed. In the past 2 years I have really prayed for change. Change me. What I really meant, now I see....Restore me.
In the past year or so I have listened and learned from various teachers. One things I learned was how to study the bible. I definately learned to read beyond the Psalms. There was a time in my life where all I could do was say "help me God, please, if You're really there, help me." Now I say....Restore me, God I know you're really there, restore me.
The psalmist says...I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
All kinds of bad things have happened to me in my life, physical and sexual abuse, abusive relationships, divorce, abandonment, rejection....SO WHAT! *shrug* THANK GOD! Thank Him that I can shrug. It is the past, its over, I am indifferent. Now, I have a story to tell of restoration, reconciliation. My life can be a testimony to other who have been me, who are me. The me of yesterday.
I started doing some research on "restore" God says He Restores. He will restore.
Over and Over:
I will restore the ruins....Isaiah 44:26
I will restore so that you may serve.... Jer. 15:19
I will restore you to the promised land... Jer. 16:15
I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.....Jer. 30:17
I will restore your fortune, your home, I will rebuild you....Jer.30:18
Six places in Jeremiah God says I will restore your fortune
"I will restore Davids fallen tent, I wil repair its broken place, restore its ruins and built it as it used to be, so that the remnant of men and all the nations that bear my name may seek The Lord " Declares the Lord, who will do these things. Amos 9:11-12
I will restore twice as much and make you strong....Zechariah 9: 11-13
6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. Zechariah 10: 6
Gods Word tells me....He is in the restoration business.
Debt of Gratitude By Andy Chrisman
You brought me back to life
You healed my broken heart
You've given me my sight
You've taken me by storm
You gave it all away
To come and rescue me
And day after day
Your love delivers me
What can I ever do to thank You
What do I owe You
What can I pay
My debt of gratitude
Grows everyday
And all I have to give
Is an offering of love
A sacrifice of praise
That jumped off the page at me, because of my background. Product of the times, statistics? I don't know the answer. I'd say alot has been stolen from me. And now, I am forced to restore it, myself. I felt that way for a long time. I had to be restored, I had to do it.
Memorial Day Weekend 1995. I made a commitment to God and started praying. I had some prayer books which really helped cuz they were full of scripture. So I could look them up and do a little reading.
From that time on I didn't always live right. I thought *I* needed to clean up my act. *I* needed to get myself right, before God would accept me. It has taken years to figure out that God is For Me. God Loves Me - as if there were no one else. He's not couting the hairs on my head...He Knows the number and it changes daily. He knows me that intimately. It is His desire to bless me, He's not out to get me. I finally "get it."
In the past 5 years I have read my bible alot and prayed. In the past 2 years I have really prayed for change. Change me. What I really meant, now I see....Restore me.
In the past year or so I have listened and learned from various teachers. One things I learned was how to study the bible. I definately learned to read beyond the Psalms. There was a time in my life where all I could do was say "help me God, please, if You're really there, help me." Now I say....Restore me, God I know you're really there, restore me.
The psalmist says...I am forced to restore what I did not steal.
All kinds of bad things have happened to me in my life, physical and sexual abuse, abusive relationships, divorce, abandonment, rejection....SO WHAT! *shrug* THANK GOD! Thank Him that I can shrug. It is the past, its over, I am indifferent. Now, I have a story to tell of restoration, reconciliation. My life can be a testimony to other who have been me, who are me. The me of yesterday.
I started doing some research on "restore" God says He Restores. He will restore.
Over and Over:
I will restore the ruins....Isaiah 44:26
I will restore so that you may serve.... Jer. 15:19
I will restore you to the promised land... Jer. 16:15
I will restore you to health and heal your wounds.....Jer. 30:17
I will restore your fortune, your home, I will rebuild you....Jer.30:18
Six places in Jeremiah God says I will restore your fortune
"I will restore Davids fallen tent, I wil repair its broken place, restore its ruins and built it as it used to be, so that the remnant of men and all the nations that bear my name may seek The Lord " Declares the Lord, who will do these things. Amos 9:11-12
I will restore twice as much and make you strong....Zechariah 9: 11-13
6 "I will strengthen the house of Judah and save the house of Joseph. I will restore them because I have compassion on them. They will be as though I had not rejected them, for I am the LORD their God and I will answer them. Zechariah 10: 6
Gods Word tells me....He is in the restoration business.
Debt of Gratitude By Andy Chrisman
You brought me back to life
You healed my broken heart
You've given me my sight
You've taken me by storm
You gave it all away
To come and rescue me
And day after day
Your love delivers me
What can I ever do to thank You
What do I owe You
What can I pay
My debt of gratitude
Grows everyday
And all I have to give
Is an offering of love
A sacrifice of praise
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