​Guard your steps as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools; for they do not know they are doing evil. 2 Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few.Ecclesiastes 5:1-2
A few weeks ago, our Pastor used this passage in a sermon on a Sunday morning. As I was reviewing my sermon notes, I re-read this passage and the Lord dropped some thoughts into my mind that I thought I would share.

It made me think about my expectations and actions in the house of God. I am a sanguine. I like to talk so these scriptures were especially applicable to me. I like to talk to God and do regularly but today I let Him talk and you know what I found? I found that when I shut up, He will actually say something! 

He said the following things to me as I read this passage. I think I've been guilty of almost all of them at some point in my life:

1) Don't be flippant with God. Don't use flippant words with God. How often do we come into the presence of God with a flippant attitude? Flippancy means we do not show a serious or respectful attitude.We forget about who He is. If we stay up til all hours of the morning on Saturday night because it's the weekend and then sleep through church, that's showing disrespect and flippant. If we take scripture and inject it into our conversations in a common way or quote it in a sarcastic way, that's flippancy. If we talk to God as if He's on our level and one of the gang, that's flippant and disrespectful. It's about the heart attitude. Whatever we say to God must be said with a reverent heart. We must remember who He is and who we are. Remember "He is in heaven and we are on the earth; therefore let our words be few." And I would add, let our attitudes be humble. 

2) Always speak faith filled words to God. Faith moves the heart of God and causes Him to listen. When we speak words that truly reflect who He is, what He has said, and what He will do, we will live the reality of those words here on earth. On the other hand, when we whine or rehearse our situation, as if He doesn't already know about it, this dishonors God and He will not answer. We don't need to explain anything to God, especially our situations or the reason we do things. He already knows. To retell it to Him is an insult. It's okay to let God know how you are feeling as long as you as you are well ready to admit that you are wrong when your feelings do not line up with His Word and to speak, by faith, His will into your situation and life. 

3) Don't question God. Don't accuse Him in any way. Instead question your knowledge of His will and ways and ask Him for wisdom and revelation. Whatever God does is always perfect. To question Him in an accusatory way is wrong. To question Him with the attitude of wanting to understand what He is doing is godly and productive. God doesn't cause evil but sometimes He has to allow it.

4) Don't get angry with God. That is sin. Scripture clearly tells us to "be angry and sin not." Be angry with what causes sickness, trouble, discouragement and sadness-sin and the devil. Don't blame God for your troubles. He didn't cause them. If you alienate yourself from your only true source of help by accusing Him of things He didn't cause, where does that leave you? 

5} Speak less and listen more. "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger." James 1:19. If we would listen more to people and talk less, we would probably get angry less with them because we would actually be hearing what they are saying and would understand. We would ask questions for clarification and gain a true picture of what is on their heart so that when we do speak, our words would be effective and helpful.  

Bottom line is that we must be intentional with God. We must approach him with a humble and reverent heart because He is God and we are only there because His love has made a way for us to be in His presence at all! We must speak in a way that represents and honors Him. 

We not fear Him if we are saved, but He must never become common because He has never been or will he ever be common. He is divine. He is eternal. He is all powerful. He is God Almighty!

 

It's been said that "timing is everything." I was thinking about events in the Bible and the timing of them. Do you realize that everything that happened was in God's perfect time? The seven days of creation were God's perfect timing. The birth of Issac was God's perfect timing. The exit of Israel from slavery in Egypt was God's perfect timing. The birth of Christ was God's perfect timing. The things that are to come will also come in the fullness of its time as ordained by a perfect God.

We know all of this yet so often we question God's timing. When things come that are hard and painful we question God's timing. Sometimes we go even further and question His love, His goodness, whether He's paying attention or if He really exists at all. 


Ecclesiastes 3 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven--
2 A time to give birth and a time to die;
A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal;
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to weep and a time to laugh;
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
5 A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing.
6 A time to search and a time to give up as lost;
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;
A time to be silent and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate;
A time for war and a time for peace.
 11 He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end.
If we believe that all the events in the Bible were God's perfect timing, if we believe that all the events coming in the future are all according to God's perfect timing as they meet their fullness, then why do we find it so hard to believe that the things we encounter in life are part of God's perfect timing for the world, thus part of His perfect plan for us? 

It's food for thought.

​Psalm 106: 6-12
We have sinned, even as our ancestors did;
we have done wrong and acted wickedly.
7 When our ancestors were in Egypt,
they gave no thought to your miracles;
they did not remember your many kindnesses,
and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea.[b]
8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
to make his mighty power known.
9 He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up;
he led them through the depths as through a desert.
10 He saved them from the hand of the foe;
from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them.
11 The waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them survived.
12 Then they believed his promises
and sang his praise.

One of the most comforting verses I've found in the Bible is Ps. 103:14. "For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust." God knew what He was creating when He made us.  He knows what our strengths and weaknesses are, what we are capable of and what our insufficiencies are. Nothing we do surprises Him. In His great plan, He made provision for our failures and sin before the foundation of the world. That means that in His infinite knowledge, He knew we would fall before He created us. Perhaps He allowed this to be so that He could unveil the greatest love story ever written to let us know just how much He truly loves what He created. He loves us immensely!

In the passage above God's people, Israel, sinned. At the Red Sea they were pressed into a very hard place. The stress of the moment caused them to doubt, fear and accuse both God and Moses. What they knew of their history with God and all the miracles God had performed to get them out of Egypt seemed to pale in comparison to the threat they now faced from the enemy and Israel regretted that they had even started on this journey with God. Egypt had not been good for them spiritually. They had embraced its ways and gods but at least Egypt had given them a roof over their heads, food on the table and an existence that though difficult, had become normal to them even though they knew it was not God's best. In the midst of the moment they forgot that this kind of blending idolatry was what had caused them to be enslaved in the first place.

Before we judge the Israelites, let's remember that we are "but dust", as they were. When life hits us with a Red Sea experience, we may just react the same way that they did. When all you see is what is attacking you and there appears to be no good way out of the onslaught, our natural reaction might be to surrender to it and try to make the best of it. It may seem that a return trip to where God brought us from is an easier, more pleasant experience because we, like them can be overwhelmed and forget where God brought us from and all that He has done in our lives in the past. Indeed, the temptation that we are being tempted with might just look better and easier than to stand in the face of the enemy and believe God when an escape would appear a challenge, even for God!

Perhaps this has happened to you.  Perhaps you have suffered the consequences of this happening to someone else. Perhaps you are currently living in Egypt and enjoying it for the moment forgetting all that God has been to you and done for you. "Sin IS pleasurable for a season, but in the end it brings forth death." It is very deceptive in that it appeals to the comforts craved by your flesh and it looks and feels so good. Perhaps you have already fallen prey to the enemy's deception and you feel that God might as well go ahead and allow you to be slain because even in this pleasurable season you know that you are guilty and condemned.
There is hope! Read on in this passage. Verse 8 says "yet He saved them for His name's sake." I really like that! God stepped in, in spite of everything they were doing that would turn His hand of protection away from them, and He saved them to glorify His own name to the Egyptians.  (I'm sure that the Israelites were impressed too because on the other side of the Red Sea, they had a dance party!) Yes, God, for no other reason than to show everyone how powerful and glorious He is, stepped in and saved His people. It had nothing to do what they deserved or didn't deserve.  It had to do solely with who He is and His perfect plan of redemption that would come through His people Israel. He is a Redeemer!
​
Now remember that being "but dust" does not mean you are a dirt bag! It means that you are what God created in His infinite wisdom and love. It means that He is on your side. It means that He cares for you even when you don't particularly care for Him. It means that He would split an ocean just to make a way for you.
If you are trapped by sin or the consequences of someone else's sin, turn your eyes towards God. He is there to help and make a way for you to reach the other side! Then you too, will have a victory song to sing!

​"For the land which you go to possess is not like the land of Egypt from which you have come, where you sowed your seed and watered it by foot, as a vegetable garden; but the land which you cross over to possess is a land of hills and valleys, which drinks water from the rain of heaven." Deuteronomy 11:10-11


The Israelites were on their way out of Egypt. They had endured 400 years of slavery at the hands of the Egyptians.  Still, they had managed to eek out a life and survive as a people. I'm sure that their lives had routines, however stark. I imagine that they were somewhat "used" to their lifestyle and it had grown to become "normal." Even though it was not the optimal lifestyle, I think that they had learned to get along and to be as happy as they could in it.


Then Moses and the miracles came along. I can imagine that had I been an Israelite during that time I would have been a bit fearful at all the supernatural events happening in Egypt. I can imagine that fear AND awe would have been present in my heart. I'm sure I might have wondered what I was getting into with this trip to the "promised land."


Eventually the day came when they had packed their bags and were exiting Egypt to an unknown land that would water itself, a stark contrast to the life they had in hot, dry Egypt. The thought of rebuilding their homes and re-establishing their families must have seemed both exciting and challenging to them but generations who had gone before them had often talked and dreamed of this day. I know they didn't know that 40 years lay before them but I have the feeling that they knew there would be hardships, possible battles and a lot of work. If human nature really does run true, I'm guessing the men were ready for the challenges and the women were not. LOL! Still they took a step of faith and stepped out of the borders of Egypt. What a feeling that must have been!


They left the reality of their "normal" and were entering into an huge unknown in order to inherit something different and better.


In the Christian life, we can become settled in our "normal." Our normal may be a bit like what the Israelites experienced in Egypt, full of situations that aren't the best but we've learned to manage them and they are easier to endure than to try to change. We may pray about them but we don't deal with them. We'd like for them to change, we may even need them to change, but the thought of what it might cost to change them far outweighs the price we pay to endure them, so we choose to stay in a spiritual Egypt. We tell ourselves it's not that bad and many others have it a lot worse than we do. 


Then God enters, as Moses did, and says you are getting out of normal and moving into something different. As you see it, you're not sure that what's coming is going to be better. It certainly isn't looking easy. You may not have a choice in the matter. You may be like those Israelite women. The decision is made and you just have to get ready for the trip. 


Lately I experienced this.  The actions of others caused me to have to let go of my "normal." My normal was not perfect in many ways, in fact there were parts of it that caused me continual heartache but I had decided to be content, to bear my burden, and to make the best of it-it sounded so spiritual. For whatever reason, God decided that I was not going to live in my normal any longer. As I looked at what lay ahead, I have to admit, I was fearful. What if the best parts of my "normal" would no longer be present in what lay ahead? I was sad. I had learned to be content where I was even though in the deepest, most hidden regions of my heart, I knew things should have been different in a lot of ways. I didn't know what to expect but I mourned the good of my normal that I had lost. 


Most of us who come through difficult situations with the Lord's help can look back on them and say I'm glad it happened. We don't emerge from the fray the same as when we went in. With God, we come out stronger, having more wisdom, and tougher. I wish I could say this about my most recent departure from my normal, but I can't honestly yet because I don't know quite how it's all going to pan out in the natural. Yet, I have hope and I have the knowledge that, as the saying goes, "if God brings you to it, He will bring you through it." And if He's the one bringing you through it, you can know that you will be better because of it. The grass truly can be greener on the other side.


I have learned a million lessons so far.  Because this was a journey I traveled completely alone, by the Lord's design, I learned the most important lesson that God is all we have and He is all we need. He is enough and much, much more. He is faithful, even when we, in our weaknesses, are not. We all know this as Christians but we don't truly know what it means until we have experienced it ourselves. He has promised that if we will put our trust in Him, He will not disappoint us. 


Does that mean that everything will pan out exactly as we think, expect or hope? NO! What it does mean is that His ways are higher (and better) than ours. He is meticulously caring for each of us. He knows what we need and how much we can bear, even when we think we can't bear another thing. For me, it all boiled down to the question of truly trusting Him with literally everything. That might sound weird coming from someone like me who has been made to trust God with some tragic and serious situations through the years. In those situations I was trusting God for someone else, not really for myself. This time, I was trusting God solely for myself. 


Sometimes we have to get out of where we are (our normal) to experience something better even if it means that our "normal" will never be normal again. Sometimes the thing causing the exodus from normal is painful, sometimes not but it will always be daunting and challenging. I am finding though that it is totally worth it.  Even though I don't know what my next "normal" may look like, I know the one who is shaping it is faithful, true, and loving. So I wait to see what He's designed for me.

Last year I had to have some physical therapy for a problem with my feet, legs and hips.  The first thing the therapist noticed when I took off my shoes was the long hard callous on the outside edge of my foot.  She told me “You’re not using your whole foot when you walk so the muscles in your feet are compensating for the muscles you aren’t using.  That is what is causing your problems.  Basically your feet are running at half strength and doing the work of your knees and hips too.”  This all started with trauma to my hip due to a car accident clear back in 1999.  Over the years, it just grew worse until I could hardly walk at all.
So the first thing she made me do was to start walking intentionally, that is concentrating with every step how my foot was striking the ground, making sure that I was using my whole foot when I walked. In essence I had to learn how to walk again.   I felt like a toddler as each tentative step was done with great deliberation.  I often caught myself staring at my feet while I walked.  I must have been quite a sight!  But as I worked at it, the callous began to disappear, my feet started to hurt less and my knees and hips began to feel stronger.  Between the exercises and the intentional walking, my need for therapy rapidly disappeared.  
There is a spiritual lesson here to be learned.  Not only must I walk intentionally in the natural, I must also walk intentionally in my spiritual life.  And in order to avoid problems, I must use all the gospel to live my life.  
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; 21 and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.
It is an easy thing to walk half-footed.   I know!  Certain doctrines of the Bible become our “pet” doctrines by which we live our lives, while other doctrines remain uninvestigated or applied.   For instance, if all we focus on is the doctrine of the cross, we live weak, pathetic, defeated lives because we have not embraced the doctrine of the resurrection power that is now ours through the indwelling Christ.  We simply stand before the cross in a sin-confess cycle and never receive the power of the new nature and the new life in Christ to live above sin so that it is no longer our master.    The verse “…behold all things become new” is filed along with all those verse we say but don’t live. 
If we ignore the doctrine of healing that is so clearly stated in scripture, we end up accepting sickness, weakness and disease as “God’s will” or “a lesson God is teaching me.”  If our sickness is God’s will, why do we fight it with medicine and treatment?  We would rather walk half footed than to admit that maybe our revelation and faith levels could use a boost.
And the most neglected doctrine of the Bible is the baptism in the Holy Spirit.  Because many depend on what they’ve been taught and have not sought the Lord with an open heart concerning this wonderful gift He will give to ALL believers, they limp through life attempting to build the Kingdom without the most important tool in their toolbox.  
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light…
The solution to this problem is that we must be people of the Word.  We must believe that the power, presence and will of God has not diminished through the years, if anything, with the indwelling Holy Spirit, it has to have increased on the earth.  If we could truly realize what it is that lives in and through us, our walk would be so much different.  We would not limp through life and our feet would be firmly planted with each step. 
Each day we must be in the Word, soaking in it, asking questions concerning it, praying and confessing it into our own life and experience.  When we walk intentionally, we use all that God has given us to have victory and success in the Christian life.

Even though I had time this morning to read, the Lord stopped me just one verse away from where he stopped me yesterday. I just love the way He can take one verse and fill my whole day with insights into His heart through His Word. The Word is an endless book. There is always more to glean by reading it.  It is living and active, not in that it changes but in that it is so deep, the treasures of it could never be gleaned even in a million lifetimes. It gently builds faith and revelation in a man, line upon line and precept upon precept but it is endless in its supply.

“3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater; 4 therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God 
for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure. 5 This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. 6 For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, 8 dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, 10 when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed. 11 To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess 3-12

Paul commends them because their faith and love has greatly increased and was growing even greater. It seems he is indicating that the strengthening of love was related to the increase of faith. I believe that love is a natural fruit of faith since our faith comes from God and God is love.  It would just make sense that love would increase as faith grows stronger. When we do not love one another as we should, it is a sign that our faith is weak because faith works by love. Our understanding of the love that God has for us is directly proportional to the amount of faith we can have in Him, thus affecting the amount of love we can have for others. Not loving others correctly hinders the work of God. If we cannot forgive, we cannot be forgiven. It can also hinder our prayer lives as well so that we cannot receive from God all that He has to give us.

But what really piqued my interest was that their faith and love were growing in the midst of persecutions and afflictions. IN THE MIDST of them. They weren’t as a result of having gone through them. The growth didn’t happen in a time of peace as preparation for affliction. No, they were currently experiencing them. 

I’ve experienced this in my own life.  My greatest battles have proven to be my greatest growth times. Our Pastor said on Sunday, “To acquire a great victory, you must walk through a great battle.” That just made sense to me. So many times we want to have great victories without having to go through the battle that it takes to acquire them. How can a victory be great if it was not hard fought? Even in sports, our greatest victories are the ones that we had to fight hard for. I rarely remember the games where we ran all over our opponent. It didn’t cost me anything to win. I didn’t have to stretch my mental or physical abilities to gain it. It was more like a light practice than a competition. Spiritual battles cause us to stretch, to push, to press through things. This causes growth. If we look at them as opportunities to grow and to see God work in our lives, it immediately takes some of the sting away and turns our minds heavenward from whence comes our help.

The best thing about spiritual battles is that we know who wins before we even enter the fray. So we can view them much differently than one with no hope and no help.  We are guaranteed victory through Christ “who always causes us to triumph.” We needn’t lose any battle that comes our way. Our adversary has already been overcome through Christ.  So the matter is not IF we will emerge victorious, but how we are to wage battle through to victory.

So why do we sometimes lose? 

We were blindsided
Sometimes we just don’t see things coming. Sometimes that is just the way it is. Often it is because we have not been walking entirely in the Spirit or our prayer times have been more talking than listening. When we had a devastating car accident, God did warn me something was coming, but I was so busy getting ready for the trip, I didn’t take the time I should have to pray and seek the Lord. But, on the other hand, I was praying and walking closely with God at the time so when it did happen, I recovered quickly because I realized that God had been preparing me through the months beforehand to handle it. In May my retina detached. In the months before that, I felt God preparing me for some kind of change.  I didn’t know what but I knew that challenges were ahead so when it happened, instead of panic, there was peace. Yes, it was emergency. Yes, we had to scramble to get surgery scheduled and it felt as if the situation was controlling us instead of us controlling the situation, but in the midst of all of it there was incredible peace. 

Lack of Knowledge
Did not God Himself say, “my people perish due to lack of knowledge?” Sometimes our troubles are self inflicted.  If we do not know what God says about the things that come to buffet us, then we cannot know what we can expect Him to do and be in the midst of them. God is merciful. He will even comfort sinners in the midst of adversity but for the Christian there is so much more available. Lack of knowledge concerning the Lord’s body and blood caused weakness (sickness) and even death among believers in 1 Corinthians. How do I know they were Christians? They wouldn’t have been taking communion if they weren’t. If we receive things from God through faith, then we must have knowledge of what we can expect from God if we are to receive by faith.  Without the knowledge of His will in every situation we face, we cannot have faith that He is able to accomplish His will in that situation. Jesus only did what He “saw His Father doing.” He always knew the will of God, even when he prayed “if it be they will.” Because of this He knew He could pray and see the will of God accomplished on the earth.

Laziness
Christians bear a lot of things because they aren’t that bad or doctors can help with the symptoms. Instead of fighting the fight, by the power and grace of Christ and allowing God to be glorified, they just accept things and live with them. Where physical healing could be there is sickness. Where restored relationships could exist, there are fractured ones. Where emotions could be stable and joy could be the ruling emotion of each day, there is depression or drug-induced happiness because the person is just too lazy to seek God for a victory plan and would find it too tedious to carry it out. This is also most likely coupled with the previous reason-lack of knowledge of the Word of God. Where things are bearable or tolerable, people just tend to put up them and miss out on what God has for them. Maybe these would seem like small victories, but without overcoming the small battles, the large ones are lost before we get started.

One of my favorite stories in scripture is the story of Paul and Silas in prison. They chose worship over worry. They chose witnessing over whining. They chose victory over quitting. How could they do this? How did they have the spiritual fortitude to do this in the midst of their persecutions and afflictions? Because the same grace and peace they brought to believers from God, they had already received themselves. They knew the will of God and rejoiced that they were right smack in the middle of it. Knowing that you are walking in the will of God is the greatest joy that a human can know. His will is perfect and worth every battle that we must face to see it accomplished in our lives. 

No matter what you are facing today, there is victory ahead and an opportunity for God to show Himself strong. Seek Him. Find His will. Follow His plan. Shine in the midst of hardship and let the world see that there is a God who is greater. 

I slept longer this morning than I normally do. By the time I had showered, grabbed my lunch from the refrigerator and made my morning smoothie, I didn’t have a lot of time to read my Bible before leaving for work. So as I sat down to read, I prayed and asked the Lord to give me a word in the time I did have. 

It just so happened that I was starting the book of 1 Thessalonians this morning. The first thing I read was the greeting of Paul to the Thessalonian church that says “Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:Grace to you and peace.” This greeting is used 17 times in scripture by Paul, Peter and the Apostle John.

I knew immediately that this was my word for the day. “Grace and peace.” Peace in grace. Peace because of grace. Grace for peace. Peace from grace. 

As a messenger of God, Paul brought them the message of God through the Holy Spirit to His church in Thessalonica-Grace and Peace. He could have started with commands or ordinances. He could have pointed out faults or shortcomings but He didn’t. Of all the messages He could have given, He gave first and foremost grace and peace. 

To those in God and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace and peace. An effect and fruit of being “in” Christ is supposed to be grace and peace. How often I fall short. How often I expect a more harsh greeting from the Lord because of my failures or weaknesses or shortcomings. While I expect a furrowed brow on the Lord’s forehead, He instead offers grace and peace. While I struggle to make it on my own I ignore what He has already given-grace and peace. As thoughts of circumstances assail me, it is there for me-grace and peace. 

It is because of God’s grace that we can live in peace. He has provided by His grace, forgiveness of sins, reconciliation and justification. We are right before God, in good standing, with our sin-slate wiped clean by the blood of His Son. That, in itself, is peace.

It is by grace that we know that all of His promises are yes and amen, His blessings are lavished upon us, we have favor in His sight, protection by His mighty right arm, the care of a perfect father, an abundance of wisdom and knowledge, a lamp to our feet and a light for our path. Our yesterday, today and tomorrow are all taken care of.

In Christ..In Christ... there is grace and peace. He is our shelter, our fortress, our sure foundation. I picture myself in the palm of His hand, under the shadow of His might right arm and the natural result is ...peace.  My God is able and willing and powerful to perform all that His Word has promised.

Of course, we receive nothing from God except through faith, but even faith has come through grace. He has given to every man a measure of faith. It is enough. 

I guess He answered my prayer.  I’ve been thinking on this all day. “Man does not live by bread alone but by every WORD….or two words that proceed from the mouth of God and today God has spoken, in fact in His Word He has spoken again and again….Grace and Peace! Thank you Lord! I receive it in Jesus’ name!