"You Are His Business"

Statistics show that by the end of the first week of January,
1 out of 10 people will have broken their resolutions.
In our previous post we read that our resolutions could
(and most likely would) at some point give way to our humanity.

We also recognized that we need not wait a full year to begin anew.
We learned that when you choose well,
and learn to walk confidently with the One
who has been to tomorrow and back,
our soul will become intricately and securely linked to eternity.

We learned that we can trust Him
with our brokenness.

We can bring Him broken promises and severed ties, He in turn will bring us the truth.

We can trust Him.......
when we are betrayed...
when our hearts' lie to our minds...
when we are led down a wide path...
we never,...
ever thought we would take.

We can trust Him when we are haunted by a past so marred with sin,
that we shudder to think that anyone should find us out....
the things we've done...
said...
and thought...

But fortunately for us, if we are living with broken resolutions....
He is faithful to continue.
Even, if we are embarrassed and scarred by our own failure...

Even, if we are returning to Him, clothed in smelly, sickened, and filthy rags.
He will love on us, in spite of the stench..

If we search for Him,
By His sweet grace..He will find us....
He will not disappoint!!!

He will pull us into His arms and shower upon us, His love and approval.
He will delightfully wrap us in a robe, pure and clean.
He will gently sing over us...as He lovingly prepares a feast fit for a child of the King. 

That, my friend is the business He is in!!!
You are His business.

2 Timothy 2:13 
"If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is"

Many of us have read the story or at least heard the story of the prodigal son. (found in Luke 15)
Listen to this incredible example of His redeeming love...


 Luke 15:20
"So he got up and went to his father.
But while he was still a long way off, 
his Father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; 
He ran to His son, 
threw his arms around him and kissed him."

This is exactly how He longs to love you....too.

He isn't worried or surprised that you are limping and broken.....
He offers you grace and healing....
for one incredible reason..
Because He doesn't want you to stay that way.

Don't wait to start again..Your Father is running to you.
He will meet you just as you are, regardless of how many times you fall.
When He picks you up, He will love you again..

When you find yourself basking in His grace yet again
...remember....

And this is key!!! 
When we have received His grace...in the midst of our mess.
We must remember !!!

His grace is there for us, 
His grace is offered to help us live Holy lives...


We must learn to live our life in such a way 
that the haunted life ...we have hidden from others...

becomes but a bitter memory of brokenness
that sweetly brought us to Him..

We must not play with grace...

"What shall we say then? 
Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be!"
Romans 6:1-2a

Continue on my friend..
choose well....for that is when
you will find that His grace 
truly becomes to you, the rock of your Salvation....

The glorious gift it is meant to be.

"The Others"

                                                        
I have been thinking this morning about the 'church'. I am not thinking about the building. I am thinking on the people and remembering a scripture....


"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."

Galatians 4:28

For some reason, when I awoke this morning...I could hear this phrase. 'God is a God of second chances'.
It is a nice way to start the day.

It is good to remember that His mercies are new every morning, because, they are.

It is our blessing that His mercies are 'not' new every week, or once a month, for we need them daily.
Isn't it interesting that He reminds us that His mercies are new at the start of our day? I think that is because, after we rest, morning is often when we realize the slate is clean.

So, as we circle back around, let's begin again, with these thoughts in mind.
He is taking us to a place of reflection.

I am thinking about the people in my life, that are different than me.
(who comes to your mind?)
 

It is a fact of life, that we are all different really. But, I am thinking about the condition of my heart and the lens that "I see" others through. 

If God is a God of second chances, and His mercies are new every morning. Why is it, so hard to remember that we are all "one in Christ Jesus".

I think it is because, sometimes we forget where we have come from. We forget that we are broken, that past the sweet perfume, nice suits and shiny Oxfords or torn shoes and ragged jeans, lies the sinner. 
It is by His Grace that any of us should approach Him.

It begins here in this moment.  A simple recognition that I am not who I think I am...
and neither are they..
..(remember, the ones God brought to your mind earlier)..
Instead we are His, as are they...saved by grace, redeemed by His Son, and seen through the lens of hope, forgiveness, and love.

Let us receive His grace and offer others His grace as well.
The slate is clean, He is a God of second chances.
Circle back around...and by His mercy, begin again.

"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus"
 Philippians 1:6