Thanks Be to God

How amazing that God in His grace stooped down to intervene in my life. Apart from God, my life is nothing. My efforts are nothing. God through His grace has redeemed me. Now I am His and He is mine. What overwhelming joy and gratitude that brings! As Paul so aptly states, "Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift!"

Thanks be to God that He provided a way for mankind to be reconciled to Him.
Thanks be to God that He did not hesitate to sacrifice His Son.
Thanks be to God that He, the Christ, willingly went to the cross on my behalf.
Thanks be to God that He continues to let mankind know of His grace through His infallible word.
Thanks be to God for the generations of Christians before us who kept the faith and faithfully passed it on to ensuing generations.
Thanks be to God that He showed me my wretched state and that He reached out and "set my feet upon a rock."
Thanks be to God for His continuing work in my life.
Thanks be to God for His assurance that my future is secure.

Thanks be to God.

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30-Day Giving Challenge 2014

Since 2010, I have participated in the 30-Day Giving Challenge during the month of November. The premise is rather simple: each day of November be a blessing to those around you by giving each day. Since my fall has been rather busy, I've taken the time to plan out my giving for this year. I enjoy this part of my year, and I'm excited to see what happens this month.

I have put together a Pinterest board with some of my ideas. Check it out here if you'd like to see some of my plans.

As in the past, I will be blogging about my experience.

Also, I will be participating in the challenge by trying to make each of my "giving" acts anonymous. And thus, my posts might at times be a bit vague in order to keep things anonymous.

Come join me in the adventure!

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My Standing in Christ

"Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word." (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, ESV)

God loves us. The Most High God has looked down and considered my humble estate. He has loved me with an everlasting love. And, nothing can quench that love. His love has been demonstrated to me because of His grace. By His grace I am what I am. It has nothing to do with me or my abilities. It has everything to do with His unmerited favor bestowed upon me.

And in that truth - the fact that His grace is not dependent upon me - I find eternal comfort and good hope. This bedrock of faith enables me to withstand the storms and roller coasters of life. Because my God loves me, I can find comfort in any circumstance. As Paul says, "I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need." Because my God loves me, I am able to live a life that pleases Him. Because my God loves me, I can let my light shine so that others may see my good works and glorify my God. Soli Deo gloria.

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Growing in God's Will

"But how does this take place? How can believers grow in the full knowledge of God’s will? Paul’s closing words of Colossians 1:9 tell us: 'By means of all wisdom and spiritual insight' (literal translation). We understand the will of God through the Word of God. The Holy Spirit teaches us as we submit to Him (John 14:26; 16:13). As we pray and sincerely seek God’s truth, He gives us through the Spirit the wisdom and insight that we need (Eph. 1:17)."

Be Complete (location 484), Warren Wiersbe

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