Tag: Jesus

Embracing God’s Grace: A Path to Hope

Grace: God’s Second Chance
Apart from God, there is no hope. Only eternal separation from Him. Can you imagine a life without hope? Now, can you imagine the Father’s declaration that we are not guilty in His sight? By faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. It is by faith that His grace is more than enough for us. It’s easy to glorify God in the good times. Have you had times of chaos when you simply didn’t think about glorifying God but focused on the situation instead? When times are chaotic and uncertain glorifying God isn’t so easy. It is through these times of chaos and uncertainty that we grow when we glorify Him. When we learn to persevere and have hope. Through perseverance, we grow in character, and through that growth, we develop hope. God’s love is so deep that by His grace we are given a second chance. When things feel out of control, remember the Father hasn’t forgotten you. He extends grace each day and you need only accept His grace for you.

Journeys With God

Have you ever felt that tug, you know the one, where you felt like it was time to move on but you weren’t sure where you were supposed to go to? I know I have and when the tug starts I get a restlessness and I know that God is getting ready to do something in my life. I loved being in ministry, I had been in ministry for over ten years when I felt the restlessness. I was burned out and knew it was time for a change. It wasn’t long before God opened a door. We had been through cancer with my husband and in 2016 we had lost my mom to thyroid cancer. Looking back, I think God was preparing me for what would be a roller coaster of a ride. He opened a door for me to work at the same place as my husband. I worked there for about a year when another door opened and I went to work for a lab. God was preparing me for ministry once more. In 2019 I went back to work at the church I had previously worked at and it was such a blessing. I thought I would be working out the rest of my work days at the church. Little did I know that life would be changing once again. Because of all the construction taking place on the island where I worked, it was getting difficult to make the trip 6 days a week. What used to be a 30 minute drive was turning into a nightmare of not knowing how long it would take to get to work. I was getting restless for sure but like I stated earlier, I hadn’t planned on moving again.

You know how we only see a portion of the picture, while God sees the big picture and He knows what is up ahead. No wonder He tells us not to worry about tomorrow for tomorrow has enough of its own worries. God knew there was a time coming in which I would need to be closer to home, closer to reaching my husband in minutes and not 45 minutes to an hour or more. He opened a door. This time I was going back to work in the same place I had worked at before which was where my husband worked. Before I knew it, God opened my eyes to see why He had brought me back to a place I never thought I would work at again. At first my husband needed to have gall bladder surgery. Then after two years of not getting COVID, our whole family came down with it. Praise God we only had minor symptoms and we were able to quarantine together at home. The time was coming when my husband would need me to be seconds away as opposed to the long drive across the causeway.

My husband has graciously allowed me to share his story. You see, in the fall of 2022 my husband had a major meltdown at work and had to be hospitalized for a season. It was without a doubt one of the hardest times for not only him but for all of us. He was out of state and the only way to communicate was via snail mail and the occasional calls. I grew to dread the calls because honestly, they weren’t pleasant. He begged me to let him come home because the place he was at wasn’t quite what we thought it would be. We thought it was a faith based place and it was but it wasn’t. Yes, it was what he needed at the time but it was hard. I had to be the tough one and say “no” every time he asked me to bring him home. I received his letters out of the order he had written them but not out of the order God intended them to arrive. Twenty-one days and let me tell you they were a long twenty-one days.

Some of the letters reflected the negatives and others were a little more upbeat and hopeful. Whew the negative letters-well it definitely wasn’t my husband. He did meet some Christians there also needing to get help and they sort of hung out together when possible. There were church services on Wednesdays & Sunday afternoons and a few people did attend. On one such occasion my husband witnessed someone accepting Christ as their Lord and Savior. He witnessed another rededicating their life to Christ. He was able to share a Bible study and had someone asking him to teach them how to read the Bible. But still it was hard being apart.

I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD.

Psalm 118:17

My husband’s life verse Psalm 118:17 –

Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

Nehemiah 8:10b

My life verse Nehemiah 8:10b

“For where His joy is there my strength lies and my sorrows are no more. You can’t have sorrow when you have His joy for sorrow can’t exist next to His joy.“

Jean Marie

Maybe you have a similar story whether you or someone you know. I would encourage you not to give up. As a caregiver it is probably the hardest job in the world when it is someone you love. As the one who needs a caregiver, it is the hardest thing to let go and let someone else help you. Especially when you can still function on your own for the most part. There is help out there for you both whether through seeking professional assistance or through (and to me the best and most effective help) prayer warriors and your church family. Maybe you don’t have a church family or people to pray for you. I can say this if there is one person in your life who is a Christian, trust me, they are praying for you. I am a living testimony to that. I had family praying for me after I left home and I never knew it until years later after I reconnected with my faith.

End of the Road

~well done

End of the road. Have you ever wondered what its going to be like when you reach the end of the road? Will you look around and think “Wow, I’m already here?” wondering if there was more you needed to do or could have done.

Photo by Pedro Sandrini on Pexels.com

When we accept Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior it doesn’t end there. That’s when the real work begins. We are to share the Good News of Jesus and what He did for us. I say real work but truthfully sharing what Jesus did for you isn’t so hard to do; it’s the rejection or jeering of your faith that can be hard to accept. Being laughed at or ridiculed or even ignored can be hard to swallow and sometimes leave you feeling like you don’t want to share anymore.

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.'”

Mark 16:15

Imagine you are one of the first Christians ever. You believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept that He is Lord and Savior. You go out into your neighborhood ready to share the Good News about Jesus and what He did for you. You knock on the door and step back waiting for someone to open the door. While you’re waiting, your body hums with anticipation and you begin to do a little dance right there at the front door just as your neighbor opens the door. He looks at you as if to say “what are you doing”? He arches his brow while resting his hand on the door ready to shut it in your face. You chuckle and tell him you have exciting news and are eager to share it with others. You start to tell him about Jesus and all of the things you have witnessed but before you finish telling him your exciting news, you get arrested and taken away. Arrested for telling others about Jesus and what He did for you. Turns out your neighbor was a high ranking official in the Roman empire. Penalty for sharing the Gospel? Death.

Continue reading “End of the Road”

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, that’s what you hear this time of year. As we were leaving the store, the cashier wished us a Merry Christmas. In response, we of course replied with a Merry Christmas to her as well. Leaving church this past Sunday, everyone was wishing each other a Merry Christmas and safe travels for those who were traveling to see family. As Christians, we often say that people miss the real reason for the season. Maybe you’re a Christian who has uttered those very words. Or you may not even know Jesus as your personal savior. We’ve heard the story of the birth of Jesus but let’s go back and check it out.

Luke 2:11 “For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

Joseph is nervously pacing the living room of his best friend’s home wondering if she’ll say yes. We don’t know his friend’s name but we’re going to call him Matthew.

Joseph, seriously you need to quit pacing. You’ve been courting Mary for well over two years now and you received her father’s approval to marry his daughter. Why just last week at dinner with Zacharias and Elizabeth, you shared your plans with them and they were excited for you both. Even Elizabeth her relative, said that Mary will say yes. She of all people would know.

Matthew, what if she says no? Then what? I love Mary so much that I can’t imagine life without her.

Mary will say yes, if you only get the nerve to ask.

Can you imagine a conversation like this taking place? And after she agrees the excitement and joy he must have felt upon their engagement?

Matt! She said yes! Mary said yes! We are getting married!

I told you man, I knew she would say yes. You are a good man and it’s obvious to everyone around you that you belong together.

And then the unexpected happens. Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant and not by him. They hadn’t even been together. What?! How can this be? He decides he can’t be with someone he can’t trust and plans on breaking things off in secret. His heart broken by what he presumes to be an unfaithful betrothed, he falls into a troubled sleep where the truth comes out in a dream.

Matthew 1:20-21, 24-25 “But while he thought about these things, behold, and angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.'” “Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus.”

Can you imagine what Joseph must have been thinking? I like to imagine he must have thought something like this: “wow, my wife is carrying the Savior of the world”. The awe he must have felt knowing that he would be a part of raising the Savior. A humble man and woman, chosen parents to raise the Savior as a normal child. Can you imagine looking into the face of this tiny baby knowing that He was Royalty and you had the responsibility to raise Him?

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Jesus is the reason for the season. He came that we might live. His shoulders are strong and can bear our burdens. He’s waiting for you.