Call Me Grace

My mother had a difficult delivery as a young newlywed just shortly before her 18th birthday. She was so out of it, they should have done a C-section, she didn’t see me for three days. She had thought of naming me Angela, she told me, but somehow my aunt stepped in with Rebecca and so here I am, I can’t complain, it means close to God.

Grace has been a popular name for years, it did fall out of fashion for a while but is back. I prayed for baby Emily Grace, the miracle girl. And I think it is a beautiful name for a little girl, first or middle. While we may hear people who trip over things or aren’t as coordinated, perhaps not a good dancer, say, ” Graceful, I’m not. ” Well, I want to be graceful and in His image, so just call me Grace.

While I believe in Mark 11:23, that you will have what you say, if you can believe. It is more than that, everything I have said may have been answered with the yes and amen in Christ, but are not all at fruition, people have to cooperate, mountains have to move. It takes faith, our profession, hope in Jesus, and the pure love of God.

God never imposes His will on anyone, not everyone agrees with His plans. His time is not always ours, He knows the best one. He can tie up loose ends, wrap it up in a nice package. Grace is His gift. Grace is the favor we do not deserve. We are saved by grace, Ephesians 2:8, because we can’t do it ourselves.

Grace is truth, grace is favor, and grace is even a source of peace. Actually, grace is Jesus. Read how He could not be moved by arguing disciples, the religious sages, the crowds. He was never tricked or deceived, or drawn into conflicts. Keeping His mouth shut at the trial and crucifixion, is nothing but amazing, thank you Lord, for a precious gift of grace.

Here are a few definitions of natural grace, you can multiply that on the grace of God.

1.

elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or action: We watched her skate with effortless grace across the ice.

2.

a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment: He lacked the manly graces.

3.

favor or goodwill.

4.

a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior: It was only through the dean’s grace that I wasn’t expelled from school.

5.

mercy; clemency; pardon: He was saved by an act of grace from the governor.

There are more but there are about grace periods, and as a verb we have

1.

to lend or add grace to; adorn: Many fine paintings graced the rooms of the house.

2.

to favor or honor: to grace an occasion with one’s presence.

3.

but for the grace of God under less fortunate circumstances: But for the grace of God, the brick that just fell from the roof would have hit me on the head!

4.

by the grace of God thankfully; fortunately: By the grace of God, I won’t have to deal with tax returns for another year.

You call aso be be in someone’s good graces or bad, fall in and out of favor. But God isn’t like that, He wants to forgive and restore, He will correct us with His love. He is patient, but won’t wait forever. He can reach into any situation and fill it with His grace, His beloved Son.

Do want to be beautiful in manner or form, elegant, even in speech and testimony. Do we want to adorn a room like a fine painting, we are His masterpieces. Ephesians 2:10. Don’t we desire pleasing and attractive qualities? Don’t we want God’s favor? Favor from a superior?

Shouldn’t we want to grace wherever we are with our presence? Jesus does that, So even if we are not aerialists, gymnasts or figure skaters or a graceful ballerina, we are daughters of the King, His beloved, the children who should be walking in His light and love, we want grace.

I want His favor and His grace, I want Jesus, so call me Grace. Rebecca Jones / Valerie Elash

https://whatsinthebible.com/what-is-grace-christian-meanings/

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The Beauty of His Grace

Go ahead and read any verse about grace. It will cover the beauty of His grace. We don’t deserve it but He offers it if we receive it. So many people are running toward it and receiving it, some unfortunately abuse it and still others are going away from it not realizing He offers it with the blessing of each new day.

His grace abounds, overflows and is extended freely, day after day. It is like a waterfall or an ocean wave over us cleansing the condemnation and guilt, the shame that we so often bear, holding our pasts and our hurts within.

His grace is like a fragrant rose that fills the garden of God. It is a kiss of peace on the forehead of a child or the breath that passes our lips in praise. It is on the wind of His Spirit, the pure white wings of a dove that brings the olive branch of peace. It is sacred and holy, heavenly.

His grace is enough, more than enough, for whatever we face or go through, because it is about Him and not us, we do what we do by His grace, it is never us. There is grace to cover sin, saving grace, amazing grace. There is grace upon grace, measures of grace and grace beyond what we can ask or think. There is grace for every need. Grace that flows from the throne of God. There is grace in His perfect love.

Grace is a mist, a gentle rainfall, a snowflake pure and white. Grace is a bud, a bloom and a blossom. Grace is a whisper, a song, a word of praise and worship. Grace bows, is on his or her knees, prostrate in prayer. Grace speaks, grace laughs and grace weeps. Grace is holy and pure and is a sacred covenant of peace between the Father and the world that He gave us through His Son, because Jesus was and is the truth, Jesus is grace and peace.

Grace comes along every morning and every night. Grace is there for the asking, grace is there for the receiving, and grace is something you can give to others, because you have been through it yourself. But grace like love should never be abused and His discernment is imperative, wilful disobedience is not grace.

Grace is a new creature in Him, delicate, a butterfly wing. Strong, as holding His pierced hand. Grace is light like peace He speaks peace over you. Grace is great, abundant like His life giving sacrifice. Grace is simply the love of Jesus.Grace is free, but it is not to be cheapened, He paid it all and it cost Him dearly and cost Him everything. Grace is freedom in His Spirit. Grace is the fruit of His Spirit. Grace is the truth of His words, grace is the keeping of His promise.

And there is beauty in His grace because the presence of His love is the only true and lasting beauty. And He gives us grace upon grace. Grace, grace and more grace. Grace and peace. Praise His holy name. Rebecca Jones / Min An

Restored By Grace

Have you ever lost anything and had to have it replaced? A credit card, a filling? Some things you can lose and never find or know what happened to it, the earring, the twenty you knew was in your purse.

And there are some things you can lose and never replace, a broken heart, a relationship, friend or family. A business deal, a home. Some things are priceless and can never be restored by us.

Like a masterpiece, a painting from centuries ago, a shattered vase or manuscript torn in pieces, these are priceless items that museum curators take great care to restore them. I mentioned in another post watching the nuns repair the Shroud of Turin.

It is like doctors trying to heal a body, there is only so much they can do, medicate or operate, but the person’s will to live and faith, and just the hand of God and His mercy or grace have more to do with it.

I tend to believe that mercy lets go, and grace holds on firmly. Though that it not necessarily so. We read that the Lord restores our soul in Psalm 23, did David mean a daily renewal, or just from the depths of despair?

God promises to restore even the lost years in Joel 2:25, the locusts are literal in reference to the land and fields, the crops. But in the spiritual sense, it is the demonic, the desperate, the cruel and often fiendish attack that the enemy has thrown against our souls that He has to restore.

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! Hebrews 12:24,25.

He says He must remain in heaven, and speaks of restoration in Acts 3. As we study grace in this New Year let’s be reminded to obey the voice from heaven that we know is the Lord by His Spirit,  ” Once more I will shake not only the earth, but heaven as well.”The words, Once more,” signify the removal of what can be shaken— that is, created things— so that the unshakable may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.…for our God is a consuming fire. ” Hebrews 12:27,28.

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! Hebrews 12:24,25.

Some things you can just run to the store for, and somethings take much greater care. And something that though try as we might, we cannot restore on our own, but nothing is impossible to the one who loved us and save us by His grace, nothing He can’t do or make new, or be restored by grace. Rebecca Jones / Gromotovaya, pixabay, thank you.

Grace In Place of Darkness

 

Children are sometimes afraid of the dark, sometimes they use that as an excuse. Grown ups are no different. Some people have real fears, others make excuses. Fear is a strange thing, I have heard so many things that people fear, false evidence appearing real. I have had some zingers myself, but I have not been given a spirit of fear. His grace moves fear, it will back us into love, His perfect love and cast it out, For those who suffer from the triple threat fear, torment and terror, it takes grace, it takes Jesus. Jesus is grace.

We all have to distinguish real danger, caution and common sense from the unholy three, fear, terror  and torment. You must pray aloud that you are righteous of God for that Isaiah 54 promise to stay in effect. That no weapon will prosper. It helps tremendously. I wish someone had told me to pray that years ago, I believe, it would have saved me a lot of trouble.

Many people walk around in darkness. Some of them believers. They walk in depression, sickness, and miss out, why? Darkness. John 10:10 is clear there is no doubt. But until you get to walking in more perfect ways, God is patient. I feel as though we are running out of time to win the lost, and break the church free of it’s miseries, so let’s look at the darkness upon us if we allow it. We don’t want to, do we. We want His abundant grace.

Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. Psalm 34:5  Jesus took our shame Isaiah 53

Psalm 23:4 says though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Did you get that? Death is evil, causes fear and and casts a shadow. God’s wings cast a shadow, no doubt the cross cast a shadow. Jesus holds the keys of death, hell and the grave, He took them back. They are many other names for our enemy. Fear, not common sense but inordinate fear, is the devil, death is a spirit that takes the body as the soul and spirit depart.

So life and death both cast shadows and in a shadow is darkness, the difference is the inside of a person. You could stand in the light and have darkness inside or be in the darkness, and have the light of Jesus, and in Him, no darkness at all. Your eyes are on Him and full of grace. Hebrews 12:2

Isaiah 49:2 says, He, (God) made my mouth a sharpened sword and in the shadow of His  hand. He hid me. Would you be afraid of that dark? No, Psalm 63:7 says because He is our help we should sing in His shadow.

If you carry the weight of guilt, shame and despair, are feeling unloved, don’t keep walking in darkness. Even if you are rotten to the core, full of hate and jealousy, harbor adulterous or even murderous thoughts, get rid of the dark. How? Let Jesus light your way. He extends a hand of grace to worst of sinners, even the chiefest, like the Apostle Paul calls himself, he was responsible for murdering Christians before converting.

The devil and his minions belong in outer darkness and the lake of fire. Not people, unless they are absolute evil and totally refuse deliverance. And there are people like that, and I am concerned that there are Christians like that. Not that they will end up in outer darkness, just letting it overtake their souls with fear and worry. We have to face fear at times, but when we do there is grace for those afraid of the dark. For God has not given us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and sound mind…2 Timothy 1:7 Rebecca Jones / pexels

Grace To Prosper

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

How many of us grew up hearing a so called prosperity gospel only to be hearing later on of something going wrong and even recanting the provision of Christ to and extent. I  was one who began to believe that I wasn’t supposed to be as successful. I even tried bargain with God, healing in exchange to not write and real career. How silly of me.

It plainly tells us that Jesus was rich, He had heaven at His disposal , He live in a palace and sat on a throne, could drive a chariot, walk on streets of gold. Angels would do as they were told, they could sing and praise Him, but His Father had created people in His image and they had fallen from His grace, it would take years but God had a plan for them to be redeemed, there were sacrifices taking place every day in the temple, but only one would suffice a righteous God. Jesus.

I once read a lady’s thoughts on a conversation they may have had walking a corridor in heaven, Jesus had to be willing, He knew what He was giving up. He knew He would be born to die. Of course, Jesus had walked with Adam and Eve, and appeared several times in the Old Testament. But it would take God overseeing the perfect lineage before Mary would conceive a child placed gently in the womb by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus did agree, if you think that is His grace is amazing, what about His love? He was born and put into a stone manger, swaddled, the imagery not to be lost on the wounded and pierce body of a man in a tomb. He did not stay poor for long , the wise men came and brought gifts, this money, no doubt, helped them hide when they fled to Egypt, to avoid Herod killing Him.

Jesus was twelve and teaching the sages, there is a period of His life we are told nothing about. But He was a skilled carpenter which provided for Him as well and when He began His ministry, many followed and contributed, including women. But it was Judas who would betray HIm and He was led away to the cross, this is when He really becomes poor for us, He had been powerful enough to knock over those coming to arrest Him even after being in agony in Gethsemane. He even healed an ear, He let them take Him or they could not have, that is power and glory.

In agony, He bore the beating, the lashes, the crucifixion, all as our sins and shame were taken out on Him by vicious and cruel men, His love held Him there, knowing one day we would believe. Remaining quiet is what gets me, finally He would ask why God had forsaken Him.

As all that sin, shame, hate and anger, sickness and fear pours through Him, He knows that His Father can not look upon Him, for He is too holy, He gives up His Spirit announcing, it is finished. The veil of the temple is rent and so was His flesh, each approximately four inches thick, that is why we may boldly approach the throne of grace. He gave up being the Son for a moment of time, So we could have His Father, and salvation.

So don’t tell me Jesus went through all this for nothing. He did not waste His time of life on the cross, thankfully, He rose and sits in heaven again, and if he choose to bless us so be it, He was poor for us to be rich, and not just spiritually, He gives power to get wealth, He wants us to share His gospel.

There is nothing wrong with prospering, as long as your possessions or money do not rule over you, but that you make Him the first person in your life and He will guide you and bless you. I can’t fathom what He suffered for me, perhaps, you can’t either, and many of us have been confused about finances, but He wants to bless us and He can afford to be generous and so can we, He was made poor for us to be rich, amazing love, and amazing grace, thank you, Jesus. Rebecca Jones / Valerie Elash

 

Healing and Grace

My blog is about faith, encouraging women in all walks of life and at all stages of believing in Christ, and even those who may not, to know that they are really are deeply loved by Him and that He is the healer. It is difficult to believe that for yourself, when it is your body racked with pain, I know, but I have received so much healing, been privileged to see the miraculous, that I have to share. It is why we must remember His sacrifice for us.

We have to keep our heart and mind open to His promises, sowing healing verses before you are sick is a good idea, but we don’t always do that. And then when we are, it is sometimes harder to believe, but not impossible with HIm, nothing is but without Him is surely is and we know His grace suffices, even a day at a time.

I have seen people take handfuls of pills and of vitamins, if one works, two is better. migraines. But you can even overdo vitamins, you really can’t eat enough of certain vitamins, supplements may be alright, but vitamins, like some medications are plant based and we live in a fallen world, I have found it easier to rely on the Creator instead of the creation. Holy Communion daily, is also a path to healing, but you must understand that it is proclaiming His death until He comes, and discern what it is for. He forgives sin, and you are not unworthy to take it as a believer, unless you are still willfully sinning. You can insult the Holy Spirit of grace.

A lot of people have made resolutions, other have picked a word. I started with grace and will end up with it, perhaps with others words as well. I love words. Grace and healing are good words, they go together, like grace and truth or grace and peace.

But for His grace, I too may have turned to over medicating for pain, thankfully, I found wisdom and began to seek alternatives, but none has proved more helpful than rest. Rest for the mind, will and emotions, the soul. Not just the body. Rest from a troubled mind and heart, bring your thought in the obedience of the cross. He finished the work.

Finding the calm that is in the love of Jesus, it will settle those anxieties and out of control emotions, sow in the fruit of the Spirit. And there have times, I felt like I was willing myself well, and so I was. You are agreeing with God because He wants you well too, I know how hard it is when you are hurting but consider this, He died for us before we were saved, while we were sinners. He considered us saved even at the cross, and even farther back when He decided to come. he holds eternity in His hand, so think about the fact that He sees you healed even before you got sick.

There are a lot of ways to lessen stress, walking, soft music, me time, a hot bath. And the Dove chocolates are must. Cut down on the caffeine, though. If you love coffee limit it if you think it is contributing to anxiety or headaches. Quality time with the people you love, turning off the electronics, having a pet. Read devotionals, create yourself a sanctuary, seek His peace, John 14:27 And sing, whether you can or not. God loves praises.

James 5:14, says to anoint the sick with oil, while it says elders of the church believers can do it for themselves. I have often grabbed some cooking oil and prayed for myself. There are anointing oils, rubbing the temples. Remember, we are the temple to the Spirit, and robbers and thieves will still try to go after His promises.  And there is of course an anointing from the Holy Spirit, He brings healing, He is represented by oil, water and of course a dove in the Bible.

We can, of course, lay hands on others as believers to pray for them, with their permission of course, I encourage women to do that, but be careful who you let pray for you. Many may mean well, but lack faith and some are not practicing faith in Jesus as much as other things, other religions and beliefs do not mix with His ultimate sacrifice. There are many enticements and misconceptions about healing and health, loads of self help and products galore, but don’t worry, belief in a loving Lord and His Spirit will guide you to the truth.

Neck and shoulder massages are great, the occipital bones, I studied manicuring and took a course on reflexology, as I said I am not into New Age, but foot massages do increase blood flow and help circulation. Get a professional one as often as you can, or get a friend or spouse to give you one.

It is imperative to get the eight hours you need, there are days now I do ten or twelve as compared to the, sixteen or eighteen I was on the go before. The Lord gives sleep to His beloved, it won’t do any good to worry, stay up late or get up early. Psalm 127:2

What I hope to convey more than anything  is that God is love and the more you know that you are loved, the more you love and share His love and grace, the more grace and healing you have. Love and prayers, may His grace and healing pour on you today. Rebecca Jones /  Petra Bauman, pexels, thank you.

Sufficient Grace

I get it, I really do. You don’t think you can stand another minute of it. You can barely get up or put one foot in front of the other. You can’t even stand to face the day or your family. There’s another pile of bills, the boss is cranky, the kids are whiny.

Your to do list never gets done. And you prayers are going nowhere, or so you think. What we think and feel are not always true and no matter what the situation the Bible is true about what Jesus said. The sages recorded a lot including thing which you should avoid. Don’t count yourself out if you have prayed and are yet to receive.

We all know the story of Paul seeking the thorn in His flesh to be removed. And the Lord tells Him after three times that His grace is sufficient. And you know it is. He has made ways for me when there none, and even providing that Sabbath rest so I could receive.

But let’s look at Paul. What an amazing turn around from holding the coats of the Jews that were stoning Stephen, who saw the Lord stand up to greet him, to becoming and Apostle himself. A man widely feared, would go on to write much of the New Testament. Paul was not just persecuted for who he used to be, but who he had become in Christ.

A lot of times so are we. We are persecuted and afflicted, unjustly by others and by our enemy, the accuser. We must consider that Paul had major revelation from the Lord. he spent a lot of time in His presence, received a lot of knowledge. That is why God allowed the thorn, that is clearly defined as a servant of satan sent to buffet him or strike him.

When I was a young believe I would hear old time Baptist preach who meant well say it was his eyesight. And he does refer to writing big letters, but I believe that is long letters, or just the heavy parchment, clearly Paul was beaten, thrown in prison on numerous occasions and shipwrecked. Clearly, he was under an attack to keep the gospel from being preached. And perhaps, it is merely that he emphasizes grace. I have read more and more about it to write this series. It does abound.

We know Paul wrote about the gifts of the Spirit, and said he spoke in tongues more than any of the others, so he was denting the enemy’s strongholds in those cities, a lot of pagan practices, idolatry, and worshipping the goddess Diana to name a few.  So what was his thorn?

I can’t really tell you. It could have been money. It could have been someone he worked with or just a recurring problem. Or it could have been a physical ailment. Rest assured that God only allowed it, so Paul would know who was God. While we may seek Him and He shows us things we did not know and gives us many gifts, we have to know who really is God and not become full of ourselves.

Paul was in the Spirit, even declaring that statement of being in and out of the body, being caught up into the third heavy. This man who was against Christians was now converting masses. And though some think he was Anti-Semitic, that just isn’t so, he had been given grace to preach what Christ wanted to give us freely, His grace, and that alone saves us. Ephesians 2:8,9.

I know the heavy loads we can carry, that is why we should go to Him and rest. Many people suffered and died to share the gospel but none was capable of doing what Jesus did. He alone is worthy. And His grace works in our weakness by His Spirit. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Grace is defined as favor, kindness, even beauty, pleasant and precious in some instances, the word is Hebrew is chen, and in the Greek, charis. But no matter how you say it, it is amazing, and I believe grace is a person, a man named Jesus.

While I have read about so many suffering people, with heart troubles and cancer, even suicides, we must remember that if we have believed on Jesus, in His name and been saved by grace, we have found favor in His eyes, the Holy Spirit is there to convict of sin but no to condemn, and if you desire mercy, He understands but if you stay in the fight, He fights for you, and His grace is sufficient. Rebecca Jones / Ambar Simpang Unsplash, thanks.

Grace, Rest, and the Would Nots

I’m sure you are wondering about this title. It’s from Hebrews 3:18. And to whom was God speaking when He took an oath that they would never enter His rest? Wasn’t it the people who disobeyed him?

These are the wanderers who would not enter His Sabbath rest. The would nots. God was angry and swore they would not enter because of disobedience. But grace comes in with Jesus and again in Hebrews 4.

So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from His. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.…4:9,10, 11.

God rested from His work after creation, the Sabbath rest is finished work, just as Jesus completed His plan of redemption on the cross. The wandering children of Israel were disobedient, they wanted Commandments, a king, idols, anything but to let God be God. And that was their disobedience.

They never rested in the idea of a loving Father who knew what was best and continued on an errant path that made God angry, but He reinstated the rest for believers in Christ. Likewise, we must let our faith, hope and love rest in Him. He finished the work on the cross.

God makes good plans for us, if we will rest and follow Him, seek Him in the quiet of a prayer closet, and yet believers today still choose the old ways. Perhaps, they forget grace in trying to continue to observe the law. Or they think grace allows sin, but that is not so, it is just that wherever sin is, there is God with more grace if someone believes. We must never abuse grace with willful sin or insult the Spirit of grace by making His blood a common thing, it is precious, everlasting and on the mercy seat of our heart offering forgiveness.

Isn’t Jesus still on the throne, isn’t He exalted? Isn’t He at home in our hearts? Then we should enter His rest, and be obedient to the Holy Spirit. I like to think that Jesus isn’t worried, that’s why He tells us not to. Is His heart troubled? No, and He says for ours not to be and not afraid. That is another attempt to steal the rest of faith.

Anything that keep our focus off Him and His promises will work against our rest. Controlling our thought life is important, we have to have a renewed mind . We are to have the mind of Christ, that takes rest and and study, sowing His word into our spirits by His grace and by His Spirit.

He also tells us about being ignorant of the enemy’s devices, so that we would not be outwitted by satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs. 2 Corinthians  2:11. It translates with the term I would not have you be ignorant in some instances. I like to study different versions. I learn a lot from them.  And the King James, I would not have you be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts. 1 Corinthians 12.

So there are things, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, would not have us uninformed about. Paul also would not. And we should not want to be would nots in the sense of being stubborn, refusing to learn, clinging to disobedience. Not entering rest. Jesus gave us grace and truth to help us enter.

There are people who simply cannot rest, see no peace. And many are believers, if you are not perhaps you would like to have Him to help you, just ask Him in as Lord, and for His Spirit to teach you. Don’t go back to old ways, rest.

Many of these people are also suffering illnesses, mental and physical and some simply can’t turn off their mind at night, but He can help you, by His grace, to rest in Him. And you can even find His peace, and no longer be a would not. Rebecca Jones / pixabay

As a study, look up things not to be ignorant of.

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. Ephesians 4:18

• Note on women being silent in church, pr speaking in tongues, or prophesying that was the custom then, not so much now but is not allowed in certain denominations.

Resting in Grace

I have written a lot about rest. Not just the eight or more hours of sleep you need but the peace that Jesus gives us a believer to rest in the promises of God, that no matter how bad it looks, He is in control and He is faithful.

I have to say learning about rest has brought to a more exacting peace. It is the Phillipians 4:7 kind that guards your hearts and minds. I wish I could say I walk in all the time, I know I should. The truth is the flesh will start to think otherwise and sometimes it is a battle to control the thoughts but I manage with His grace.

Grace is the person of the Holy Spirit in the believer, Grace is Jesus, who sent us the Comforter. He is there to remind me of His rest, and that the greater one is there. Some days require more grace than others, but nevertheless, it is there for the asking, though it has already been given as a gift. We just don’t always step in and receive it, and our words will betray us easily.

Resting is being still and quiet before the Lord, we often pray but don’t listen to hear the answers, a lot of time, mine is just to rest. He knows what I pray, I don’t have to keep worrying. I don’t have to be afraid. It is a lot on the heart of a believer and why John 14:27, emphasizes if not commands us not to worry or be afraid, but to believe, and that He left His peace, also Psalm 46:10 is about being still.

When you can just drop these weights and the excess baggage you will be lighter in your spirit, He will break off heavy chains and burdens, His is easy and light, if you can rest, and it even takes His grace to do that. I never understood that before, how He really took our place because we could not have done it, made atonement, nor kept covenants.

Grace and peace go together. Grace and truth. Grace, Grace and more grace, grace upon grace. He loads us with daily grace, but grace and rest are walking hand in hand as well, they make a great team, They guide us into truth and bring us wisdom.

So pray about your situations and rest. He will give you grace to do it. Meditate on the promises of God concerning your needs and He will supply the grace. Too often we take our prayers right back up  and start helping Him or try fix it ourselves if it isn’t answered soon enough. That never works.

So please take a moment to reflect on your prayer life. Is it as good as it gets or can you do better? I’m sure I can by resting in Him. There might be times you feel you could not pray your way out of a proverbial paper bag, you don’t have to. The Holy Spirit prays for us, let Him. Romans 8:36. And get answers by resting in His grace. Rebecca Jones / Candice Picard Unsplash, thanks.

Multiplying Grace

I am not great at math but I can multiply. And wow, did Jesus ever do that. remember the story of the loaves and fishes, and how He fed five thousand not including the women and children, He actually did this on two occasions.

And the disciples had to go around and pick up leftovers. He did this when people had followed Him and stayed, they were hungry spiritually and now literally. There is always a spiritual implication. We can do the same, be supernaturally fed after hungering and thirsting for Him and spending time with Him, even fasting.

The tempter came when Jesus was hungry, leaving off the beloved, asking that if He was the Son of God to turn the stones to bread. How ridiculous! It didn’t work and it won’t on us as believers with multiplied grace and peace. He is our bread and our rock.

He is our manna from heaven, we feast on His goodness and grace. He is the bread of life and while this picture illustrates a plate of goodness, pancakes of some kind, we do not live by bread alone by every word from God, and Jesus was the living Word. He gave us those words to live by, to feed His sheep and lambs, and to multiply.

Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 2 Peter 1:2 Some translations will say be in abundance, same illustration of overflowing baskets. And also as you grow in grace or knowledge of Jesus.

He freely extends grace, and we are to as well but using wisdom, discernment. While grace is about forgiveness, it is not a pass to abuse or misuse. Keep in mind that as grace is multiplied, so is peace.

I know I have received a lot of grace, and the peace is worth having above all, His peace. It takes knowing Jesus as Lord, having not just a personal relationship with Him but a deep one, and an intimate one. Loving Him and letting Him love you. We love Him because He loved us first. 1 John 4:19.

We can reap a harvest by what we sow, don’t worry about the tares with the wheat, He will sort that out. we can cast our bread upon the water and it will return after many days. I like the Contemporary version of that for God see when  obey him and do the works He planned, not trying to earn is grace. Ecclesiastes 11:1 Be generous, and someday you will be rewarded.

Let’s ask Him to multiply grace and peace this year in Jesus name, and we will gladly pick up the extra loaves and even catch some fish along the way. My prayer is this, May mercy, ( and grace ) peace, and love be multiplied to you. Jude 1:2 Rebecca Jones / pexels