Dear Ones,
Hope you are mindful of God’s grace as you go about your day. Al will be going to men’s group and am going to make egg dishes and have a treatment this morning; this afternoon we have Bible Study. Our hearts go out to all those who have lost homes and loved ones during the hurricanes and let us all pray much.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Don’t we need to be reminded often of the wonderful gift of grace that God gives to us. We may like to meditate especially on grace and sing songs of grace when we have blown it in some sinful behavior or attitude. It’s like a wakeup call to the fact that we are all needy and sinful and need grace, every single day! But the good news is as Paul says in Rom. 6:8-9, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you’re not under the law but under grace.” When we know Him, we are all under grace and His grace brings us freedom, not to do just as we please, but the power to do His will from our hearts.
Recently I read Psalm 25 and in verse 7 David is asking the Lord “Remember not the sins (the laps and frailties) of my youth or my transgressions according to your mercy and steadfast love remember me, for Your goodness’ sake, O Lord.” He is needing God’s mercy and grace which he could not earn but simply accept as a gift, His unmerited favor. Maybe all of us forget at times that God loves us, not because of what we do but for who we are in Him, for we cannot ever earn His love. Some think God loves them more if they try to do everything right…go to church, read their Bible every day, volunteer to help the poor etc. but that is not so. He loves us even when we don’t get things right, so why not rest from striving because He loves us unconditionally and perfectly. It is our pride that makes us feel we have to earn his love, for we were meant to simply receive it and let it fill our whole being. Like I read today, that nothing we do can make Him love us less, and nothing we do can make Him love us more.

In my own life when I fail and ask forgiveness, I realize more the depth of His love for He pours out His grace to me and looks at me as if I never did it. Isn’t that awesome?

Challenge for today: Read Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God-not the result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy