With Love,
Redemption Ministries
Mother’s Day 2017!
All posts by Grace
What Do You Love the Most?
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” – Deuteronomy 6:5 ESV
We are allowed to love – family, friends, animals. But we are called to love God above all. For when we love God so much more than anything else, we change for the better. In a way, we become what we love.
Our utmost hope, our whole love should be in someone eternal, someone who is unchanging, who is love (1 John 4:8).
In these last days, are you prepared to receive Him? When you calls you home, are you ready to receive Him with a joyful expectation?
Or do your thoughts focus on the things you have here on earth? Leave them in His care.
In One Word
“For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” – Ephesians 2:10 NLT
I’ve been asked several times at different points in my life this one question that had always vexed me. “Describe yourself in one word. What would it be?”
As always, when asked, I struggled to find the answer. The problem is, my identity was always changing. Before, I was a hearing person; now I am a deaf person. Previously, I was a Kumdo student. Now I am learning basic Krav Maga.
How do I define and describe myself? Which parts of myself do I see as a more defining area of my life? My career? I am currently pursuing a teaching degree. My family relationships? I am a daughter and a sister. My disability? I am deaf. My ability? I can speak clearly. Who am I really?
Paul confidentially declares in Ephesians 1:1 and other letters: “I am an apostle of Christ Jesus.” His identity was Christ and Christ alone.
What does this even mean? I have been pondering over that question more frequently as the years pass by. I thought of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). I mulled over His perfect obedience to Father’s will. Then I realized this.
Christ is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. He came to serve, not to be served. He knew what his foreordained purpose was: to give His life as a ransom for all (Matthew 20:28). Christ is our Redeemer! (Galatians 3:13-14; Ephesians 1:7, etc.).
And so now when I reflect on that question, today, I can confidentially say without hesitation in one word:
“Redeemed.”
New Series: The Four Gospels
New Series: The Four Gospels
New Series: The Four Gospels
Merry Christmas!!!
“But then the chosen time came. God sent his Son. A woman gave birth to him. He was born under the authority of the law. He came to set free those who were under the authority of the law. He wanted us to be adopted as children with all the rights children have.” – Galatians 4:4-5 (NIRV)
The Poor Widow’s Offering
The Poor Widow’s Offering
“Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”” – Mark 12:41-44 NIV
It was during Thanksgiving week. Up until now, I’ve been living well. I’ve always had a roof over my head, and never went hungry. I was able to complete my college education, and looking back, I see that the Lord has indeed been good to me. I never lacked opportunities for work.
In this, I am blessed.
While watching people give offerings and tithes to God, I was reminded of this verse.
No matter what happens, my hope and prayer is that I will never forget God – His goodness, His abundance, even in times of desperate need. May I follow the widow’s example – even in need, Lord, I pray that I will always honor You first with all I am and with all I have.
Thanksgiving Week
The list is growing!! What are you thankful for?
The Hand of the Lord is On Me
When I am feeling like I don’t have the courage I need to live boldly and bravely, I think about this verse in Ezra below.
Because the hand of the Lord my God was on me, I took courage and gathered leaders from Israel to go up with me. (Ezra 7:28b)
But when you read this verse, it makes you think: what does the hand of God on your life look like? We know the effects of the hand of God being on you: courage, boldness, drive, and determination– all things that we want for our lives because it gives us a purpose greater than our current state of life. But really, when the Hand of God is on you, what does that look like? The reason I ask this question today is because so many of us have the hand of God on our lives, but we don’t notice it and we therefore we have this favor and blessing from God and do nothing with it and our lives virtually appears like life without the Hand of God touching us.
When Israel (Jacob) wrestled with God and was touched by God, he had courage to move forward with his plan in confronting his older brother, from whom he stole the birthright. When the Apostle Paul was touched by God on the road to Damascus, his life purpose transformed from persecutor to gospel proclaimer. In both instances, when the Hand of God was upon them, quite literally, they experienced and realized their shortcomings and their handicaps. Yet, in their hearts, they knew they had a job to do, they had a purpose their lives were headed for.
You see, when the Hand of the Lord is on you and me, we see everything we cannot do and all the reasons why we shouldn’t, but we also realize that the dream we have within us just can’t be shaken away because God puts it there. God reminds us of it. It is there and then that we know that the Hand of God is on you and me and that we should have courage. To gather the people around us and share that dream and purpose and go set out to accomplish what God put on our heart. I bet despite your shortcomings and all the naysayers, you have a dream God gave you and you just can’t shake it. Now you’re at that place where you need to jump off and move forward– God’s hand is on you. It was on you the moment Jesus took up that cross and said, “it is finished.” It was on you the moment the heavens and earth was moved by God to send His son Jesus as ransom for our lives. We can’t forget that. Our shortcomings mean nothing to God; His hand is on us. Have courage and go with me to accomplish the dreams God gives to you.