OVERWHELMED BY GOD'S GRACE

I have a little handwritten note pinned to my cubicle at work that reads
"Choose to be overwhelmed by God's grace!" I see it every day, but honestly
don't think much about it. Today, not one, but two customers commented on my
little note saying how much they liked it. That made me stop and reflect.
Am I truly "overwhelmed" by God's grace?

As many of you know I teach a wonderful Sunday School Class made up of about
20 beautiful women over the age of 75. Yesterdays lesson was from
Deuteronomy 33:1-5; 34:1-12. God takes Moses (at age 120) to the top of Mount
Nebo to show him the Promised Land that he will not enter. While on the mountain

with God, Moses died and God buried His friend in a place unknown to anyone.
After the appropriate time of mourning Joshua stepped into Moses leadership role.
Moses had prepared Joshua for this position by mentoring him along the way for
the past 40 years.

The focus of the lesson was what Spiritual Legacy will we leave behind? It was very appropriate since this was also Youth Led Worship Sunday. We talked about the differences in generational worship. We talked about the inspiration of the enthusiasm of the youth in our church. We talked about our obligation to be a godly example to the younger generations.

We have a Church wide Ladies Retreat planned for the end of March and I was
encouraging these sweet ladies to come and be an example to the younger women.
We talked about the fact that many times we don't go to an event because we
don't think the subject matter will pertain to us. ANYTIME the Word of God
is taught or preached it is ALWAYS appropriate to us. God has a message for
us whenever His Word is spoken. His Word never comes back void. Part of
our Spiritual Legacy should be to show those younger that we will never
"retire" from learning God's Word. A legacy of obedience to seeking God's
will for every moment of our lives. A legacy of obedience until the day He calls
us home.

What does this have to do with my being "overwhelmed" by God's grace?
It is ONLY by God's grace that I could possibly stand in front of 20 senior
Christian Women and talk to them about the Scriptures. A sinner like me!
By God's grace I have been lifted up out of the miry pit and washed clean
by the blood of Jesus. By God's grace I have been set free from the bondage
of habitual sin. By God's grace I am a child of the King! By God's grace I am
SAVED!

YES, I AM OVERWHELMED BY GOD'S GRACE!!!!

"it is by grace you have been saved" Ephesians 2:5b

Carly's new blog to follow: http://rodriguezfamilyaustin.blogspot.com/

FRIENDSHIP MEANS CLOSENESS

To my dear friends...I love each and every one of you.  I miss those that are far away and I enjoy the sweet company of those nearby.  I want to share an excerpt from Beth Moore's Bible Study "James: Mercy Triumphs".

     "Friendship means closeness: One of the most common Hebrew words translated friend is rea.  It bears all the elements we imagine in friendship but can also mean neighbor.  In fact, when Jesus illustrated loving your neighbor with the story of the good Samaritan, He drew from Leviticus 18:10 where rea is translated "neighbor".

    Here we stumble on a big reason why our online and on-phone friendships can't offer the same satisfaction as the less-convenient face-to-face kind. The essence of close friendship is presence.

     What does all this have to do with befriending an invisible God?  Recall Exodus 33:11! "the LORD spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend." Moses never literally saw that face (See Ex.33:23) but he came presence - to-presence with Him until his own face grew radiant. You and I are invited to come face-to-face or presence-to-presence with Christ, too, but that kind of intimacy only comes intentionally.

     Friendship with the world is vastly more convenient because we live on the crowded pinhead of its epicenter.  It's as close as our nearest billboard and shouts at us from our grocery-store checkout. It holds hands with us in the movies and eats with us in front of the TV.  It promises pleasure and often delivers.  So, no one who lives in this world is a friend of God accidentally.  We make a choice where we want to be most present.  A hard choice.

     Friendship means insider knowledge.  The unspeakably high privilege of friendship with God makes a person humble and friendship with the world makes a person proud.  The former He graces.  The latter He opposes. Can you think of anything in the world scarier than standing opposite of God?  Me neither."

     This week let's be intentional in developing our friendship with God.  Make time to spend time with Him.  Pray, read your Bible, engage in a Bible Study, listen to praise music. Friendship takes time and commitment.  I want to be a GOOD friend of God.

    "Be still and know that I am God"  Psalm 46:10

HE IS!

I bought the widely acclaimed devotional "Jesus is Calling" by Sarah Young for Carly, Candice and I for Christmas.  We are reading it each day "together".   I would like to share yesterday's devotion with all of you.

"Come to Me and rest.  I am all about you, to bless and restore.  Breathe Me in with each breath.  the way just ahead of you is very steep.  Slow down and cling tightly to My hand.  I am teaching you a difficult lesson, learned only by hardship.

Lift up empty hands of faith to receive my precious Presence. Light, Life, Joy, and Peace flow freely through this gift. When your focus turns away from Me, you grasp for other things. You drop the glowing gift of My Presence as you reach for lifeless ashes.  Return to Me; regain My Presence."

Matthew 11:28-29; 1 Timothy 2:8

I don't know what you are struggling with right now but I pray you would keep your focus on Him.  He is the light unto our path, He is the rock beneath our feet, He is quieter of storms.  He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, He is!