Show Mercy and Give Grace

a  :  unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctificationb  :  a virtue coming from Godc  :  a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine grace
a  :  approval, favor;  grace
s>b  archaic  :  mercy, pardon disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemencyc  :  a temporary exemption :  reprieve 
Grace ~ God's unmerited favor. 
Some of the definitions I found for the word GRACE.  I think often about the grace of our holy God. Love and mercy not because we deserve it or have done anything to earn it, but because God wants us to have His grace.  His love shown to the unlovely. Him reaching down to us, when we don't deserve it.
Of course the most beautiful and amazing form of grace is that given to us by Jesus Christ!  But grace is something we can also show to others.  I have seen grace and I have been given grace ~ not only by God, but from others.  Then I have seen the times when those around me are not so free with grace.  I have been hurt by believers who seem wronged by something that they can't even explain or probably don't even know themselves, and yet have shown no mercy and grace. Bitterness, jealousy, discontentment of heart ~ all things that people use to size up where someone else should stand in their lives.  Things that they use to put a wall up between them and others, and when those feelings are there, the devil uses that foothold and no grace is shown.  
Are there people in your life that you have shown little mercy or grace to? Maybe they've never even hurt you, but your own unhappiness has you comparing yourself and for that reason, you do not show that person love or mercy or grace.  Maybe you have been treated this way.  I have had relationships where I don't understand what happened, but suddenly my "Christian" friend is not longer there for me. I think one of the meanest things you can do to a brother or sister in Christ is to suddenly pull away when the person doesn't even know what offense they may have done.  We absolutely cannot offer salvation to those around us, but we can show grace to them, whether we feel they deserve it or not. Give it freely, as it has been freely given to you. It is not by your hands, but by the mercy of a loving God. 
The Lord gives us grace, though we don't deserve it at all, and as recipients of that, we should be walking in grace and be vessels of grace to others. The word says to us "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all." 
I will try to show grace and mercy to others, and I will pray for those who in their own selfishness, cannot show the Grace that our God has given to them.  Grace is a high calling.  It is something that we need to live in, most importantly when we are not feeling it from those around us. The Lord bountifully covers us in His perfect grace, even when we are most undeserving. 
To me, today I am beyond thankful for the grace of God.  I can hardly comprehend it.    What does He require of me? Of us? This scripture has always resounded in my mind and I pray that it is something that I can remember when my flesh isn't merciful and showing grace.  "He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" (Micah 6:8)

What does grace look like to you? To me it is the most beautiful thing that we can show to others through our own lives and our actions. We paint a picture of Christ through the way we treat others.  Today is a new canvas and you have the beautiful gift of Grace if you are in Christ ~ show that same gift to those around you. 

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

Where is He Leading You?

~ "Your grace abounds in deepest waters." ~ If He is leading you in something and you aren't heeding the call, your fears or flesh or pride are in the way ~ step out of the boat in obedience and faith. He will always give you what you need to follow His will. 
~ "You call me out upon the waters; The great unknown; where feet may fail. And there I find You in the mystery, In oceans deep My faith will stand."

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

Repetition

Life can be full of repetitive motions.  I try to be cheerful in all things, but I admit I get a little restless sometimes.  I am a homebody by nature, but sometimes I do feel like I need to see new things.  Need a little excitement, or a change of pace.  Those are the times when I can let my mind go, get myself down, and feel ungrateful.  That is not a good place to be. The mind is powerful, and when we let it, we can think thoughts that we shouldn't. We let the enemy in to attack our minds and that's when we need to cast down those thoughts.  The Word says that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

There can be monotony in our daily activities.  Sometimes we can feel that no one notices or appreciates it.  Picking up another pair of underwear off the bathroom floor, another wet towel off the carpet, another dish from the living room, putting another roll of toilet paper on since they never magically replenish themselves.  But I try to remember in the midst of it, what I am doing.  If I am working as unto the Lord, then I become more thankful and more mindful about my activities.  My hubby goes off to work every day, whether it's twenty below zero or 95 degrees and so muggy that you can cut the air.  I never hear a complaint.  He cheerfully goes and provides for us every day.   I LOVE being so blessed that I can stay at home with my kids.  I love to have dinner waiting for him.  I know that God has me here in this spot for a reason.  Raising our kids is a high calling!  I have been blessed to even teach my children at home.  Shaping and forming them in the way they should go is not a light task.  Since I was a five year old, I can remember wanting to be a wife and mommy.  Is this everyone's dream? Certainly not. Am I saying that it has to be your dream? Certainly not.  But it was my dream.  And I am living it! What a blessing!  Life isn't perfect, and never was meant to be perfect, but we can have the Joy of the Lord in us and try to be joyful in the simplicity of our daily tasks.  Find joy in the perfectly imperfect aspects of life.

Find joy in the simplicity of life.  It doesn't have to be complicated or fancy.  I love to clean, organize, bake, cook, and serve others.  Maybe I am odd! But making my house a little haven in the chaos of life is something that brings me joy.  To have it fairly organized,  dinner and a treat freshly baked, clean sheets on the bed.  Ahhhh, that is a good day!!  To have my hubby happy to come home in the evening and to feel honored and appreciated is something that I like to do.  A hug and a kiss at the door always makes him feel appreciated.  Call me old fashioned, but I love those simple daily things. To find a peace in the tasks that may seem so menial and thankless.  But if you do it with a cheerful heart, a heart that wants to give to others and serve our Lord, they are never ever menial.

So when your mind wanders, and you are feeling like you are discontent ~ pray that those thoughts are cast down in the name of Jesus! Dig into scripture and remember all of the promises of God. He has you here for a purpose! Every little thing that we set our hands to can be part of that purpose.  Serve Him and serve those around you and you will find more and more contentment.  Serve in a selfless way, not looking for anything in return. It doesn't have to be huge.  Pray for someone and encourage them. Bring an elderly neighbor a bouquet of wildflowers. Drop a coffee off to that mama that is having a hard day and give her a hug, drop a note in the mail for someone that has been on your mind with a scripture.   These little things are pick me ups that often mean more to the person than we would ever think. And those are the things that can bring joy to us when our minds try to get away from us and tell us that our tasks are unworthy. And put a pep in your step ~ when you are folding your laundry, pray over each piece you fold and for each family member.  When you are cleaning, crank up your praise music! When I bake for others, I try to always pray over the food as I am making it and pray for the person that it is going to.  These may seem like little things, but they are so important, and can help change our perspective.  When we devote ourselves to others instead of just ourselves, it is right where we need to be.

When I am doing yet another load of laundry, I remind myself how fortunate and blessed I am to have a washer and a dryer! To have water and soap and electricity! To have the clothes to wash! Those are small things that we seem to take for granted. That wet towel on the floor? Means I have a hubby that enjoyed a hot shower after a hard day of working outside providing for our needs.   When I look at each task from this perspective, it truly does change my thinking from the thoughts that try to creep in and take over my mind.  To be thankful in ALL things is something I am working on.  Does that mean I have overcome those thoughts? I wish I could say yes.  I still allow them to creep in from time to time, but now I can recognize them and kick them out with the help of my Savior.  Serving was meant to be done with a selfless spirit, not one of selfishness looking to be served. Those selfish thoughts that will always put your mind in the gutter of ungratefulness and it's a downward spiral from there.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:10

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

The Hem of Jesus

Needing encouragement? Are you in a situation where you feel that you have tried all of your resources and there is still no resolution?  Sometimes we can talk about it, cry about it, complain about it, fear our situation, but have we prayed in faith about it?

Just a touch from the hem of the garment of Jesus.   The tassel on his robe. That is all she wanted.  She had heard He was there and she had such hope and a belief.  She had spent all of her resources on doctors.  None had been able to help her, and the Word says that she only grew worse.  I guess some could say that she had come to the end of herself.  She had no more resources from which to draw.  She was in a place of desperation. Desperation, but yet there was a hope.

She had suffered for so long ~ 12 years.  She believed that He could make her well.  She was shunned, unclean.  Yet she had enough hope to go there that day, and to struggle through the crowd just to touch his cloak. She was probably weak for the condition she had dealt with for so long. She knew that she was facing ridicule, that her uncleanness was thought to make everything she touched unclean. There were throngs of people, she must have had to push through them, touching many along the way.  But she was willing to risk it all to get to Him.

When she was within reach, she reached out and touched the hem of His garment.   Immediately her condition was healed.  And she knew it!   And Jesus knew it.  He felt the power go out from Him.  "Virtue".  He asked who touched him.  The disciples must have laughed, almost scoffed, after all  the crowds were so thick, many are touching you!   People were probably pushing and shoving their way to get a glimpse of him and many were probably brushing up against him. But He persisted, and trembling, she fell at His feet and told him her story.  How frightened she must have been ~ she,  who was unclean, was touching Him????

And what were His words? He told her that her faith had healed her ~ go in peace.  What a witness to the people in the crowd that day.

I want to cultivate a faith like that. Always be filled with HOPE, knowing that just a touch on His garment is all it takes to make us whole.  This reminds me to reach for that hem, knowing that it is HE who is my all in all.  Always.  Reach out for your Messiah today, no matter what you are going through.  Come to Him with faith, believing.   I know I will reach and cling to that hem.

She only touched the hem of His garment

  As to His side she stole,

Amid the crowd that gathered around Him;

  And straightway she was whole. Oh, touch the hem of His garment,

  And thou, too, shalt be free!

His healing pow’r this very hour

    Shall give new life to thee!

                                                 She came in fear and trembling before Him,

  She knew her Lord had come,

She felt that from Him virtue had healed her,

  The mighty deed was done.

                                            He turned with “Daughter, be of good comfort,

  Thy faith hath made thee whole“;

And peace that passeth all understanding

  With gladness filled her soul.

by George Frederick Root

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

Rejoice in Hope ~

HOPE ~ a strong and confident expectation; to trust;  the act of hoping stresses two things ~ futurity and invisibility.  Things we cannot see and have not yet received. But we have the certainty that what God has promised will happen, according to His word.

We often throw around the word "Hope".  I hope it rains, I hope it doesn't rain, I hope I sleep well, I hope can do this or do that.  But Hope is so much deeper than that. 

We serve a God of Hope. He is the source of all hope, and without Him we have no hope. Hopelessness is a very strong word.  It means we have absolutely no expectation of a good outcome or of success, no remedy, no cure, incapable of redemption.  What a poor state to have that feeling of hopelessness! I think of that feeling, and how empty we have to get to have such a feeling that there is absolutely no hope, we are in absolute, utter despair. I am so thankful that Jesus has given us a true Hope! I never want to feel the feeling of utter hopelessness.  

One Biblical translation of Hope that I found is that it often translated into something strengthened by being bound together.  Think of a rope, that is bound so well that it can stretch and will not break.  It can endure the weight as it is stretched and pulled. Hope is like that rope.  Trusting in an unbreakable promise.  True Hope in the things in His word, and His promises are to be our confident assurance. 

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

The Word tells us to "Rejoice in Hope".

We can rejoice, knowing that our Hope is in Him and that He loves us and cares for us and hears our petitions. 

There seems to be so many burdens on my heart right now.  So many are going though trials.  Things can get clouded and seem uncertain. The storms of life come and we can feel shaken and tossed about. 

But Hope is something that we can cling to. Thinking of Hebrews 6:19 ~ "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast." It brings my mind to the translation of hope being like a rope.  I picture that anchor weighted on the rope that is stretching but will not break.  The rough waters and storms may come, but the anchor is held through it all. The anchor trusts that the rope is sure. 

That is the Hope that we have ~ it is so sure, so strong, so steadfast that we can rest in Him. Cling to that rope ~ it is sure!  "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"
Do not give up Hope, dear one! Continue to pray and trust and rejoice! He will not leave you ~ He is your Hope, your Assurance, your all in all.  

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

He is Faithful

We have had a beautiful, hot summer.  I am loving every minute of it.  That being said, we are in desperate need of rain! Wells are drying up, ponds are low, crops are beginning to die.  It's been our fervent prayer ~ our Pastor put it on our prayer chain on Monday night.  This morning the skies have opened up! It seems to be a nice soaking rain ~ and every little bit helps at this point.  I've never been so happy to see rain, and am so thankful for His faithfulness! Even in the little things.

No matter what is on your heart, He cares about it.  In the midst of your day, don't forget to cast your cares on him.  He cares about the needs of His children and will give us the desires of our hearts, according to His will. He tells us in His word to pray without ceasing.  He does hear our prayers.

Years ago I remember clinging to James 5.  I remember reading it and praying it and memorizing it and believing it with all my heart and soul.  Again, God was so faithful in my situation that seemed bigger than a mountain to me. The doctor told me that I needed a miracle to prevent a surgical intervention.  Those were his words.  I remember how my heart sank at the thought that in the mind of the Dr., it was basically a given that I would be in the operating room. Oh how surprised he was at the next appointment when the situation had changed! God healed me and I would no longer need surgery.  Praise and all the glory went to Him! I told the doctor that I had prayed so fervently for that miracle. Maybe he still remembers that? Maybe it strengthened him and stirred his faith? I do not know, but I do remember the absolute joy and how thankful I was to a God who cares and who hears our prayers.

Our prayers may not always be answered in the time or the way we expect them.  But He hears them all, you can count on that.  Sometimes His answer is to wait.  But continue to pray. And remember to fellowship with Him always, not just when you are in a tough spot.  Thank Him daily for all that He has done in your and through you.  We, as His children, are truly a blessed people!

"Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit."

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” 

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup" 

Feathered Entertainment

The drought we are experiencing is taking a toll on our gardens and our lawns here.  But I've noticed it's also brought with it an excess of hummingbirds! We always have lots of these cuties at our feeders, but now I can hardly keep up with filling them all.  They are so entertaining to watch as they buzz around the gazebo.  They dart through and love to fight over the sweet sugar water we've set out for them.  I could sit for hours watching them and we've decided who needs tv when we have this to entertain us!  We've seen up to eleven at once, though they are not easy to count.  Just another reason why summer is my favorite.  Get outside and notice the little bits of joy around you!

Battling for the last drop ~

In His Love ~ Kim

"With Jesus in Her Heart, and Coffee in Her Cup"