Genealogy of Abounding Grace!

Matthew 1:3,5-6,17

Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). 3 And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; 5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;6 And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Uriah
¹⁷ All those listed above include fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the Babylonian exile, and fourteen from the Babylonian exile to the Messiah.

If you read the first 17 verses in Matthew chapter 1, you will find the genealogy of our Lord Jesus Christ! As you read through all of it, you will notice there are 4 women listed here. Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Four unlikely and somewhat unsavory women. Women with backgrounds that seem a little strange that they should be included as being in the lineage of Jesus. So as I began to study and ask the Holy Spirit to help me, I discovered a super abounding grace that could only happen when forgiveness and mercy are poured out. Women with imperfect lives like you and me or someone we may know. Now let me make one thing perfectly clear, there are no "perfect" people anywhere, no one could keep the law, not then and not now!That my friend is why Jesus came. He knew that! Think of all the blood that was shed each year as folks brought sacrifices to the priest to cover their sins. All the good intents of good works was never good enough and would never be until Jesus came and died for our sins. I believe what we are shown here is that no matter what we have done, God's Grace is abundant! Isn't that the most wonderful, amazing news you have heard today or in your lifetime! We do not have to live in condemnation, which I might add is the number one tactic of satan. He will bring up every sin, every intent, every evil action you ever did and try to convince you that there is no hope, and nothing will ever change, BUT, I love that word, BUT, here is where Jesus told us, He did not come to condemn us, but to set us free with His truth, with His mercy and His abounding grace.  
So you see All these women were, in one way or another undeserving of God's favour and blessings, (as we surely are), but they nevertheless were blessed by God's grace and the glory of God, (as we surely are) was manifested in their lives through their lives (as ours are) being transformed.
As you read the following account listed below, take the hope that is offered to you, experience grace without condemnation. Accept what Jesus has done for you and rest in the peace that is sure to follow!

{Tamar posed as a prostitute and slept with her father-in-law to bring forth a son; Rahab was a prostitute and a liar but she trusted in God; Ruth was a virtuous woman but was by birth a Moabite Gentile; Bathsheba was another mans wife who bathed in full view of King David, ended up pregnant, her husband was murdered, and her child died! }

Wow, what a family tree, but Jesus was part of it all to show us the truth!

Be strong in the Lord and remember who you are in Him and what He has done for you!

Be sure and check out Spiritual Sundays, you will be blessed!
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Being Kind and Gentle!

Ephesians 4:32 (The Message)

Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave us.

 As I was meditating on this scripture this morning, the words "be gentle with one another, sensitive" really spoke to my heart. I really like the Message translation and often use it in my blogs, so I was especially liked  this passage. Being gentle and sensitive! Oh my, I am reminded of so many times when it was either me or someone else I was talking with, how things could have been so much better, if I had been more sensitive. How aware are we when we are face to face with someone, often dear family or friends, that our minds are somewhere else or we just flat don't have time or even worse, we just don't care? And then the opportunity is gone forever to make a difference in that persons life. I have had experiences where I was the one that needed encouragement and yet had to defend myself in some way. Why can't we all just be gentle and sensitive? Why do we get in such a hurry that we forget to show grace to someone? Life has been very difficult for me the past year and it is not over, as long as we are breathing, we are in a battle. Lets remember who our enemy is, you know, the one who sets out to kill, steal and destroy from us every day! Not our family and friends! They are here for us! We may not agree on everything, but we aren't supposed to. We are all made unique and different! We may have been hurt by words or actions, but we simply cannot not dwell on it. . The One who forgave us so easily, is our example and is actually required of us to also forgive. Show grace and mercy as it was shown to us. And the next time, we have someone in our face, over the phone or even on the Internet, please remember to follow Christ in this area. I don't believe this is a suggestion, do you? I believe He is instructing us to be obedient, actually, our very peace and joy depends on it. We will always be on one side or the other! What ever we measure out, will be measured back to us!
I pray you will have a wonderful Mothers Day, and please remember to be kind and gentle!

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me!

Forgiving Others!

Matthew 6:6-8 (The Message)

6. "Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

7-13. "The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They're full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don't fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what's best— as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

Forgiving someone has nothing to do with feelings! If we waited for that, it would never happen! "But what they did is not right", it is not even about right or wrong, justice or injustice. Forgiveness is a choice we make, WE make it ourselves! How many times in my life has this been before me, "Well, I know I need to forgive them, I have been hurt here Lord, and well, I just don't feel like I can ever forgive them". Sound familiar? I think we probably all have to admit this is one of the hardest things in life we will ever be asked to do. Sometimes we hang on to unforgiveness to justify our own behavior, we were wronged and we will not forget or let that other person forget. It is a heavy burden to carry and it does keep us in bondage to that thing. Have you ever heard of "a made up mind"? Well, this is what we must do, just make up our mind that we will do what God commands us to do. He didn't say to think about it or try to forgive, He said "Forgive" period. He will help us you know, in ourselves we cannot do this, we aren't capable. But with God ALL things are possible, yes even forgiveness. If it wasn't, we would not be commanded to do it! I love this passage from the Message translation, if you have a chance to get one, it is really very good. "The focus will shift from you to God and you will begin to sense His Grace", I don't know about you but that blesses my soul! Please read these scriptures again and let God speak to your heart. There is much more in here than forgiveness. Simple truths will help us lead a life that will be pleasing to God. I pray you are having a fabulous day and that you are safe and warm but above all, I pray your heart is peaceful. Thank you for stopping by, I have been so busy caring for my sister that I haven't had a chance to visit all the wonderful blogs over at Spiritual Sundays and those of my friends and families, but I promise to do better this week.
Blessings to you!

Please check all the wonderful encouraging posts! Link follows:
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Forgetting the Past!

Hebrews 10:16-18 (New Living Translation)

16. “This is the new covenant I will make
with my people on that day says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds"
17. Then he says,

“I will never again remember
their sins and lawless deeds.”

18. And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.


It is so hard to keep up with granddaughter's! My goodness, we just had one this week and when she left today, I just curled up on the couch and took a nap. We have painted, made a floral arrangement, shopped and she even helped clean house. I stay busy, but this was a different kind of busy. She is only 10 but is very creative, so she wants to know how to do everything. We even discussed paint colors for her house she would have one day. Talk about planning for the future! Wow, but we did have so much fun and I did miss her the minute she left. It is wonderful being a grandmother. When my girls were little, it was work and lots of troubles in our family made it very stressful. Life kept me busy and seems like I just didn't have the time to do everything I wanted or needed to do. I suppose this is normal, I have heard many women say they enjoy their grandchildren so much more. I also suppose we all live with some regret over the past. There are so many things I for one would like to go back and change. You know, "why did I do that" or "why didn't I do that"? But we can't, can we? The past is the past, and we can't change it. Just breaks my heart, you know, one of those face on the floor type things. Oh that it was possible to go back, and change those decisions I made, to have focused on God and not on everything going on around me. To have done what was right and pleasing to God, NO MATTER WHAT!!!!! So now that we know we can't, what do we do? Believe what God tells us as in the scripture above (there are many more). We must trust Him and believe that He forgives us and has truly forgotten. Of course we can't, but sisters and friends this is Grace, loving and merciful Grace. It really is time to quit beating up on ourselves and move on with Christ. We have such opportunities with our grown children and especially those precious grandchildren. Each and every day is a new day with them. A time to make a difference in their lives. Praying and holding them up to the Lord is something we can certainly do. I hope and pray you don't spend to much time back there, but are moving on, forgetting those things which are behind. And making a difference in the lives of your family. Have a blessed Lords Day, (don't forget to go to Spiritual Sunday and check out all the wonderful posts, link is on the sidebar) In love and praying for you!

Justice is on the Way!

2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 (The Message)

5-10All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom. You're suffering now, but justice is on the way. When the Master Jesus appears out of heaven in a blaze of fire with his strong angels, he'll even up the score by settling accounts with those who gave you such a bad time. His coming will be the break we've been waiting for. Those who refuse to know God and refuse to obey the Message will pay for what they've done. Eternal exile from the presence of the Master and his splendid power is their sentence. But on that very same day when he comes, he will be exalted by his followers and celebrated by all who believe—and all because you believed what we told you.

11-12Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time—pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something. If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.


Yes, we can be assured God is working on our behalf! Don't assume He has forgotten or doesn't hear you! He knows what you (and me) have need of and the answer is on the way. It is very discouraging when we don't see our prayers answered, when things happen to us and we are crying for justice and there is none. You can trust your Heavenly Father to make a way! Just as this scripture states "Grace is behind and all through this", everything that is going on in your life (and mine)is making us fit for the Kingdom of God! Be encouraged today my sweet sister and friend, God sees, God knows and your best interest is closest to His heart. Bless you!

The Year of His Grace!

Isaiah 61:1-3 (The Message)

(Announce Freedom to All Captives) The Spirit of God, the Master, is on me because God anointed me. He sent me to preach good news to the poor, heal the heartbroken, Announce freedom to all captives, pardon all prisoners. God sent me to announce the year of his grace— a celebration of God's destruction of our enemies— and to comfort all who mourn, To care for the needs of all who mourn in Zion, give them bouquets of roses instead of ashes, Messages of joy instead of news of doom, a praising heart instead of a languid spirit. Rename them "Oaks of Righteousness" planted by God to display his glory. They'll rebuild the old ruins, raise a new city out of the wreckage. They'll start over on the ruined cities, take the rubble left behind and make it new. You'll hire outsiders to herd your flocks and foreigners to work your fields, But you'll have the title "Priests of God," honored as ministers of our God. You'll feast on the bounty of nations, you'll bask in their glory. Because you got a double dose of trouble and more than your share of contempt, Your inheritance in the land will be doubled and your joy go on forever.

What has God appointed you to do? Because this is the custom to reflect on the past year, and made a commitment to "do better", we find ourselves in a quandry. What did we do for God this year, what part did we play in furthering His kingdom ! Many questions and not enough answers. As I was reading this scripture tears of thanksgiving filled my heart. How awesome is our God! How mindful He is of us, and this joy and peace and the comfort is promised to us. I desire to be a "Oak of Righteousness", I pray for you to be also. John and I pray Gods richest blessings on you and your family! Be strong in the Lord, look to Him, and call to Him for help! Let this truly be the year of His grace!

Thanking God!

1 Corinthians 1:3-6 (New International Version)

3. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanksgiving

4. I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— 6. because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.

What a wonderful promise from God Himself! We will be enriched in everything we speak and in knowledge. His promises are for us because of Jesus. Have you ever been in a situation where it was not clear what should be said? I am so thankful God hears and answers prayer , I experienced this very thing this past week and very quickly I asked God to give me the comforting words to speak. We should always be ready with a word of encouragement, but sometimes things happen really fast and it is hard to know what to say. This is just one of the many scriptures that tell us we can be ready to speak the words that might be the difference between life and death to a person. Let's always be ready because of this special grace given to us in Jesus Christ. I pray blessings on your special Lords Day. Also be thankful for the freedom that we can still go to church and worship our Lord!