Growing in Grace

Losses come in many forms. All losses touch us deeply. But sitting in his prison cell, Paul took inventory of all his earthly losses and insisted they didn't compare to the gain of knowing Jesus, walking with Him through life, and possessing the hope of heaven. Bring your losses to Him and lay them at His feet. Let him heal your bruised heart with the profit, gain, and unquenchable hope of a relationship with God's Son who loves you.  -From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

We are living branches connected to the living Christ. His life is our life. Abiding is living in constant awareness of total dependence on Jesus. . . Lord, I don't want to deal with life in my own wisdom or power. I want people to see Your life and strength in me at every turn.  -"A Spectacle of Glory", Joni Eareckson Tada

Every believer has a story. We have all experienced rescue on a grand scale. God has saved us from a lifetime of futility and given us purpose, a destiny, and a reason to get up in the morning.  -from "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

Photo Credit Being close to God isn't something syrupy or sentimental. It is life itself. It's the reason for drawing breath each day.  - From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. -Daniel 5:27 Photo Credit In Daniel 5:27, King Belshazzar sees a cryptic message handwritten on the wall of his banquet room. When he asks Daniel what it means, God's prophet replies, "You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting." Thinking about this reply might prompt us to ask, "Where are we found wanting?" To find out, look to Jesus and ask yourself how much you have been conformed to His likeness. Do you have His meekness? His humility? His gracious spirit? Do we, like Paul, consider ourselves "the worst of sinners" and least of all the saints? (1 Timothy 1:15) Can we say with him, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain"? (Philippians 1:21) Let's ask God to bring us there. Let's ask His Spirit to rekindle our need for God, for deeper faith, for warmer zeal, and for more fervent love. Together let's cry out, "Please, Lord, if I am ...

The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork. -Job 39:13 In Job 38-41, God takes Job on a tour through the wonders of nature. In Job 39:13, the Lord points Rejoice in who you are and with what God has given you. The wings of an ostrich really don't do much of anything. Ostriches can't fly. But they can run like the wind! Even so, it's the glory of a bird to flap its wings, and the ostrich does so with pride and joy. We too can rejoice in both our strengths and our weaknesses - in our strengths because they are precious gifts from God and in our weaknesses because God demonstrates His power and grace through them as we depend on and trust in Him. (12 Corinthians 12:9-10) our that "the wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, though they cannot compare with the wings and feathers of the stork." Whatever else God intended to teach through this observation, one application seems clear: -From  A Spectacl...

Jeremiah had trained his memory to look on the bright side, the hopeful side-which is always God's side. He knew God was at work even during dark times in his past, and Jeremiah let that powerful truth bring hope and comfort to his soul.  -from "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada Photo Credit

When we take delight in the Lord, He becomes the desire of our heart. . . When we love God with all our heart, every obedience is a pleasure.  - From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada Photo Credit

When we load all our hopes, dreams, and expectations into the here and now, without taking eternity into account, we subtly ask people in our lives to be what they will never be and to do what they are incapable of doing. . . Only God can complete you. . . Place your hopes and expectations in Him. He will never disappoint you.  -From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada Photo Credit

We behave differently when we know people are observing us. . . This verse can remind us that others are watching so that we make sure our walk matches our talk.  -From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

From "A Spectacle of Glory" by Joni Eareckson Tada

There is no moderation when it comes to allowing junk thoughts or impure feelings or actions. We must refuse to allow such things even the smallest foothold in our lives. When it comes to loving God and others, we don't do it in moderation. It's all or nothing.  -"A Spectacle of Glory", Joni Eareckson Tara

I may not find anything to sing about in my situation,  but there are endless reasons to sing about the Lord.  "A Spectacle of Glory" -Joni Eareckson Tada Photo Credit

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" - Luke 10:40 In today's Scripture, we read, "Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made." Martha was on the right path, even with her "much serving," as the King James Version puts it. Martha dearly loved the Lord Jesus, and she isn't to be chided for rolling up her sleeves to prepare a special meal for Him and His disciples. The problem was her focus. It wasn't that she was too busy or planned too many menu items. Martha simply allowed those things to distract her from the true focus - the Savior. She lost joy in her labor, gladness in ministering to her Lord, and delight in exercising her God-given gifts. A complaining spirit took over as she focused on her sister, Mary, along with all the pots and pans! It takes gr...

Sing and make music to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. -Ephesians 5:19b-20 Today's Scripture raises big - and honest - questions. Paul tells us we must be "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." For everything? How I have wrestled with those words! The Bible says we're to give thanks, not only for the good stuff and the happy moments, but also for those hurtful, crushing, heartbreaking, out-of-control moments as well. He asks us to see life from His point of view. Paul's command begins with giving thanks to the Father and ends with the name of Jesus. All the events of our lives are bookended by the Father and the Son. Everything that touches us comes from His hand. He sees how it will all fit together. He sees right now how you will one day be healed and how the tears, bruises, setbacks, and sorrows of this life have worked for the ...

Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. -John 17:24 All of us will lose loved ones during this life. As much as we wish it were otherwise, it just comes with the territory on this broken planet. Yes, sometimes God chooses to answer our prayers for healing and grants a reprieve. At other times, we're left wondering why it didn't happen for us. A man who recently lost his wife to breast cancer took comfort that, while his prayer for healing wasn't granted, another prayer was answered. In today's Scripture, Jesus prays, "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory." It's the heartfelt prayer of God's Son for all those who love Him. So the length of time we live on earth or whether or not we get healed isn't really the point, is it? The point is, we're all headed for heaven - th...

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. -Romans 8:9 Photo Credit Sometimes we think about Christians serving the Lord in difficult and dangerous places - doing extraordinary exploits for Him and bringing Him glory. Then we say to ourselves, "Yes, but what am I doing? How can I bring God glory in my everyday routine?" My friend, there actually is a way to do that. Consider this: There is a wide gap between what you would normally and instinctively do, and what you do when you are walking in His strength and Spirit. In your natural self, you might complain about your routine or difficulties. In God's strength, however, you bite your tongue and refuse to grumble, because you recognize God in those very situations. The gap between those two responses is the glory of God! And our Savior takes note, marki...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. -Ephesians 1:3 Photo Credit When a particular trouble intrudes into our life, it has a way of taking over. It dominates our thoughts, controls our emotions, saps our will, and drains our energy. Eventually, it crowds and bullies every good thing out of our day. As God's children, we can't let that happen. Today's Scripture tells us God has blessed us in the heavenly realms. He's given us peace of heart and mind - something the world craves but can't find. He's given us faith to pass through deep waters. He's given us the grace to give and to let go. He's given us the sweet knowledge that we have an eternal home in heaven, waiting for us just around the bend. He's given us His own Spirit as Counselor and Comforter. He's washed away our sins and forgotten our evil deeds. We have more going for us than ...

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. -Hebrews 10:24 Friendship in Christ is more than just spending time with someone. Today's Scripture reminds us that we are to consider - think creatively about - encouraging one another in our Christian walk. Our relationships in the Lord are either moving onward and upward, or we are diminishing each other. We are to see our friends in the light of what God intends for them to become. It's a mistake to think we can let down our guard or allow ourselves to be blah, blue, crabby, or selfish just because we're with those who "already know us." Life in Christ is more intentional than that! Our friends need to see us walking with Jesus and filled with His Spirit. They need to hear wise, positive, helpful words from us, rather than empty, cynical, or complaining words. Look for fresh ways you can spur on your friends in their growth in Christ. Dear God, help me not to become a complac...

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: 'I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. I will build you up again, and you. . . will be rebuilt." -Jeremiah 31:3-4 Some events in life might compare to a hammer tap; others feel like a wrecking ball. These are times when it seems the very walls and structures of life have collapsed, and nothing will ever be the same. It may be a health reversal, the loss of a child or spouse, or a sudden financial setback. How are we to live among such ruins, when everything familiar has changed? Jeremiah 31:3-4 offers us hope. God promises Israel - and us - that He will work among the ruins, and do so with loving-kindness. Life may never look as it once did, and the landscape may be changed, but if God is behind the reconstruction, He will bring beauty and purpose where you thought you would never see it again. Photo Credit Lord Jesus, help me not to spend the rest of my days looking ...