Virginia

Well, we're officially in Virginia. We made it here the day after Thanksgiving. It was a LONG drive, especially with the two cats, but we made it and we're here. We just got our internet up and running...takes a lot longer out here to get things hooked up.

I have met some wonderful people out here so far, but it's still no place like home. I miss California very much. I miss my family, my friends, my church, my beach, my warm weather, my Claim Jumper, my doctor, everything. Don't get me wrong it's beautiful out here, but it's just not home and knowing we're only going to be here for 6 months makes it almost worse because I don't want to get settled here because I know we're just going to be moving again. So, until we know where we will officially be stationed it's hard to put my heart into anything, but I am just praying that the Lord will sustain me and that He and I will grow closer in this time of being far away from home.

On a more pleasant note, I have made a good friend that actually lives in my apartment complex. It's kind of funny how we met actually. We were both taking the trash out and met at the trash compactor...talk about divine appointments!!!! We are very similar and I love spending time with her.

quick update

I just wanted to let everyone know that my husband and I found out that we're going to be having a baby. I am 6 weeks along and due in the middle of July. We are also moving to Virginia come Monday. My husband has some training to finish for the Marine Corps. Once we get there I'm sure I'll be bloggin much more, as I won't know as many people and I don't be trying to spend all my time with the people I'm leaving behind. I hope that you all are doing well.

Starting at the Beginning....

Before any word study begins, I believe it is a good idea to define exactly what it is the word means. I looked up the word LOVE in several places and here is what I found:

According to the Dictionary, I found 8 meanings:

1. strong positive emotion of regard and affection
2. have a great affection or liking for
3. deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction
4. to get pleasure from
5. be enamored with or in love with
6. to desire
7. strong passionate affection for another person
8. profound feeling of tender affection for or intense attraction to another

According the my Bible's Concordance:

1. strong affection, desire or devotion

I found that the Hebrew language has 7 words with a love meaning:

1. Dodim: impulse of heart, sexual attraction
2. Agav: impure love, doting, lust
3. Hesed: mercy and compassion
4. Ahav: desire, inclination or affection, whether human or divine
5. Hamed: desire, covet, lust
6. Re'a: companionship, friendship
7. Hasheq: strong attachment

Then I found the Greek version:

1. Eros: longing/romance (passionate)
2. Storge: belonging/affection (natural affection, the kind felt by parents towards children)
3. Philia: cherishing/friendship
4. Agape: selfless giving/Christian love
5. Epithumia: desire/attraction (lust)...this one is the least commonly found when looking for Greek words meaning love, but I found it and thought the definition might help in my study later on, so I'm including it for now.

I am in the middle of pulling up ALL the scripture that uses love...I know it's a lot. I will post some of the best ones as I come across them. If anyone has info to add to this, I'd love to hear it. I will posting my findings, as well as some personal thoughts.

LOVE

I'm goign to be starting a serious on LOVE. I'm doing an in-depth study on this topic/word and I will be blogging about it soon. I love this topic.

More to come soon.....

Waiting.....

I'm sitting here on a Saturday afternoon trying to figure out why God keeps things from us, especially when it something our heart deeply desires. I know that God knows what's best for us and that He has specific timing, but sometimes it's hard to wait, especially when you've been asking for something since you were little. I don't really want to get into the details just yet, but I simply felt like writing.

How does one sit back and just wait? I've been trying to do so, but no matter how much I say I'm being patient, or how much I put my trust in God....I still desperately want something that has not yet been given to me. It's hard to put that out of my mind. I have been on my knees with my hands to the sky, but yet nothing has happened.

I'm beginning to wonder if the waiting will ever end. I have always believed that God wouldn't withhold the desires one of His children had in their hearts. Do I keep holding on to this desire or do I give up? If I give up, when do I give up? I really enjoy the thought of my desire, but it's getting so hard to just sit back and wait. Not because I don't want to, but because I'm surrounded by several people who already have been able to start on their dreams, while I'm stuck just watching them and hoping my dream will start soon.

Withdrawals

I am having such a hard time this year not being in the classroom. I didn't realize how hard it would be not to be teaching. It's the first time in seven years that my life hasn't revolved around a classroom in some fashion. It's very weird having nothing to do during the day and trying to find things to fill my day.

Some days I don't have any trouble keeping myself busy and other days it seems like the day just drags on by. I am trying extra hard to grow more as a wife after God's own heart. I mean I have the time to cook, to clean, and to do the laundry as well as purposefully doing things that mean a lot to my husband. Real quick, let me just back up for those of you that don't know why I'm not teaching this year. My husband and I are moving to Virginia because he is going on active duty for the Marine Corps and has some more training to finish out in Quantico. Therefore, I resigned from teaching in my district because I didn't think it would be right to start the year, knowing that I'd be leaving two months into it.

I didn't realize how much teaching was apart of my soul. I LOVE children and helping them to love themselves. Not being around children and able to influence them in this way is hard. I have several friends that have children that I get to see on a regular basis, but it's not the same. I am not ever one on one with them or in a place where I can just devote myself to them in that capacity.

For those of you that don't teach, this probably seems like a silly thing, but I feel like a piece of me is missing and I don't know how to find it or to fill the void. Anyway, don't really know where I'm going with this from here...but that's what's on my heart right now. I'm always looking for good books or good studies, especially since I have so much extra time now, so if anyone has suggestions, please feel free to leave them. :)

One Book Tag

I was on a blog that I like to read and found this Book Tag. I loved reading it, so I thought I'd join and do one myself.

One book that changed your life:
I'd have to say the Bible is the number one book that has changed my life, but after that it would be Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis and the Sacred Romance by John Eldredge. These two books helped to formulate my desire to go deeper in the Christian faith and to not just take things for face value. Lastly, I'd have to say Lady in Waiting by Debbie Jones and Jackie Kendall. This book changed how I viewed dating relationships and was what I followed when I met my husband. Amazing book. I think all high school and college girls should read it.

One book you've read more than once:
I have actually read the above books all more than once. Specifically for this question though, I'll mention that I read The Story We Find Ourselves In by Brian McLaren more than once. I studied it with a community group I use to be apart of. We had some great discussions about it.

One book you'd want on a desert island:
I think that I'd want to take the Bible. It would give me stories to read, thoughts to ponder, and the ability to keep growing closer to God.

One book that made you laugh:
It's a book called Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss. This book is a clever way to show the importance of punctuation. Here's a sample so you can see some of the humor contained within:

"A panda walks into a cafe. He orders a sandwich, eats it, then draws a gun and fires two shots in the air. "Why?" asks the confused waiter, as the panda makes towards the exit. The panda produces a badly punctuated wildlife manual and tosses it over his shoulder. "I'm a panda," he says, at the door. "Look it up." The waiter turns to the relevant entry and, sure enough, finds an explanation. "Panda. Large black-and-white bear-like mammal, native to China. Eats, shoots and leaves."
--back cover of the book

One book that made you cry:
I'm a romance novel sap, but specifically a Nicholas Sparks romance sap. I'd have to say a book that made me cry was At First Sight, the sequel to True Believer. Great book. Great story.

One book that you wish had been written:
From a teachers perspective, I wish a effective book had been written about guiding parents through helping their children at home with the concepts they learn at school. Children would thrive so much more if they had reinforcement at home for what they learned that day at school.

One book that you wish had never been written:
I haven't read a book in awhile that I felt this way about, but I remember in high school absolutely hating the book Sarah, Plain, and Tall. I thought it was the most boring book ever and could never understand why it won any awards.

One book you're currently reading:
I am currently reading A Wife After God's Own Heart by Elizabeth George (my second time around reading this one).This book really puts into perspective how to live out the life of a wife according to how God calls us to live. This is a book that I will probably pull out every couple of years because it is so practical and such a great reminder.

One book you've been meaning to read:
I've been meaning to read Velvet Elvis by Rob Bell. I have it. I've started it. Haven't picked it up in awhile. What I've read so far is great, just for some reason haven't gotten around to finishing it.

Now tag five people:
If you read this list, then consider yourself tagged. I am not going to go on naming folks on my blog who probably won't do this anyway. I enjoyed it though, and am glad that Michael sent me the email and told me I should do it.

Glasses

Well, it's that time of year where I have to go and get my eyes checked at the doctor. I started wearing glasses two years ago, but this is my first eye appointment since then. I forgot to make the appointment last year. Then I kept thinking, maybe they'll get better if I wait longer, but alas, I need to go in because I now want contacts instead of glasses. I need a change from glasses.

I know you're all thinking...great story, do tell us more, but this appointment has got me thinking and I'm not sure the thought is fully developed, but here it goes.

I believe that being a Christian has similar responsibilities and needing to get your eyes checked. Our eyes could be perfect for years, but then somehow they start to get blurry. If we don't do anything to fix them they get worse. I almost would equate knowing I needed to go to the eye doctor with when one knows that Christ died for their sins. Then making the actual appointment for the doctor, is professing that you know change needs to occur in order for you to continue. The annual checkups at the doctor are necessary to keep tabs on your eyes and to fix them, when fixing is needed. Now we go to God more often than once a year (or so I hope), but it's very similar. We pray to God and talk with Him to keep our relationship healthy, just as I go to the doctor to keep my eyes healthy. When we skip our time with God we're taking a chance that it may be harder to get our relationship back to normal because other factors could have corrupted our thoughts about something.
When we hit a bump in the road in life, if we don't stop and reexamine our hearts and who we are it would be easy to let the blurry vision about God remain and continue to get worse...for example, when a loved one dies, or something unexpected and painful happens in our life, it is easy to get angry at God, but unless we "get a check up" that though process would only get worse.

Today when I go to the doctor, he may tell me my eyes have gotten better, but in reality, there has probably been some type of change that makes it even more important that I go now than it did when I first went to the doctor two years ago. Anyway, the point to what I'm saying is that we should all stop and examine our hearts and figure out what prescription it needs to be fully in love with God and then make a point to keep the lenses adjusted so that we always see 20/20.

Twinkies and RootBeer

This story was sent to me in an email and I thought it was precious....hope you enjoy!


A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.



When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.



The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.





The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.


As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.



When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?



"He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"



Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."



Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

~author unknown~



Send this to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let them know how important they are. Have lunch with God!



And .......Thanks for touching my life!

very weird

I am sitting at home today thinking about how weird it is that next week when all of my colleagues go back to work, I won't be. To update those of you who aren't sure why I'm not going back. My husband is in the Marine Corps. In February he passed the BAR Exam, thus he is now being activated by the Marine Corps so that they can utilize him as a JAG Lawyer. This requires us to relocate to Virginia for a little bit. We were suppose to leave in August, but there was a little mix up and now we're leaving in November, but needless to say, I won't be a here a full school year to be teaching.

So, anyway, I think I've realized that I'm bummed about not having a class to get ready for right now. I mean I knew I'd miss it, but I'm so excited about this next adventure with my husband that I didn't think I'd realize how much I missed it...does that make sense? If not, oh well...

I love watching children "get it" for the first time, whether it be reading, a science experiment, how to do a math problem, etc. Children make the profession amazing. Knowing I'm not able to go back right now, has proven this to me. I think the reason I wasn't so sure I'd miss it right away was because of how jaded I was about the politics involved with teaching. I had no idea how many outside influences swayed my opinion of teaching. But, I've come to realize now, it's not the teaching that was being swayed, that has always been my joy, my passion. It was all of the "other stuff," that unless you're a teacher, probably doesn't make much sense.

Didn't mean to go on a rabbit trail, my point in all this is that I dearly miss preparing for a class right now. I want to be in a classroom setting up and getting ready for the school year. I know God has me in this place for a reason, maybe it be simply so I could see how much I truly love teaching, or maybe it's for another reason. I don't know at this point. All I know is that something feels like it's missing and now I know what it is.

Happy 4th of July

Hope you all have a blessed 4th of July. Remember to thank a member of the armed forces today. Without them, we wouldn't have a reason to celebrate.

Hope you're all staying cool and safe today. :)

Great Quotes From a Good Friend

A good friend, Brad Thayer, of mine came across an interesting posting, slamming the Emergent Church, on a blog. He said some pretty profound things there so I thought I'd share them here for all to see. Hope you all enjoy as much as I did!

"This whole emergent - postmodern conversation is one that goes on and on. I personally don't feel that it's a bad thing. Finding new methods for sharing Jesus to a new generation is not bad. Tweaking your message so that your hearers understand more is not a bad thing. I feel that the emergent movement is trying to do just that, finding new ways to share the message of Jesus to a new generation that is hungry. "

I think this next quote is one of Brad's most profound. I loved the way he put. It was direct and to the point, yet it still makes you think.

"I don't mean to start an argument, but as you can tell this topic makes the church pretty polarized. I apologize if I sound attacking, that's not my intention. With that said, Ill continue.
I think the word tweak is bothering you. Let me explain more through a situation that Is happening to my friend.
He lives in a pretty white neighborhood in Orange County, but recently an Arabic family has moved next door to him. My friend is a former missionary so he viewed this as a chance for him to share Jesus with some people who probably don't know Him.
Now he has two options on how to go about this. The first, he walks to their door with no knowledge of their language what words offend or what words engage, has no knowledge of cultural norms meaning gestures or greetings. He has no knowledge of the way their family works or even their names. With knowing none of this he walks over and begins to share with them the Gospel using words, methods, messages, that offend them to the point that they don't even want to listen. Now I know that the gospel is offensive to some and we are to expect resistance. But look at the other way of doing this
He gets to know them. Learns their language, perhaps puts a few verses in Arabic for them to understand. He eats their foods, admires their art, learns their family and the way they tick. Having a knowledge of their culture, he then takes the Jesus to them in a way they understand. He tweaks the message without ever compromising Christ. That's what I mean by tweaking.
This culture arising here now has a new way of thinking, a new way of responding, and as I found out today at Starbucks, a new language. They are very tech savvy, they are political, some are socially aware and active. I think the PM movement in the church is to find ways to reach this new culture with the truth of the gospel. That's how I see it, that's how I live it. Its more of a mission field to me. They are changing they way they talk about Jesus without compromising Jesus, in order that the world around them understand better. Sounds a lot like 1 Corinthians 9.22.
Sure there is a cost to following Christ, any Christ follower knows this. But Answer me this what's worse? Someone who professes Christianity for the mere reason of not going to hell, fire insurance if you will, or someone who lives out the way Jesus modeled for us to live? Whose salvation is costing more? The one with fire insurance, or the one who has the lifestyle change. The question, Where will you go if you die tonight is a good one, however, what happens if you if you live? Will there be a change?
I don't recall Jesus saying turn or burn or ever asking where will you be after your dead. It seems that He was saying, if I could paraphrase, live like this, practice your faith like I do, pray this way, treat people like this. And when did Jesus ever ask people who wanted to follow him to say a prayer? Instead, look at the call to Peter, feed my sheep or Follow Me.
I don't know What do you think?"

"I don't know when or where it becomes un-Biblical to for people to adapt to different cultures. The verse you're going to say in return is Romans 12:1-2, and tell me about not being conformed and so on, however, I don't think that verse means not to adapt the message, here is why.
Paul himself adapts the message of Christ to meet the culture whom is trying to reach. Look at his discourse on Mars Hill in Acts 17. He uses items from the culture around him, primarily the Statue of The Unknown God to introduce them to Christ. He also does this in throughout the entire book of Ephesians comparing Christ to their god, Artemus. When Jesus used parables to teach He was using a popular medium of that day, story. When Ezekiel uses sketch and sculpture to show the impending doom on Jerusalem, he was using elements of the culture to influence the culture. Using the surrounding culture to show the need and convey the message of Christ is completely Biblical.
If you track the growth of Christianity throughout history you see that Christians have used elements of culture to reach culture. Be it debate, writing, music, theatre, painting, radio, television, and (thank you Mel Gibson) Movies. So when you call the methods 'unbiblical' I don't know what you mean or what you are intending. If you are planting a church in Mexico you learn to speak Spanish, an element of their culture, because they don't understand English. If you are ministering in Italy, you don't use certain hand gestures. Because what might mean 'peace-out' to us, equal a two word phrase dealing with someone's mom. "

Anyway, I just wanted to share some of his responses to his attacks on this blog because I felt he dealt with attacks very well and came back in a very nonthreatening way with VERY GOOD points.

The Bar Exam

My husband found out last night that he passed the California Bar Exam!!! Woo Hoo!!!! For all of you who have been praying and prayed the first time around last July, I thank you!!!

Hope you're all doing well. It has been a crazy year at school, but I plan to be in the blog world more consistently in the summer, which is in 20 Days!!!

Am I Making A Difference?

Have you ever stopped and wondered, "Am I Making a Difference?" Lately, that question has been on my mind. As a Christian, not only do I want to make a difference, I'm called to make a difference. Then, on top of that, I have been called to be a teacher. This is a profession, that until this year didn't realize how terrible some children's lives are. I often wonder at the end of the day if I am making a difference in their lives?

I desire to have people know that they are loved and that they are important not only to me, but to our Father in heaven as well. In my job, it's so hard to do what everyone says a Christian is suppose to do. I can't just openly talk about my faith without serious repercussions. So, I'm left with trying to love on my students in a way that they notice a difference in my life, so much that maybe one day they'd look back and wonder what was different about me. Then I wonder, "Am I Making Enough of a Difference?"

I often think about how I treat my friends. I love them very much, but sometimes I forget to make a phone call or to send an email during the week to let them know that I care about them. I know how important it is to me and how much it means to me when my friends let me know they're thinking of me during the week. I feel as though I fail to show them Christ's love during the week when I don't make a point to contact them during the week. I fail them as a friend. I wonder, "Did I Make a Difference in _____________'s Life This Week?"

Then, what has lately been on my heart is "Am I Making A Difference Through My Prayer Life?" I am a firm believe in the power of prayer. I pray all of the time, but do I pray enough to "Make a Difference" in the lives of others and in my own life? How much do I need to pray to "Make a Difference?" I've seen the power of prayer at work in my own life, but what about the people I pray for that I don't see on a regular basis? Am I praying hard enough?

I desire to make a difference. I strongly feel like that is why I was put here on this earth. So often I wonder "Am I making a difference?"

Mixed Feelings

Real quick, for those of you praying for my husband...thank you...he's one day closer to being done with this nasty bar exam and told me that today he could feel everyone's prayers.

Anyway, on to my mixed feelings...

Today I found out that a young boy at my school died on Sunday. I have very mixed feelings about it. This little boy has been battling a rare cancer for a few years now and he was laid to rest Sunday morning. I know that he is at peace now and not in any pain, but at the same time I can't help but think what a young, joyful life is missing from this earth now. I keep wrestling with this in my head. Why does God allow little children to suffer? Then I think, well he didn't let him suffer much because He showed him mercy by bringing him home and relieving him from pain. But then, lately, I've been in a discussion with a friend about where babies and children go that haven't had the chance to accept Christ yet. I come back to just having mixed, unsettled feelings. I know that God is just and merciful, so I trust the outcome, but I still feel all confused and mixed up inside.

I'd love to hear what you guys have to say on this topic....Thank you!!!

Finding the Balance

Well, last night at my community group we finished up the study on Grace and Truth that I've been writing about. It was some very interesting conversation. We discussed the importance of finding that balance between truth and grace, because without it we either appear too legalistic or too carefree (without standards).

One of the tough questions we worked through last night was: "How is it evident in your life that you have repented of your sins and know that you are saved?" Many of us had a hard time answering this question, but there was one person who had a great answer. He shared how he wrote a letter to his dad apologizing for how he'd been as he was growing up. We thought this was a great practical way and brought to a personal level. I shared that I struggled with this question because a lot of times I have a hard time forgiving myself, so I don't feel right asking God for His forgiveness, when I've can't even forgive myself. I don't know if anyone else can relate to that, but I think for me it's harder to forgive myself than it is to forgive another person. I am working on it and striving to improve in that area, but it's a tough one for me.

Anyway, that pretty much concluded our study and we're deciding next week what we will be studying in the weeks to come. Hope you all have had a great weekend. :)


~~~If you wouldn't mind praying, my husband takes the bar exam in a week. Please pray that his anxiety level would be non-existent for the test and that he will be able to easily recall all of the information he has been studying so diligently. Thank you for your prayers!!!

Truth

As I've continued on with my study, "The Grace and Truth Paradox," I have continued to grow. This four week study is coming to an end though. There is only one week left. As I said before, I strongly recommend this study to anyone looking for one right now.

This past week's focus was TRUTH. We had some great discussions at my community group. Most importantly we kept coming back to the key focus of Christ's example. No matter how important the truth is, it must always be displayed in a graceful manner. It is not our job to judge people or to condemn them. It is our job to love them.

We are all sinners so to come across as "perfect" is a flat our lie. The church so often makes people feel like once they're "family" that you can't have any baggage, but I think the world would be a better place if we all did openly share our struggles in life. I think those who don't yet know Christ along with other fellow Christians would find comfort in REAL people, not the paper doll cutouts people try to portray themselves as.

If we would just befriend people, whether or not they are Christian, and actually not even address whether they are Christians or not; you know, treat them like a person (what a concept), maybe people would see "real" Christianity lived out. If we were stronger in our own faith and secure in how we were to live, we wouldn't have the desire to shove our religion on others and more people would see the attractiveness of our Christ and His amazing Grace through the Holy Spirit's loving actions moving in and through our lives!!!

I know this is short, but I hope it helps you think...I know it's made me think. I'm looking forward to the last week of the study and finding more life application for living out both Grace and Truth.

"The Grace and Truth Paradox"

Okay, okay, okay....this is for my husband, who guilted me, this morning, into posting something.

The truth is after being sick for so long, I sort of felt out of the loop and began to wonder if what I posted was really all that special and so I just stopped writing because I feared what I was writing was pointless. I mean, I've stopped getting the traffic that I used to get and far fewer comments, so I figured that the things I had to say were either things people already knew or didn't care about. Apparently my husband does, so I will continue on.

Anyway, right now I am going through a study with my community group that is AMAZING!!! I recommend this study to anyone who is looking for something challenging, yet life changing. The study is by Randy Alcorn and it is called: "The Grace and Truth Paradox" responding with Christian Balance.


This study takes, in my opinion, the two most important concepts and teaches how to apply them in daily life. I am going to be taking several quotes from the book as I continue.

"A paradox is a statement or a phrase that seems to contradict itself but, in fact, is true. One of the greatest paradoxes of the Christian faith is the interplay between grace and truth. Grace, by itself, may permit deception and moral compromise. Truth, by itself, leads to self-righteousness and crushing legalism. Are these two qualities mutually exclusive?" (5)

Wow....these few sentences say so much and they are only in the preface. This topic is one I wrestle with and have found several of my brothers and sisters in Christ also wrestle with. How do you uphold the truth while still displaying grace? Sometimes it's easy, but then there are times that are so hard and a few that are uncomprehensible. If we live with granting too much grace than we appear as not standing for anything, but if we live a life purely by truth than we appear as though we're judging others. Neither one of those senarios are ideal. The awesome thing is that we don't have to live one way or the other, nor should we. Jesus didn't! He was a perfect combination of both absolute truth and absolute grace.

"The challenge for believers today is how to express grace and truth in balance, as Jesus did. It's an important issue because the world will draw conclusions about Jesus from what it sees in us." (5)

To get a little bit more specific about truth and grace here is how Mr. Alcorn defines each one separately:

"Truth: refers to the legal demands on humanity that God's character requires and the absolute law He established in His Word.
~God's holiness, justice, and wrath are expressions of His truth." (9)

"Grace: is the aspect of God's character that overrides His judgment of our sin.
~ God's grace led Him to sacrifice His Son to pay the penalty for our sin, offering all people an opportunity to be forgiven and to have new life in Christ." (9-10)

"In the beginning was the Word; and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We observed His glory, the glory as the One and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
~John 1:1,14

My prayer is that the Lord will help me to show grace to others. I don't know if in this life time I will ever be able to show Grace to others even 50% of the time, but through this study I am beginning to grasp just how much grace God granted me, which in turn makes me want to grant grace to others even more. I am no different than those murderers and rapists out there. We are all sinners. No one sin is okay while another is not. All sin is wrong in the eyes of the Lord and keeps us apart from Him without the blood of Christ. Therefore, we are all in need of grace and very much undeserving. If God can grant us grace than who are we to withhold it from others.

"While we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6



So far in this study, I've only been through the comparisons of why both truth and grace are important and then this last week was a further study on what grace actually is, this week I will be studying about what truth really is. Here is a great passage from the study about grace:

"Grace isn't about God lowering His standards. It's about God fulfilling those standards through substitutionary suffering of the One who set the standards. Christ went to the cross because He would not ignore the truths of His holiness and our sin. Grace gave what truth demanded: the ultimate sacrifice for our sins." (29)

"If righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing." Gal. 2:21

"Christ gave His all to save us all. That's grace. Period." (29)

This past week's study has really helped me to find the things that I'm blessed with in life and how to let go of the things that might not be as great, so that I be uplifted and desire to extend grace to others. Phil. 4:11 says it well: "I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am."

"If I grasp that I deserve hell, I will be filled with gratitude not only for God's blessings-including my redemption and my home in heaven-but also for His smaller blessings: sun, rain, a beating heart, eyes that see, legs that walk, a mind that thinks." (39)

Well this is what I am studying and what I am learning right now. It is absolutely fascinating to me!!! I hope that it causes you to think or at least stop a moment and realized how blessed you truly are. I am blessed to be able to share this with you. Thanks for stopping by. I pray that the Lord would move mightily in your life this week.