HE MUST INCREASE, I MUST DECREASE

In preparation for study tomorrow night I am working on digging into Esther chapter five and learning all about pride and humility. A friend of mine gave me an excellent book on Christlike character. Chapter 14 describes humility.

"We're never once commanded by God to "look" humble. Humility is an attitude. It is an attitude of the heart. An attitude of the mind. It is knowing your proper place...It is knowing your role and fulfilling it for God's glory and praise." ~ Charles R. Swindoll.

John the Baptist, whom baptized Jesus, said, "He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30

Where have you seen God's grace in your life today?

THIS IS THE STUFF

Where have you seen God's grace in your life today?

BECAUSE HE LOVES US

I sure do have one amazing sister! She sent me this devo about a week ago and I just loved it! It is a MUST SHARE …

So, how do I know if I'm doing things because I'm loved or so that I will be loved? See how easy or hard it is to apply this Scripture:

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5: 6-10 NIV)

Because I am loved, I can humble myself.

When I'm trying to be loved, I must build myself up to look better.

Because I am loved, I can cast all my anxiety on Him.

When I'm trying to be loved, I cast all my anxiety on my performance.

Because I am loved, I can resist Satan and stand firm in my faith.

When I'm trying to be loved, I listen to Satan and stand uncertain trying to rely on my feelings.

Because I am loved, I know God will use this to make me stronger - and I want that.

When I'm trying to be loved, I don't want to be made stronger - I want life to be easier.

Indeed, I want to pursue life, relationships, and the goals I set from a healthy and free vantage point — because I am loved.

I share this with you all as I am en route to Minneapolis! I can’t wait to land and spend the entire weekend with the family! Momma and crew…HERE I COME!

Love,

Jessica

Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

COME AND SEE

Today's Reflections for Ragamuffins, Brennan Manning:

Following surgery for prostate cancer, I walked (catheterized) every morning for an hour through our Old Algiers neighborhood in New Orleans with a new pair of glasses. One vital aspect of the postmortem life, it seems, is that everything gets piercingly important. You get stabbed by things, by flowers and babies, by the mighty Mississippi and the inner beauty of your wife, by the loveliness of a plethora of things.

And, of course, it all slowly fades…

The Gospels indicate, however, that at every moment of his life Jesus was aware that everything came from the love of God. He never took his life for granted by each moment received it as a free gift from his Abba.

The nameless gratitude that we feel after a narrow escape from injury or death, Jesus felt each morning as he rose from sleep. He lived without boredom, tranquilizers, or anesthesia, numb to neither pain nor the joy of the human experience. He was a man with his arms open, his chest uncovered, and his heart exposed; and so the wild world, gift of his prodigal Father, leaped into his eyes, ravished his ears, and pierced his heart.

Jesus said to the two disciples, “Come and see.” Come to me and see with my eyes, listen with my ears, and feel with my heart.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27.

THANK YOU Brennan Manning for taking THIS Sunday to JOLT me out of letting my awe of you fade! While reading my Reflections for Ragamuffins this morning, God again floored me in a way he only can by meeting me exactly where I am at. Manning’s explanation reminded me of how I felt in the storm of ALL that has just happened with Mom and how he used that to save not only her life, but our entire families.

I apologize for my lack of dedication to recognizing God’s grace and all I have to be thankful for every single day. I am re-committed to logging here the very way he continues to touch my life J

I am counting down the days (5 to be exact) until I get to go home and see Mom and the family over the 4^th of July weekend! I can’t WAIT to give you all an update on her amazing progress! STAY TUNED!

Love,

Jessica

And now for my favorite question: Where have you seen God’s grace in your life today?

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."
— Jim Elliot

Happy Father's Day to all of the wonderful Dad's out there! Although I would much rather be with the family at the cabin in northern Wisconsin (what Dad refers to as God's country :o), we had a great message at church this morning titled Men In An Uncertain Age. And it's not just for men, I took a lot away from it as well!

http://media.calvaryftl.org/archive/


Where have you seen God's grace in your life today?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMA BESCH!

...as I watched her open her gift this morning (thanks to facetime) she said, "Oh, that's very pretty!" :o)

Where have you seen God's grace in your life today?

PICTURES OF GRACE: PART 2

…so a weekend in Boston has me behind a week.

Pictures of Grace: Part 2

Watch Here: http://www.crpc.org/sermons--media/sermon/pictures-of-grace---part-2

Where have you seen God's grace in your life today?