Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20, 21 NIV

 

God's grace comes with the power of his Spirit and produces a joy in us to trust him with all the particulars of our lives. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.  When we are living in grace we begin to know that God our Father is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… WOW!  Grace takes away all our "yeah buts and if only's." It gives us the confidence to enjoy peace in midst of some of the most awkward opportunities.  Today be willing to experience the joy of his grace so that you are sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see because of him who is able to do immeasurably more than all you ask or imagine. May your words and actions bring glory of his name and bring joy to you. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.  The life that is called eternal will be seen in real time through you today.  You will like this day. Enjoy!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  

Romans 8:28, 29 NIV

 

Grace in Jesus Christ brings our heart to life, creating a love that is meant to be experienced and contagious throughout our life.  Grace does not just forgive, it saves us from the power of our own sin. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  If salvation in Jesus the Christ means anything, it must work where sin begins, not merely where it ends.  It changes us at our very foundation so that we no longer have to live condemning, hateful, lustful, easily irritated or so moody.  God's grace does not just deal with a record book; it refreshes, renews and gives life to the foundation of our character. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. Today may you be willing to experience the life of grace in every detail of your journey.   Let your faith and your love cause you to delight in the life of being conformed to the character of Christ. Enjoy!

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6, 8 NIV If men and women want to know what in the world does God?s grace do or what does it look like, these verses are a great definition of it. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this. God recognizes that we were powerless, ungodly and sinners. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. In that condition God demonstrates his own love for us, he gives us his grace through Jesus the Christ. Grace has to do with his love which is given to us without any condemnation concerning our circumstances so that we can be made new in our life. If you have ever wished that you could start over, you can in the grace that is given in Jesus Christ. Today trust in God?s grace for you. Christ died for the ungodly, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Come just as you are and experience the grace of his love for you. Let your heart express thankfulness for his love for you. This might just be the beginning of a brand new life to live. Enjoy!

For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  Romans 1:21, 22 NIV

 

This verse is the results of a sinful life that says it knows God, but has no attitude or behavior that would reveal such knowledge. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him.  It is one thing to know that there is a God or to believe in God. A belief in God that produces no love for God is a futile, useless belief.  But their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.  God’s grace is His love given as a gift, so that we are delivered from our own guilt and the power of our own sins addictions. Grace is meant to change how we view God and bring about a new creation in us which changes how we feel and think about ourselves. Grace lets us know God in a way that renews our desires and then produces emotions of thanksgiving.  The man or woman that lives thankful in grace, automatically gives glory to God. So today may you know who you are by your own actions.  Choose to allow yourself to delight in finding ways to be thankful.  Let God's grace express through your attitude the life of a thankful heart.  In this place you will always be known as an encourager and a blessing.  Some of the most difficult situations are changed with a heart of thanksgiving.  Enjoy!

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.  Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives.  Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.  And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:16, 17 NLT

 

When we were young we began to learn the importance of who we are and what we are called.  Our name and the name of our family became important.  A good question to ask is - "When someone uses your name, what comes to their mind?" In grace there is a freedom, a richness and a joy in who you are because of the Lord Jesus the Christ. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.  In fact grace creates new emotions which sound like – sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Today enjoy the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives.  Think of who you are now because of the grace of our Lord.  Whatever you do or say can give refreshment to those around you. Today is a good day for people to know your name.  Enjoy!

May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O LORD, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. Psalm 69:6 NIV 

 

Our lives really can make a difference to our family, our friends and those around us.  Our response to situations has a great impact on the lives of those who know us. Living in God’s grace that is given in Jesus Christ changes our focus on life.  May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O LORD!  God’s Grace is full of life, kindness, gentleness and joy!  There is no regret of any kind when we let the grace of Christ give direction to our hearts. May those who seek you not be put to shame because of me. Today enjoy the power of eternal life that is in you, it is called God’s grace. Here you will find no shame of any kind; in fact what you will experience is life that is rejoicing, light hearted and a sweet relief to you and those around you.  Enjoy!

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Colossians 3:15 NIV

 

Life itself is just an amazing journey, when you think we all start off in the same place, as infants. No matter what nationality or language, for most of us we start off being cared for, which gives meaning to our relationships.  But we all discover that many of our relationships become tense, so we continue to change relationships, which all affect our attitudes and emotions. So in the beauty of God's grace we have to learn something, it is called “Let.”   This is an encouragement to willingly allow, desire Jesus Christ's peace to take conrol of your heart, guiding emotions and thoughts.    For this to happen we have to let the will of God have his way. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.  This can start us off again in a new place where we can learn joy in the midst of our life. Since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  It is here where relationships can be healed with the joy of peace. Today let in the peace that our Lord has for you.    Allow your will to be refreshed in his peace and you will have expressions, emotions and words that bring encouragement to others as well as thankfulness to you.  Enjoy!

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.  I will sing your praises among the nations.  For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.  Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds. Psalm 57:9, 10 NIV   If we are willing to start our morning being thankful, we will find our afternoons filled with praise. I will thank you, Lord, among all people. I will sing your praises among the nations. It is refreshing to be aware of God's grace and find our life being thankful at the beginning of each new day.  Why are we willing?  For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens. Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.  Think of the magnifiance of God's will for us. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus! Today before everything else starts to get your attention, open your mouth and let your heart express your thankfulness and praise to the one who is always faithful to you, then watch what happens. (Psalm 37:4) Enjoy!

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!  I John 3:1 NIV

 

Talk about grace, God has lavished his love on us so that we may know, not guess or wish for, but know that we are children of God.  This is not a theoretical concept but a very real life that comes from his love. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us.  He is a Father who loves, who brings joy and who gives life that is called freedom and eternal. It is full of righteousness, peace and joy. We see all this through his grace on the cross of Jesus the Christ.  Today celebrate your life as a man or woman of God because of Jesus Christ.  How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, so let his peace, let his joy, let his kindness and let his encouragement have its way in your thinking, actions and emotions.  Praise his name in everything you do and allow yourself to be lavished in his love. Your day could be renewing in all the right ways.  Enjoy!

And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  Matthew 27:50, 51 NIV

 

In just over a month from now on April 20th, we will celebrate Easter, which is the resurrection of Jesus the Christ which broke the power of sin in us by his grace  The death of Jesus Christ was not a religious moment, it was God’s grace coming into contact with humanity. And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. The curtain in the temple separated people from the presence of God because of their sins and only the high priest could go behind the curtain once a year for the atonement for the sins of the people.  The tearing of the curtain, from the top to the bottom was the action of God’s grace. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. This declared that our sins have been atoned for and now because of his grace nothing can separate us from the love and presence of God through Jesus the Christ!!! Yet some who have experienced grace for salvation let their sins keep them from living life by the grace of God that tore the curtain.  Today because of the grace of God in Jesus the Christ let yourself be willing to live in the joy of his presence and love.  No matter where you have been, nothing can separate you from the life, the love, the kindness and the presence of God because of the grace found in Jesus Christ.  This is a good day to choose to celebrate God’s grace in your life.  In his presence is absoulte freedom and we become new!!! Enjoy!

So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord... who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. 2 Timothy 1:8, 9 NIV When God's grace comes to us there is a result of a holy life. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord? not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. To be holy we must begin with Jesus the Christ. He is the root and beginning of all holiness. The way to be holy is to come to him by grace through faith and be joined to him. He not only washes away our sin by his own blood, but he also delivers us from the power of our own sin. The result - he puts a new love in our heart (holiness) and that makes us practically a man or woman of God. Today, enjoy being relaxed in the grace of God's love for you. Actually living in his grace will bring refreshment to your life which will be a blessing for others who live and work around you. Your very breath today can bring praise to God. Enjoy!

We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  Romans 5:3-5 NLT

 

The only way we can rejoice, when we run into problems and trials is because of God’s grace given through Jesus Christ. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. It does seem that most everything that will bring some long lasting satisfaction to our life requires endurance of some kind.  Endurance seems to go hand in hand with at least some form of pain, it may be emotional, mental or physical.  Think of the effort of fine tuning of our physical body, or the challenge of education for the right career and even a good marriage requires the working of a love that at times feels like pain.  When God’s grace is allowed to give direction in our thinking and emotions our experiences through problems produce an attitude that will be a blessing to us as well as those around us.  And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this hope will not lead to disappointment. Today trust his Word so that you will not have that horrible feeling of disappointment and overall depression.  Grace will let you not only believe but experience his love for you on this brand new day.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  His love is refreshing in some of the most unbelievable circumstances.  Take a good deep breath of his grace and then verbalize your thanksgiving and praise.  You will not be disappointed. Enjoy!

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.  I do not conceal your love and your truth from those I meet.  Psalm 40:10 NIV

 

What happens to the heart of a man or woman who has received the grace of God? I do not hide your righteousness in my heart. Your righteousness in my heart gives us a beautiful view of our life without condemnation, ridicule, slander  or unforgiveness in our emotions or our thinking. I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.  With that in place, our faith in our Lord brings about a joy in our journey and others are then blessed with his love through us. I do not conceal your love and your truth from those I meet. When God’s righteousness has become what we are, relationships can be rebuilt and renewed. Today let his grace and love continue to overwhelm you as you speak of God’s faithfulness and salvation.  In his grace you can say – I do not conceal your love and your truth from those I meet.  Those you meet today will be very blessed to experience God’s love for them through you. Enjoy!

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. 

Colossians 3:17 NIV

 

Being overwhelmed by God’s grace through Jesus Christ is a transformation that takes place within the desires of our mind and our heart.  Instead of words, tones, physical expressions on our face or deeds that are less than refreshing, grace gives a new desire of expressing in whatever we do with our words and our actions thanksgiving to God. Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  Words and actions of grace will refresh, encourage and renew others through their life.  Emotions that live in grace are always refresh and bring a great relief to those who meet you! Today, may the life of His grace come out of your mouth and be expressed on your face.  The joy you will experience and the refreshment it will bring will absolutely delight you. When this verse is a description of who you are, then you will have an outstanding day, and your relationships will have an emotion called joy. Enjoy!

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.  Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous.  He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.  Romans 3:23, 24 NLT

 

For everyone has sinned, which means we all have found in our nature the results of that.  Jealousy, lust, irritations, anger, anxiety, stress, feelings of criticism along with all forms of judgment concerning ourselves and others have come to us naturally.  There is not enough money or education in the world that can remove these things from how we feel.  But when we take God at his Word, in what he says about his grace (undeserved kindness) that is given to us in Jesus the Christ all things begin to change. Through Jesus Christ ,it is God who declares that we are righteous. Righteousness first gift is deliverance from guilt and then deliverance from the power of our own sin. In righteousness emotions of condemnation end and grace replaces it with new emotions of kindness, peace and joy. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty of our sins. In grace there is a blessing of joy that can be lived and experienced through our life. Today enjoy the life of grace that is yours because of Jesus Christ.  Let your mind experience the emotions of joy as your words and tones express rejoicing and praise.  There you will understand the blessing of his compassion and your life will become a wonderful fragrance to your family, your friends and those you meet.  Enjoy!

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work.  Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. Ecclesiastes 2:24 NLT

 

One of the great benefits of the grace of Jesus Christ is that it gives us the ability to find joy in the everyday things of life. So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work.  Just think how much complaining, grumbling, stress and anxiety go on in our time so that we forget how to be thankful and enjoy what we do have. We were meant to enjoy the simple things such as eating, drinking and all those taste buds in our mouth that are just waiting to express themselves.  Grace can celebrate these individual moments with an attitude of thanksgiving and that changes everything from how we feel to how we think.  Today let yourself find pleasure in the smallest things along your journey.  You, your family, your friends and those you come in contact with will be renewed through your attitude of grace.  Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God.  Enjoy!

For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Galatians 5:13 NLT

 

We are a nation that is all about freedom. For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. Yet as a nation we seem to be losing our freedom and becoming enslaved to actions, attitudes and emotions that are destructive to our families, our neighborhoods, churches and our nation. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature.  It isn’t just alcohol, drugs, food and all forms of immorality but also violence in attitude and actions. What is ironic is the more someone asserts his or her self-centered so called freedom, the more he or she becomes enslaved to their own sin. But there is a prescription for freedom, it is the grace of God found in Jesus Christ. So if the Son of God sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36. This freedom of grace is not a belief system; it is a life that penetrates the very foundation of our emotions and our thinking, it is called a new creation. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.  Today enjoy the freedom of grace that has been given to you through Jesus the Christ. Let your day be free in grace so that you know your old habits and addiction are no longer a definition of who you are or were. Your freedom in Christ will bless you and bring delight to everyone around you.  Enjoy!

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. Ephesians 5:21, 22, 25 NLT

 

To submit out of duty or obligation is something our nature does not enjoy and makes us feel agitated, sometimes feeling inferior and in time gets tiring.  But in Grace, submitting or loving has to do with our relationship to Jesus the Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. The nature of grace is love, which is to esteem, encourage, give honor and respect to others along their journey.  Grace gives a new nature of not being so irritated or stressed in our relationships.  When submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ has become who we are, then relationships can be built through the grace and love of Christ, we then experience great encouragement along with its cousin joy.  Today, allow the beauty of God’s grace to be living and speaking through you.  In this place you will find no burden, no guilt, and no regret. For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord.  For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church.  You and your family will feel renewed and extremely refreshed. Enjoy!

Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.  And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.  And this is his commandment:  We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 1 John 3:21-23 NLT

 

It is amazing to think of the heartaches we go through when we have emotions of feeling guilty.  In the Word of God we can see again the power of His grace that gives us no condemnation in our heart, mind or soul, Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.  Grace gives us new life, with a joy of a relationship with the Lord that is secure, good and refreshing as each new day comes. These words are overwhelming because of grace – And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him. What is it that pleases God?  We must believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another.  Let your faith in Jesus Christ continue to live and overwhelm you in his grace.  You will experience a confidence in your life that will refresh you as well as others. Those around you will begin to feel a blessed hope and you will experience a joy that cannot be contained. Enjoy!

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception.  Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.  Put on your new nature, created to be like God - truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT

 

The grace that is given in Jesus the Christ gives the power to remove our old sinful nature as the major controller of our emotions. Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life.  Marriages, neighborhoods, the work place, and our communities are in trouble not because of God's grace, but because of our old sinful nature. Your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. The grace of Jesus Christ brings about a new nature so that we can let the Spirit renew our thoughts and attitudes. In God's grace we can find ourselves being refreshed each day in how we feel and think. Put on your new nature, created to be like God – truly righteous and holy. Today allow yourself to experience the great joy of knowing his grace. In grace praise and thanksgiving will come naturally and you will see your life through the eyes of God. If you are willing to live in his grace, this might just be one of the best days of your life. Enjoy!

God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.  But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant.  So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us a right standing with  God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Romans 5:20, 21 NLT

 

Sin is universal and is found in every group of people on the earth. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were.  Sin wants no authority but itself and can express itself in many ways.  After all, what is lust, bitterness, anger, resentment, criticism, slander, all of which bring tension to our relationships in our home, our work place, our community and our churches? But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.  God’s grace recreates our nature and gives what is known as “eternal life” which brings about kindness, encouragement , peace and joy.  So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us a right standing with God.  Today, enjoy that life that is called eternal through Jesus the Christ.  It has been given and provided for you through God’s wonderful grace. Take a breath of his grace, then relax, look up and give thanks to the Lord.  You will see, hear and respond in such a way, that you will feel like all things have become new again, it is just how a life of grace is. Enjoy!