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

It is one thing to believe that there is a God or even to believe in God.  The beauty of grace, which is the power of God's love given without condemnation, is meant to change how we think of God and therefore how we feel about ourselves. Grace lets us not just believe in him but to know God in a way that refreshes our emotions and therefore brings the desire to express joy and thanksgiving.  The man or woman that lives with a personality of joy will automatically give glory to God through their actions.  Today may you delight in finding ways to express joy and thanksgiving.  Let God's grace express through your words and attitudes the beauty of a thankful heart.  In this place you will always be known as an encourager and a delight to those around you.  Some of the most difficult situations are changed by expressions of joy and thanksgiving.  Enjoy!

Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder.  Write them deep within your heart.  Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.  Proverbs 3:3,4

Being overwhelmed by grace gives us a great relief in our thinking, our living, along with the privilege of esteeming others as more important than ourselves with the result of gladness and joy.  Loyalty and kindness are two beautiful parts of grace and when they are allowed to be communicated through our lives, our Lord is blessed and people are refreshed.  That being true, we then are filled with joy and goodness. In this place there is no regret or sorrow.  Today may you enjoy these expressions of his grace through you.  Let your life have situations for loyalty and kindness to be seen through you.  Simple things like loyalty and kindness bring great refreshment which can be described as finding favor with both God and people. Enjoy!

LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?  Who may live on your holy hill?  He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who keep his oath even when it hurts. Psalm 15:1-4

Heavenly Father, these are truths that overwhelm mankind.  These simple truths seem to elude us along our journey. When we find ourselves doing and living just the opposite of these simple truths, we then feel accused and at times worthless.  Father, it is in this place and condition that you have given and expressed your grace to us through Jesus the Christ.  Your grace cleanses us from the power and condemnation of our sin. Your grace gives us freedom of our emotions, thoughts, and words to experience your glory, rejoice in your life and live as an encouragement to others. Today may we live overwhelmed by your grace in the freedom of your love without condemnation and be a living expression of the good news of grace found in Jesus the Christ. Today these truths describe who we now are because of your grace given in Jesus Christ. Enjoy!

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. Lamentations 3:25

It really is amazing as to what we put our hope in through the days of our life. Hope can actually give our thoughts, emotions and desires a real sense of refreshment and encouragement.  Hope lives with God’s grace, to give us emotions of rejoicing in the life of our Lord, knowing that he is keenly aware of and involved in the details of our lives.  When we know this to be true, we can see the details of our journey in a new way, which curtails anxiety, stress and worry in the situations that may come along.  Today let yourself relax in the beauty of who you are because of his grace.  Let your heart be refreshed in your hope in him, for his goal for you today is your highest good.  Enjoy!

He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.  Proverbs 17:9

It is amazing how with just a few words people’s lives can be changed.  God’s grace allows us the privilege of covering the offenses of others so that they may begin to hear and see the reality of God’s love.  His grace which we know as his love given without condemnation will give us many opportunities through our life to bless instead of accusing, to give instead of take, to honor instead of ridicule.  This is a good day for his grace to be expressed through the wonderful gift of your mouth.  Your day will be refreshing and anyone who meets you will see and hear through you that life that is eternal, it is called God’s grace.  Enjoy!

I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do.  I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved.   And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.  1 Corinthians 10:33 NLT.

Here is a good question that we should ask on some kind of regular basis – “Who do we imitate?”  The answer tells us in what direction we may be going on that day.  God so loved that he gave, and he gave with joy and compassion to those, who at the time did not ask nor seem to want what he was.  Even on the cross, with his flesh torn, exhausted from beatings, and a crown of thorns on his head, he responds to the situation this way – “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”  Luke 22:34.  There is a newness to our emotions in the grace of Christ that many are missing along their journey.  Grace relieves and blesses our life with the desire to see others refreshed so that they too may experience the grace of God in Jesus the Christ.  Today may you be the life that can be imitated so that as they see, hear and experience grace and kindness through you they will be saved as you have been saved.  This might be a good day for someone to imitate you.  Enjoy!

From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.  Proverbs 12:14

As we grow from childhood into an adult we learn the value and joy of working hard, at least for most of us.  Our labor can provide us with income that will bless us and our families.  But sometimes we forget the income that comes from our mouth.  With it we express through words, tones and expressions the attitude of our heart.  It is here where grace can be experienced with great refreshment.  Grace changes everything for it brings back to life the nature and attitude of God in us.  We then have the privilege of being aware of words, tones and expressions that may not bring a blessing to those who hear and see.  But at the same time having a wonderful opportunity to have our emotions be words of grace.  Today may you rejoice in the work of your hands, but especially rejoice in what grace sounds like as it is being spoken and expressed through your life and character.  You will like it and it will put a smile on your face as well as those around you.  Enjoy!

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. Psalm 23:1 In these simple words we can see a change in our thinking and emotions, from a belief system about God into a relationship with him which is overwhelmed by his grace. Here he is our shepherd, the one who cares intimately about us and the details of our life. Grace lets us know that His Word is more than a statement; it is a fact about our relationship with the LORD. Stress, worry, anxiety and unforgiveness have no home or place here. During this day allow yourself to realize the LORD is the shepherd of your life and celebrate that he is involved in all the details of your life. Relax, smile and rejoice with praise to the one whose goal is to bless you. Enjoy!

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.  Genesis 2:24

God’s plan for mankind has always been grace, for grace brings about a love and joy in our relationships.  Sin on the other hand is destructive in its emotions, its words and its expressions.  The actions of sin have destroyed many marriages and families along the journey.  But the good news found in Jesus the Christ is that grace can overwhelm sin, for it was given in the power of the blood of Christ.  Emotions of grace, words of grace and expressions of grace can bring beauty and life to marriages, families and communities.  You see grace does not just save; it gives life to us in the very center of our being to love well.  Grace can enjoy being tolerant, patient and kind, all of which builds relationships.  Today may you laugh a lot, encourage a lot and forgive a lot, for this freedom of grace will blow your hair back in all the right ways.  This day of grace desires to bring unity, kindness and blessings to your relationships through you.  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

Being self-focused seems to be what is common to us naturally from our birth.  We can see this in children being raised in the same family.  But what is natural to grace is a desire in our emotions and our thinking that wants to bless and encourage others.  The gift of grace brings delight in that we are aware of the impact our words, our tones, our expressions and even our desires have on the people around us.  There is no stress, anxiety or regret with attitudes of grace that are heard and seen.  An life of grace lightens our load so that the joy of others is important to us and in fact down right refreshing.  This is a great day to rejoice knowing the impact you have on your family, your friends, your co-workers and even those who do not like you because of the power of our Lord’s grace in you.  Your attitudes and actions can rekindle hope in some of the most difficult places.  Let the freedom of his grace have its way in you.  Enjoy!