Free Gift

I love freebies! I enjoy couponing and generally participating in all things frugal! I jump at any opportunity get something free almost to the point of obsession--they are almost irrestible!

This morning I was reading Paul's letter to the Romans and I was reminded of the words of young man I knew several years ago. He said, "I just think Jesus is irrestible." Wow! Doesn't that make you stop and think? And I agree - to be a bit crass: Jesus is the best freebie this sin-filled world has ever received--that I have ever received!

Paul is passionately in love with Jesus as well - Jesus is clearly irrestible to Him, too. Sometimes when we're in a the midst of difficult situation, having a hard time making it through our current circumstances, or dreading some future event, we forget about the freedom we have in Christ - and through Him. We have no need for fear or worry or dread. Rather, we have the free gift of grace, which is the source of our hope!

"For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)" (Romans 8:22-25 NLT)

There's a saying quoted often: Freedom isn't free. In the case of our human existence, as it applies to the United States, this is a valid statement. In the heavenly realms, though, it really is "free" in that all we have to do is accept Jesus' irrestible gift: the sacrifice of our sins on the Cross. He died so our sin would die, and he rose so we would be made new. In spite of mankind; even knowing that two thousand years later, we would still be seeking after other, lesser gifts, He gave us the free gift of grace.

"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.
When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners" (Romans 5:3-6 NLT).

So many, including my family and I, are struggling with various life issues. It's all too easy to get wrapped up in worry, stress, anxiety, fear. In times of trouble, we need that "freebie" even more - and remember to take it, use it, own it - and pass on the good news to others.

"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 image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Romans 8:28-30 NIV).

Blessings on your journey,
Mary

Wide Open Spaces of God's Grace and Love

"By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us--set us right with him, make us fit for him--we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he had already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand--out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary--we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit" (Romans 5:1-5 (MSG), 4-5 RSV)!

Wow! I haven’t ever read this version of Romans! Romans can be bit convoluted -- Paul thinks, and writes(!) like I often do, a kind of free flowing, wordy discourse. This paraphrase made it a bit easier to understand, I think. What Paul is saying is that we may think we’re acting alone in accepting Christ as our Savior. The truth is: God’s already taken the first step--He’s all ready for us! We thought we were planning a surprise party, but guess what? The surprise is ours!

I think of the story of the Prodigal Son--we are so much like that younger son, aren’t we? We go plodding down the road that leads us to the father‘s house, head hung down, beaten down physically, emotionally, spiritually, and determine we’ll finally admit we are unable to live without our Father--and we are willing to live on his property as a servant, rather than be without him. Rather than assigning the wayward child to the servant’s quarters, the Father runs, jubilantly to his child. He is so excited he can’t wait for the child to come the entire way home. He leaps and runs and calls out in joy, welcome home! That’s how God is too! We think it’s all our idea to turn our lives over to Christ. But guess what? Christ already cleared the way for us!

And there’s more! We continue to rejoice because once we accept Christ as our savior -- life only gets better! Oh, we will certainly have problems, struggles, probably even some heavy burdens to bear. But we know we are no longer alone. We know we have our Savior to bear our burdens with us. He is our constant companion, laboring with us that last mile to the Father. He holds us up, lest we stumble and fall before we reach our destination. He is there for us through it all and will never, ever leave us alone. Reason indeed to continue rejoicing!

Passionate patience. I like that term. When I’m in that state, my husband calls it restlessness. And that’s what it is. Not only is God excited about what He’s doing in me, I’m anxious for Him to reveal it, so I can get to it! I am, admittedly, more passionate than I am patient, but God works with me anyway! I long to run out in the “wide open spaces of God’s grace and love.” Jesus leads us there. And there’s more! “we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!” It almost sounds like those “infomercials” that air late at night: But wait! There’s even more! For a limited time only, you get twice the bargain. The difference is, we’ve already got it!

I hope in light of the amazing grace of God, you will remain alert for whatever God wants of you next. And that you will rejoice with me because, we know that “suffering produces endurance, . and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.”

Blessings on your journey,

Mary

Lord Teach Me To Pray

A.C.T.S. is an acronym for a model of prayer that offers to God our adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication. It is often difficult to pray. Perhaps we don't really know how to pray. Sometimes we may not feel we're "qualified" to pray, or we feel we don't have the right to pray for some reason.

Using the ACTS model for prayer, it will be very easy to pray, even if you've never really prayed in the past. ACTS praying doesn't require any great knowledge of or study about prayer, but praying in this way is personal, effective, and powerful.

This method of prayer is ideal even for young children with a limited vocabulary or for those inexperienced at prayer. Seasoned prayers can use it too. There are many references to the various elements of ACTS prayer in the Bible, so we can be assured it is proper and appropriate to follow this model.

In Philippians chapter 4, verse 6, the apostle Paul writes, "Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Paul's letter to his student and friend, Timothy, states, "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, [1 Timothy 2:1]. Learn this method by reading the rest of my article at Associated Content, A.C.T.S. - A Model for Prayer.


Blessings on your journey,
Mary