So, more recently, God has been teaching me a lot about his people and the lives they are supposed to lead! What I am learning is that salvation is not just about walking down an isle, saying a prayer, or responding to a liver quiver. Salvation is so much more; Salvation is life changing! The GRACE of GOD is LIFE CHANGING! I have started to really think about this issue, ask my parents and those I respect about it, to dig into scripture to find an answer, and just pray pray pray about it! It’s funny because my answer did not come easy. If I was to (and do) believe that salvation is not just walking down an isle or saying a prayer, then that changed everything I have believed. Don’t get me wrong, salvation is by grace through faith alone, but if we truly make a commitment for Christ and make him Lord of our lives, our lives will beg to be changed. My pastor spoke on this Sunday morning and it rocked my world…. Here are some of the passages he shared on the direct connection between grace and good works…

Matthew 5:16- “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

2 Corinthians 9:8- “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

 Phil 2- we were created for good works

Col 1:9-10- “And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”

1 Timothy 5:10- the widow has a “reputation for good works” and is “devoted to every good work.”

Titus 1:16- “[The Cretans] profess to know God, but they deny him by their works.”

Titus 2:14- “[Jesus Christ] gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.”

Hebrews 10

Romans 6; 11:30-32

Gal 3

And finally the most radical verse in this list, in my opinion! The verse that totally and complete just opened my eyes….
Ephesians 2:8-9- “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Now when you read that by itself, out of context, it is indefinitely saying that it is not by works and grace is totally and completely independent of good works, which it is, but there is another aspect to it. This is were the rest of the passage comes in…

Ephesians 2:10-“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Let’s read that all together…

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Yes, these two passages of scripture are found directly next to each other, intended to be together, and written by the same author! This blew my mind! It’s amazing how Christians have a watered-down gospel because they do not read verses in context! I pray we all learn to truly study the scriptures, but also study them accurately!

Here are some questions my Pastor asked to challenge us, and in turn, I am asking you…

1) Is there a clear line between your past and now?

• The reality of grace invades the lives of the believer. It dominates the biblical believer.

2) Am I depending on anything else to save me?

• All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. All are in need of grace!

3) How balanced are you? How Biblically shaped are you?

• Are you letting the word of God shape you? Or something or someone else?

 ~~~

I’m not saying this is the end all of what I will learn in this subject, because I know I will never know it all, but this is just what I believe God is pressing on my heart through the Scriptures. I feel like the (Christian) world has totally and completely missed the point on grace and good works. Please, if you feel like I’m wrong on any of this or even right on this, please share your input with me! I would love to learn! I know I am human and full of error so give me any input, PLEASE!!!

This blessed me today….. ENJOY!!
~~~
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
  Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
  There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
  Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
  Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.

Desert Song-Hillsong
This is my prayer in the desert
And all that’s within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it’s way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I’ll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow

 ~~~

This song took on new meaning to me today. I was watching this (FYI there are 2 curse words).  I was just filled with so much sadness and just my hope was bleak, I suppose. I was dry and in need of some restoration. This was kind of a stab in the heart (from the Devil, of course) and basically made me think of all the people who think this way of Christians. I felt this was the view the whole world had of me and my fellow brothers and sisters.. Then I got to this part: “And I will bring praise. I will bring praise. No weapon forged against me shall remain. I will rejoice. I will declare. God is my victory and He is here.” If we truly are living out this passage in Galatians 5 where we are truly using the freedom loving each other and fighting sin (ALSO WATCH THIS!!), I do not have to feel guilty about those things because they aren’t applied to me. I do need to feel bad about people giving Jesus a bad wrap, and that is another issue! But God has conquered any weapon that is forged against me! GOD IS MY VICTORY!!! 


~~~


This was very confusing and I apologize, but it just hit my heart heavy this afternoon and I needed to write about it!!

1 Peter 5:8-11
“Be self-controlled and alert. 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 your brothers throughout the world are 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. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.”

God has laid this verse on my heart more recently! One of the people closest to me is hurting right now and this verse is just so fitting! The circumstances we might happen upon sometime seem inescapable and the suffering seems impossible and unbearable to get through, but “the God of all grace…will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” We must be self-controlled, alert, resisting the devil, and standing firm in the faith! I pray we all understand this verse and follow it with all of our hearts! I pray we let this verse in Galatians remain in our hearts: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Gal 6:9-10

I pray that those who are following the Lord will not become weary and give up during the sufferings that are promised to come upon us! BE SELF-CONTROLLED AND ALERT!!!

To Be Continued… =)

MOTHER’S DAY GIFT!!!! (and ISP fundraiser for me)… for only $32, which is pretty reasonable for all the years of work your mother has invested into your life, you can get the “Eye Love You” gift set. This set includes Ultimate Mascara (Which is absolutely amazing!!! I LOVE IT!!) and Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover (which is just as amazing!!) (by Mary Kay)! Half of the proceeds go to my trip to the Middle East this May (4-24)! Get them while this offer lasts!!

(You can purchase this for your mom, sister, friend, graduate, cousin, aunt, etc!)

Orrrrrrr… if you really wanna support me and want a photo shoot done, I would be overjoyed to take some pictures for you! =) I will charge whatever you’d like to give me!

 Before we went to church, we went to my ISP fundraiser at chick-fil-a where we got the lovely pleasure of spending time with the lamberts (minus Nathan).  The later, we went to church and we got to go see the new Epler baby who will be a month old tomorrow; she is beautiful. Here are some of the pictures of all the lovely children of the night! Addie, Micah, and Noah! Such lovely little children who happen to all be apart of my parents small groups as well!! Boy, are my parent’s blessed or what?!

“Jesus did other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” John 20:30-31

“Jesus did many other things as well. If everyone of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written!” John 21:25

As I was starting to read chapter 20 this morning I was astonished at the fact that Jesus had risen from the dead and that angels appeared to Mary. This is just something that I haven’t seen happen these days. Consequently, I was struggling with wrapping my brain around it and essentially believing! So, I prayed the scripture while I was reading, “I believe; help me in my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Then I get to verse 30 and know that God had answered my prayer and confirmed it in chapter 21 verse 24! GOD IS GOOD! =)

To Be Continued… =)