My prayer for today
Because of:
- my state of sin and who I am comes from my fallen heart
- Christ's atoning work and the gift of grace and unconditional love
- my being forgiven, loved, and graced
- my calling which is to know and glorify only Him
Today, by His grace only, I will:
...be rigourous with myself
- strive to be more holy
- put God first, then my family, then the church and then my work
- work hard, earn my keep and give Him the first fruits
- pray, listen to His voice and follow His leading
- read His word, meditate on His word and let it dwell richly in me
- resist temptation and do His will
- exemplify the Gospel and show Fruit
- die to myself and take up my cross
- hold my promises
- cry out to Him and sing His praises
- repent, rejoice and be glad
- be controlled by the Spirit
- glorify Him
...and gracious with others
- serve Him and others
- forgive others
Today I will be careful:
- where I get my advice
- what I look at
- where I go
- what I do
- how I walk
- what I think
- what I want
- what I say
- what or how I feel
- what I read
- to talk to God intimately and personally in prayer all the time.
Today He promises me His:
- grace
- provision
- presence
- bread
- peace
- love
- satisfaction
- wisdom
- compassion
- joy
- favour
- support
- forgiveness
I did not know Him
Was doing it all on my own
Money, pleasure, power, glory
Had it all
The more balls the merrier
All for the applause of the crowd
He met me and I met Him
I loved Him and knew Him
He took all my balls away
They were never mine
He gave me just two: Grace and Truth
All for the applause of heaven
I grew tired of just those two
Heaven's applause was too faint
Stooped to pick up some old broken balls
Started taking more balls
And more balls
All for the applause of the new crowd
He made me fall
And the balls I had taken, broke on me
I cried for help
The new crowd mostly left
He, with a few real friends, helped me up
He cleaned me, renewed me
I had nothing left, save for two balls: Grace and Truth
I had been led to the end of me
To lean on Him and depend on Him
All for His applause
-- Grace Guy
If God's love was really important for me, I would bless my enemies
If God's peace was really important for me, I would forgive my enemies
If God's sacrifice was really important for me, I would serve the kingdom
If God's forgiveness was really important for me, I would forgive myself
If God's law was really important for me, I would put God above all, and I would love my neighbor as myself
If God's power was really important for me, I would pray in truth and believe it done
If God's presence was really important for me, I would flee sin and seek Him
If God's wisdom was really important for me, I would fear Him and make His Word my constant nourishment
If Humility was really important for me, I would give all glory to God
If Christ was really important for me, I would emulate Him
If the Holy Spirit was really important for me, I would see Him and marvel at God's works
If Heaven was really important for me, I would never lose hope
If Prayer was really important for me, I would be on my knees and believe in it's power
If Sin was really important for me, I would work tirelessly to rid of it
If Satan was really important for me, I would resist him and flee
If Hell was really important for me, I would live and present the way out with every breath
If God's Truth was really important for me, I would seek it and apply it
If God's Grace was really important for me, I would seek it and apply it
- The Grace Guy
Lord, how can I see you ?
Beloved blind one, turn your eyes from you to me
Lord, how can I hear you ?
Beloved deaf one, change your frequency and tune in to me
Lord, how can I feel you ?
Beloved insensitive one, stomp on your pride and let me move you
Lord, how can I feel secure ?
Beloved scared one, stop trusting yourself and give all things to me
Lord, how can I be free from sin ?
Beloved bonded one, become my slave
Lord, how can I walk with you ?
Beloved searching one, lose yourself, find Me and use My light
Lord, how can I love you and be filled with you ?
Beloved shallow one, empty yourself and obey my commandments
Lord, how can I succeed ?
Beloved poor one, meditate on Me - when you wake, when you sleep and at all times in between
Lord, how can I be at peace ?
Beloved agitated one, be at war with your flesh and find your pleasures in Me
Lord, how can I be happy ?
Beloved unfulfilled one, love me and follow Me
Lord, how can I find your will for me ?
Beloeved lost one, live Me
Lord, how can I be a true Christian ?
My precious precious child, in all things, see my Truth and my Grace : look at me, hear me, obey me, trust me, love me, meditate me, live me and follow me. Every day, become a voluntary sacrifice of your devoted life to Me
Thank you Lord
The pleasure was all Mine.
- The Grace Guy
I knew the Word
I knew the stories
I knew the commandments
but I did not really know Your Grace
I taught the Word
I taught the stories
I taught the commandments
but I did not really know Your Grace
I served the church
I served others
I served the cause
but I did not really know Your Grace
I looked like I had to look
I did what I had to do
I said what I had to say
I sang what I had to sing
I prayed what I had to pray
I had the crowd around me
but I did not really know Your Grace
I had lost everything that I thought made me great
I was poor, miserable, naked, desperate, blind
I could not go on
I was at the end of myself
And that was where I found your Grace
You showed me who I really was
A Graced child, dependent on his Father
And then I knew You
- The Grace Guy
Lam 3:23 tells us that God's Graces are renewed every morning. That means every time I open my eyes in the morning, God has new Graces for me.
So that got me thinking: what else does the Bible say about the morning, the night, the day ?
What did others do when they awoke, during the day and when they went to bed ?
What were the daily rituals of those who felt God's renewed Graces every day ?
May this become my daily guide to experimenting God Graces every day.
GOD CREATED AND CONTROLS IT ALL
Day and night belongs to God Gen 1:5, 14-18, Ps 19:2, 65:8, 74:16, 104:20, 118:24, Jer 33:20, 25, Am 5:8, Mt 5:45
WHEN I WAKE
I will pray Ex 29:38-39, Ps 5:3, 88:13, 102:2
I will praise Ps 59:16, 92:2 (his graces)
I will have joy Ps 30:5, 118:24
I will work Ps 104:22-23, Ec 10:16, 11:6
I will act justly Jer 21:12
I will meditate on the Word Lk 21:38, John 8:2
I am given love Ps 42:8
I am healed Mal 4:2
EXAMPLE OF THOSE WHO WOKE EARLY TO
Obey: Abraham Gen 22:3, Joshua Jos 6:12, 8:10
Reconcile: Isaac and Esau Gen 26:31
Worship: Jacob Ge 28:18, Moses Ex 24:4, Israel Ex 29:38-42
Depend on God: Israel Ex 16:21
Correct an evil: King Darius with Daniel Dan 6:19
Pray: Jesus Mk 1:35
Preach: Peter and the apostles Acts 5:21
WHEN I SLEEP
I will meditate Gn 24:63
I will worship Ex 29:38-39
I will praise Jb 35:10, Ps 42:8, 92:2 (his faithfulness)
I will repent Ps 30:5
I will rest Ps 104:23, John 9:4
I will repent Jl 1:13
I will settle my wrath Ep 4:26
I am at peace Ps 4:8
EXAMPLES OF THOSE WHO DID THINGS AT NIGHT
Pray: Samuel 1Sam 15:11
Pray: Jesus Mt 14:23, Lk 6:12
ALL DAY (day and night)
I am guided Ex 13:21-22, 40:38, Num 14:14, Neh 9:19, Ps 78:14
I am seen 1Ki 8:29, 2Chr 6:20
I am followed by goodness and love Ps 23:6
I am shown my sins Ps 32:3-4
I am protected Ps 121:6
I am being accused, and defended Rev 12:10
I will talk about God Dt 6:6-7
I will be near to Him 1Ki 8:59
I will meditate on the Word Ps 1:2, Jos 1:8
I will pray Neh 1:6, Ps 22:2, 55:17, 88:1, Lam 2:18, Matt 6:11, Lk 11:3, 18:7, 1Thess 3:10, 1Ti 5:5, 2Ti 1:3
I will not fear Ps 91:5
I will worship Lk 2:37
I will take up my cross Lk 9:23
I will exhort others Acts 20:31
I will work 1Thess 2:9, 2Thess 3:8
God's plan is in motion Mk 4:27
God is being praised Rev 4:8
The pain of God's absence Rev 20:10
When I lack Grace, I am a
Close minded,
Legalist,
Judgmental,
Prideful,
Activity-focused,
Grudge-holding,
Insensitive,
Arrogant,
Close-minded,
Impatient,
Unmerciful,
Intolerant...
fool.
Throughout biblical interpretive history, there has been many many many different offshoots and opinions. Every time someone would come up with a framework to understanding what is often hidden to us, they put an 'ism' on it.
Here is the result of my research into the list of 'isms' that surround those who believe in the Bible.
---Grace Guy's list of 'isms'---
THEOLOGY: SALVATION
Classical Arminianism
Wesleyan Arminianism
Calvinism
Hyper-Calvinism
Lutheranism
Pelagianism
Semi-Pelagianism
Antinomianism
THEOLOGY: APOLOGETICS
Presuppositionalism
Ontologicalism
Evidentialism
Doctrinalism
Moralism
Scientific
Experientialism
THEOLOGY: ESCHATOLOGY
Post-tribulational Premillennialism
Dispensationalism
Postmillennialism
Amillennialism
THEOLOGY: CHRISTOLOGY
Trinitarianism
Unitarianism
Binitarianism
THROUGH HISTORY: CHRSTIANITY
Protestantism
Anglicanism
Eastern Orthodoxism
Oriental Orthodoxism
Roman Catholicism
THROUGH HISTORY: REFORMATION CHRISTIANITY
Anabaptism
Anglicanism
Calvinism
Counter-Reformation
Lutheranism
Polish Brethren
Remonstrantism
THROUGH HISTORY: MODERN DAY PROTESTANTISM
Pietism
Methodism
Evangelicalism
Adventism
Modernism
Liberalism
Pentecostalism
Anglicanism
Lutheranism
Presbyterianism
Fundamentalism
Neo-orthodoxy
New Evangelicalism
Paleo-Orthodoxy
Ecumenism
---
One of the most attracting features of the doctrine of Grace is that is cuts through all the 'isms' the human mind can invent. We cannot opinionate the gift of God for man's salvation, the exclusion of any deed to make us deserve it or the power of the subsequent relationship Grace gives us.
Grace cuts through it all. And it is the one thing that will unite all heaven dwellers, no matter what their 'isms'.
Grace, the best common denominator to all the 'isms'. And the greatest equalizer.
Today, I promise to love
To give you my mind and to love yours
To give you my heart and to love yours
To give you my words and to love yours
To give you my eyes and to love yours
To give you my body and to love yours
Forever, I give you my love and to you only
Today, I promise to live
To give you my gratefulness and to live yours
To give you my feelings and to live yours
To give you my dreams and to live yours
To give you my laughter and to live yours
To give you my joy and to live yours
To give you my tears and and to live yours
To give you my hurts and to live yours
To give you my fears and to live yours
To give you my humility and to live yours
To give you my support and to live yours
Forever, I promise to give you my life and to you only
Today, I promise to grace
To give you my past and to grace yours
To give you my present and to grace yours
To give you my future and to grace yours
Forever, I promise to give you my grace and to you only
To give my 'Thank yous' when sharing these promises
To give you my 'I love yous' when living these promises
To give you my 'I'm sorrys' when I break these promises
Today, I promise all these things through Him
To give Him all of me and to offer Him all of you
From His first breath in my morning to the last one at night
From this breath He gives me to my final one
To love you through Him
To live you through Him
To grace you through Him.
- Grace Guy
Dare to be patient when you want to explode
Dare to do good when you want to hurt
Dare to listen when you want to interrupt
Dare to ask questions when you think you have all the answers
Dare to love when you find nothing lovable
Dare to support when you don't understand
Dare to choose what will hurt your ego to please the other
Dare to ask when you think the other should know
Dare to correct with love when you want to buy peace
Dare to speak with love when you want to criticize
Dare to humiliate yourself to elevate the other
Dare to confess your mistakes when shame would hide them
Dare to find solutions together when you want to complain
Dare to assume good intentions when bad ones seem obvious
Dare to encourage when you want to leave
Dare to stay faithful when your needs aren't met and your desires look elsewhere
Dare to stay silent when you have the perfect line to win the argument, lay blame, give guilt and cause hurt
Dare to forgive when the unforgivable is done to you
Dare to forgive when the other has not asked for forgiveness
Dare to do everything you don't feel like doing to put God's will and the other's needs before your own
Dare to find joy in the struggles and peace in the storms
Dare to persevere when you're at the end
Dare to love
Dare to grace
- Grace Guy
--- FRANCAIS / FRENCH ---
Ose être patient quand tu veux exploser
Ose être bon quand tu veux juste être méchant
Ose écouter quand tu veux interrompre et parler
Ose poser des questions quand tu penses avoir toutes les réponses
Ose aimer les jours où tu ne trouves rien d’aimable chez l’autre
Ose supporter quand tu ne comprends pas
Ose choisir ce qui est difficile pour l’égo mais qui fera plaisir à l’autre
Ose demander quand tu penses que l’autre devrait le savoir
Ose reprendre avec amour quand tu préfères acheter la paix
Ose t’humilier pour élever l’autre
Ose suggérer avec amour quand tu veux critiquer
Ose confesser tes erreurs quand la honte préfère les garder cachées
Ose trouver des solutions ensemble quand tu veux te plaindre
Ose assumer les meilleures intentions de l’autre quand ces mauvaises intentions te semblent évidentes
Ose l’encourager quand tu veux l’abaisser
Ose rester fidèle quand tes désirs se portent ailleurs
Ose retenir ta langue quand tu as la parfaite phrase pour descendre l’autre, le faire sentir coupable et gagner l’argument
Ose pardonner quand l’autre t’as blessé profondément et quand ca te semble impossible de le faire
Encore plus, Ose pardonner et oublier les fautes de l’autre avant même que l’autre ne te demande pardon
Ose faire grâce quand tout ce que tu veux faire c’est de prendre ta revanche et lui rendre la monnaie de la pièce
Osez prier et lire la Parole ensemble quand vous n’avez pas le temps
Osez mettre Dieu en premier quand la vie vous offre beaucoup d’autres priorités
Osez ne jamais vous coucher sans que tout soit résolu entre vous
Osez servir Christ ensemble quand l’envie n’y est pas
Osez trouver votre joie en Lui quand les toutes vos circonstances sont difficiles et incompréhensibles
Osez persévérer quand tout semble s’écrouler autour de vous
Et par-dessus tout : Osez vous répéter plus que n’importe quoi d’autre: Je t’aime, je t'aime, je t'aime
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