Redeeming grace

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth. *

In a world (and sometimes my heart) where resentment, discontent, anger, frustration, and ugly attitudes can abound, redeeming grace is an amazing gift that soothes my soul.

He redeems, renews, and refreshes …. God does it and then does it again.

and again and again.

God’s well does not run dry. He sent Jesus to restore, renew, redeem, remove, reveal, renovate, refresh, repair, reclaim, and replenish.

Some days I feel like I am a full time job for God! Of course, He is bigger than me and my flailings. He holds onto me while I argue and complain. He restores my soul. His redeeming grace is steadfast and true.

Redeeming grace.

Redeeming grace.

Redeeming grace.

Come, Lord Jesus!
Liz

*by Joseph Mohr, 1792-1848

PrayerPoints ~ Monday, March 21st

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Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 131

“My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord, both now and forevermore.”  Psalm 131

Do you have a stilled and quieted soul?

With everything that is going on in the world at this moment (even though there is nothing new under the sun) this is impossible without God. I find that I am in a better position to have a stilled and quieted soul when my heart and mind is guarded.

 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7

Spending time in God’s Word and in prayer as well as being connected to a healthy Christian congregation are ways to keep God’s peace and path in my presence. This Holy Week, there are multiple opportunities to walk along with Jesus and consider His pain and suffering and God’s provision for us through Jesus’ sacrifice.

May your private time in God’s Word and your connection with a fellow believers this week strengthen your faith!

 

PrayerPoints ~ Sunday, February 28th

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Today’s PrayerPoint ~ Psalm 62

“My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.” Psalm 62:1

Sometimes it is hard to find a moment of rest from either the things we are doing or the things others want us to do. I feel like the world expects me to be busy accomplishing something tangible all the time!

Do you struggle with that as well?

I am learning to intentionally pace myself. It isn’t that I can’t get in there and go “full speed ahead” when something requires time and energy but that is not how I want to live my every day. True “Soul Rest” can transcend our circumstances and is only found with God.

Have you intentionally carved out time for your soul to be rested and encouraged? Working your way through Scripture is one way. Weekly worship in a healthy congregation is another way. If you have fallen out of this habit, let me encourage you to get back into it. It is like having more life-giving oxygen in your day! The world has so many toxic pollutants that we absorb on a daily basis that it is even more important to breathe deeply of God’s life giving Word!

Blessings on your week!

Below is a song I have liked for a long time and the words are printed below. Enjoy!

Chorus
My stronghold my Savior
I shall not be afraid at all
My stronghold my Savior
I shall not be moved
Only in God is my soul at rest
In Him comes my salvation
Verse 1
Only in God is my soul at rest
In Him comes my salvation
He only is my Rock
My strength and my salvation
Verse 2
Only in God is found safety
When my enemy pursues me
Only in God is found glory
When I am found meek and found lowly