Your Sign From God

God Loves Me!


Say it out loud, "God Loves Me!"


Write it on your bathroom mirror and read it a thousand times until you accept it:

GOD LOVES ME!!!

As I type this tonight I know there will be people reading who want so badly to believe that the God they once knew as children still knows them by name today, still remembers their innocent prayers, and still loves them.


There are men and women, boys and girls, who are at the end of their rope.


Have you given God just one more chance to make a difference in your life?
Are you looking for a sign from God almighty that He actually cares for you?

YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE BECAUSE THIS IS YOUR SIGN:

YOUR FATHER GOD KNOWS YOU, CREATED YOU, AND LOVES YOU WITHOUT CONDITIONS!

His favor is for a lifetime; 

Weeping may last for the night, 

But JOY comes in the MORNING! 

Ps 30:5 (NASB)

Have you been told that you aren't good enough?
Is there a voice inside of you whispering that you don't measure up?


Are you one of many who feel disqualified from the Love of God because you are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, or Transgendered?


Are you out of the main stream "Christian" movement?
Are you too poor?
Too rich?
Too liberal?
Too different?
Too depressed?


Have you been hurt?
Have you hurt others?
Have you made mistakes that you wish you could take back?


Is your life riddled with sin?
Are you held captive in a prison of addiction?
Is your life a mess and you don't know which way is up?


No matter how far your life has fallen you are not beyond the reach of God's arms!


There is No Gutter so deep that God's love cannot find you and raise you out of it.


Romans 8:35, 37-39 explains to us:
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?... 

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 

³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

NOTHING can separate you from the LOVE OF GOD!


Learning and Truly Accepting that God Loves You is the key to unlocking the Power of Freedom in your life!


He loves you so much that He sent His son Jesus to take your place, to pay the price for YOUR sins, so that you could have eternal life through Him!


Our Daddy God knows everything about you and still loves you without conditions!


He has a plan for your life.


He has a destiny for YOU that only YOU can fulfill!


When the chorus of voices grow louder and louder with their message of hopelessness, take a stand and proclaim:


"GOD LOVES ME!"
"GOD CREATED ME!"
"GOD ACCEPTS ME!"


And, if you start to wonder if God really cares about you then look back at this blog post.
Read it and know that He led me to type it just for You.


This IS YOUR Sign From God!


As always Remember:


God Loves You!
God Created You!
God Accepts You!


Until Next Time,


SavedByGrace

How He Loves Us- David Crowder Band

The Great Multiplier

When you hang out with Jesus things tend to multiply.


Our Father God loves to not just meet our needs but provide for us beyond our expectations.


Many of you are aware of the story of the fishes and the loaves.
Matthew 14:13-21 recounts this story.


A multitude of people had followed Jesus and were hungy.
With a lunch of 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish Jesus fed over 5000 people.
We know that there were 5000 men there without even counting the women and children.


Another example is Jesus' first miracle.


He turned water into wine for a wedding reception, multiplying the wine for that party.


Not only did He take plain water and turn into wine, but He turned it into Good wine!
The party goers exclaimed, "Usually the best wine is served first but you have saved the best for last!"


Why does God multiply things for us?


Is it because He loves us?
Yes.
Remember John 3:16, "For God so LOVED the world that He sent His only Son so that whosoever believes in Him shall not parish but have ever lasting life."
But, that's not the only reason.


Is it because He promised us He would?
Yes.
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy; but I AM come that they might have life, and that they might have it More Abundantly.
But, that's not the only reason.


A major reason that God multiplies things in our lives is to reveal Himself; to reveal the Truth of His Power to us.


Luke 5:1-11 recounts how James, John, and Peter became disciples of Christ.


They had been fishing all day and had caught nothing.
Jesus told them that they should move out of the shallow waters and drop their nets in the deep waters.
They protested.
After all, they were the experienced fishermen while Jesus was a carpenter.
Eventually, though, they agreed to try it.


What happened next revealed the power of God to them in a way they could understand.


When James, John, and Peter dropped their nets in the deep water they caught so many fish that other boats had to come over and help haul them in.


This so impressed Simon Peter that He fell to His knees and worshiped Jesus right there!


He and his two fishing partners left everything they knew and followed Jesus.


Because God showed His power to them by multiplying the fish so abundantly, they stopped being fishermen and became fishers of men.


The same God who showed His power to those disciples wants to show His power to you!


He wants to remind you that He still works miracles.
He still multiplies things today.


When you are sick God multiplies healing in your life.


When you can't make your income meet your expenses each month, yet somehow you make it through, God is multiplying your finances.


When you find yourself feeling hurt and unloved, God will multiply His presence in your life, comforting you by His Holy Spirit.


The greatest work of God multiplying something for our benefit occurred on Calvary.


He took one sacrifice, the Blood of His Son Jesus, and multiplied that atonement to cover your sins, my sins, and the sins of all who accept Him as their Savior.


That blood was multiplied to cover ALL the sins of the world!


That leaves the fishes and loaves looking small by comparison!


Allow God to work miraculously in your life today.


When you completely rely on Him you will be amazed how your faith multiplies.


Open your eyes and your heart with expectation and watch as God begins to multiply things in your life, showing you His Miraculous Power.


As Always Remember:


God Loves You!
God Created You!
God Accepts You!


Until Next Time,


SavedByGrace

Your Quilt

You know the song, "Just the way you are," by Bruno Mars?

Of course you do.  If not, you can check it out on the link below this post.

In the song Bruno is singing to a woman and telling her, "'...Cause you're amazing just the way you are."

Did you know that when our father God looks at us He says the same thing?

Once you have accepted Jesus as your savior, God sees you through His blood.

He doesn't see your short comings and failings.

No, He sees you through the righteousness of Christ!

Jesus lived, died, and resurrected so that He would be the pardon for our sins!

You are so special to our Father God!

Even before the creation of the universe He knew your name.

When Jesus was dying on the cross He was thinking of you.

You, yes YOU, are So Special to our Daddy God that He sacrificed His Only Son so that you could accept Him and spend eternity together!

Here in Alabama the older ladies in rural areas get together and sow blankets called quilts.

These sowing meetings are called "quilting b's".

As they apply square after square to the quilt, the top of it starts to shape into beautiful patterns of contrasting colors and designs.

Once they are finished with the quilt they lift it up on a stand to work on the bottom side of it.

When you look up at the quilt from the underside you see all of the threads hanging down.

You notice the mistakes that were made in sowing.

Perhaps you would see a blood stain where you accidentally pricked yourself with a needle.

The imperfections and loose ends that need to be cut off are glaringly visible.

Picture for a moment with me that your life is a quilt.

When you look up at your quilt it is easy to see all of the mistakes you have made while sowing it.

You might notice the loose ends that need to be trimmed off.

You might see the painful stains that came from pricking yourself with the sowing needle.

Are there threads hanging down of opportunities missed?

Are there areas of your quilt that seem so disjointed that no one could understand them?

Here's the great news my friends:

God views the quilt that is your life from above.

He sees the top of your quilt, the beautiful product of fine craftsmanship.

The tapestry of colors unfold to reveal a unique yet astonishingly stunning work of art.

John, that sounds wonderful but why would God view our lives from the beautiful side of the quilt instead of the messy side with all of the issues?

Because, God sees your quilt, your life, through the perfect cleansing work of Jesus!

Once you accept Jesus as your savior your sins are washed away.

You take on the righteousness of Christ.

His sacrifice is the complete and final work to give you freedom!

Did you know that God doesn't even remember your sins?

They are cast in the sea of forgetfullness as far as the east is from the west.

Man looks at your outer appearance but God sees your heart!

He sees the brilliant experiences of His Grace and Mercy in your life. 

He sees the beautiful man or woman or transgendered person that He created!

He sees your hopes and dreams, the talents that He has blessed you with, the exciting destiny that He has laid before you.

But John, you don't know the sins I have committed!

It doesn't matter!

God doesn't view your righteousness through your own strength.

The word tells us that our righteousness is filthy rags.

God views your righteousness through the finished work that Jesus did on the cross!


John now that I know about this amazing grace and mercy and that the debt for my sins past, present, and future is already paid, is that going to make me want to sin more?


Knowing that your sins have already been forgiven isn't license to sin more.

Instead, it causes you to know that you can approach your Father God freely.

Build that close relationship with Him, focus on living in His presence, and you will find that you no longer want to commit those same sins that have held you back for years.

So, the next time you feel useless to God; the next time you feel like a mistake; remember that He views you through the Blood of Jesus.

He is looking at the beautiful side of your quilt and saying to you, "You're so  amazing, just the way you are."

As always remember:

God Loves You!

God Created You!

God Accepts You!

Until Next Time,

SavedByGrace

Just The Way You Are- Bruno Mars

The Secret Place

Did you ever build a fort when you were a child?

I can remember taking sheets and tying them between my brother's bed and my own.

I had my pillows under there and my favorite stuffed animals.

Yes, I had stuffed animals when I was little...don't judge!

I would sit in that fort and play for hours.

It represented this secure and private area that no one could penetrate.

My mood was always happy inside the fort.  

I was content.

I was safe.

No monsters could find me in there.

No mean people were allowed in either.

If things weren't going well at school, or at home, or with the kids in my neighborhood I always knew that I could run back to my fort.

Once I got inside, all would be well.

Around this time in my young life, I was already learning that the world could be a cruel place....not just from dealing with meaner then average neighborhood kids....or watching my mom go through the first of what turned out to be many health crises....but something else.

You see, for several months when I was six years old I experienced ongoing sexual abuse from an older guy in my neighborhood.

I was too young then to understand what was happening but I knew it was a secret.

I knew it felt wrong.

After each incident I would run to my house and get in the quiet security of my sheet covered fort.

Oddly enough, after we moved away from that neighborhood, and that guy, I stopped building forts.

In hind sight I believe I knew that I no longer needed that secret place to keep me safe.

As an adult I have come to terms with that invasion of my childhood.

God has given me great healing and restoration in the past few years.

What was once a shameful secret is now another part of my testimony that can be used to help others.

If you are a person who has experienced this type of abuse know this:

God loves you and cares for you deeply.

He wants to heal you of that pain.
No part of this was your fault.

Shine a light on this secret and throw off the shame so that it will have no power over you!

If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to find a good counselor that can walk you through the healing process.

God will restore your heart.
Your loving Father will renew your innocence.

Even if you have never experienced a trauma such as abuse this blog post is still for you.
 
We each face a mean and cruel world every day.

We deal with friends who let us down.

We work with people who talk behind our backs in the cut throat world of business.

We encounter road rage, racism, homophobia, and just flat out rude people!

Many of us face personal demons with addiction, or self loathing, or fear and anxiety.

I don't know about you but some days I would love to build a fort out of my bed clothes and hide out in there for a while!

But, before you go making a trip to Bed Bath and Beyond for 800 thread count Egyptian cotton sheets let me fill you in on a little secret.

We no longer have to build a fort to feel safe.
Our Father God has already made a secret place just for us!

Psalm 91 says: "¹ He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ² I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust." (ASV)

Instead of escaping to your own hiding place try entering into the Secret Place that God provides for you.

He longs to have us "dwell in the secret place of the Most High."

Dwelling in the Secret Place basically means to live in God's presence all the time.

Begin and end each day talking with Him.

Ask Him to fill you with His presence when you wake up.

As you go through your day encountering people ask Him to give you His favor.

Each night ask Him to give you His rest.

Share your life with Him.
Share your struggles and your triumphs, your joy and your sadness, your hopes and your fears.

As we learn that we have a secret place that we can run to, the monsters under the bed don't seem so scary anymore!

Train yourself to rely on God in ALL things and ask His guidance in ALL your decisions.

Instead of just praying when there is a crisis or even just during a daily devotional time, talk to Him throughout the day.

I heard a quote once that really stuck with me:  

"I might not pray for one hour, but not one hour passes that I don't pray."

When the cares of this world get too tough and the enemy attacks you from all sides run to that Secret Place of the Almighty.

When the battle rages in front of you and the enemy is hurling insults and condemnation your way, turn your back to the accuser and rest in your Father's Presence.

When fear surrounds you at every turn and you cannot find your peace of mind, take shelter under the wings of the Almighty.

And, just as so many of us did when we were a child; when the neighborhood kids aren't playing fair at your job, or your church, or on Facebook; hop back on your bike and go directly to your fort.

There you will find your loving Heavenly Father waiting patiently for you with His arms open wide.

His fort is built and waiting on you today and everyday.
Learn to live life in His presence.
Dwell in The Secret Place.

As always remember:
God Loves You!
God Created You!
God Accepts You!

Until Next Time,

SavedByGrace

Little Jesus

When I was a little child my mom had a friend named Sister Smothers.

She was this older and wise African-American woman with a beautiful spirit about her and a deep yet child like faith in God.

Sister Smothers acted much like a spiritual mother to my mom.

Beginning the day I was born she would hold me in her arms and say, "Look at this baby. He's little Jesus."

As I grew older she would always ask my mom, "How is little Jesus doing today?" or "Tell little Jesus that I love him!"

From my earliest memories I knew that being like Jesus was a good thing.

Unfortunately in my teen years I would beat myself up over not being "Little Jesus."

After all, I thought, "Little Jesus" can't be gay.

"Little Jesus" wouldn't struggle with porn and sex addiction.

"Little Jesus" would not have these horrible secrets!

Every time I made mistakes I would say to myself, "Little Jesus would not have done that."

Now in my adult years, thank God I realize that showing Jesus to others is not about being perfect.

No, being "Little Jesus" to others means that we show the Love of Christ to everyone around us even when we don't think we measure up.

My life radically changed when I stopped focusing on myself and my shortcomings.

Instead I started focusing on Jesus and the power that comes by having Him living inside of me!

When I started looking outward and showing Jesus to those around me, God's grace and mercy, through His beautiful and gentle Holy Spirit, started cleaning up my life.

His light flooded into the darkest places of my mind and the secrets that once haunted me, the double life I once lived, melted away leaving behind a genuine and authentic person that God could use.

The addictions that once seemed so powerful, that bound me in shackles of fear and shame, fell away under the pressure of God's power! 

Okay John, that's a great story, but why does it matter to me?

It matters because as a Christian our first priority should be to show Christ to everyone we meet.

Our goal should be to live as the walking, breathing, ever reaching embodiment of Jesus here on Earth.

That is why the Christian Church is called the Body of Christ!

We are his arms stretched forth to rescue our brothers and sisters who are falling; His feet to run after the one lost sheep, leaving the ninety-nine behind!

Don't wait to be perfect before you show Jesus to others.

The word says that we are a New Creation in Christ!

As you focus on Jesus and showing His love to others and spending time in God's presence, He will transform you into the great man, woman, or trans that He has called you to be!

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into HIS image, with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord which is the Spirit." (NIV)

Surrender your life to Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you into HIS image.

Go out of your house each new day determined to Show Jesus to everyone you meet!

How do I show Jesus to others?

To answer this let's look at the greatest commandment in the Bible:

In Matthew 22:37, 38 Jesus Says, "Love the Lord your God with All your heart, and with All your soul, and with All your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it. Love your neighbor as yourself." (NIV)

Love your father God completely.

Trust Him with every part of your life.

He longs to be a friend to you.

Talk with Him like you talk with your closest friend.

The more time you spend with God, in His presence, the more like Him you will be.

 

Love your neighbor as yourself.

When you see a need that you can meet, meet it.

Instead of walking past the homeless, give them food. 

Offer them your coat.

When you know a friend is hurting reach out to them.

Jesus talks about this further in Matthew 25:

^34-36"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:
   I was hungry and you fed me,
   I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
   I was homeless and you gave me a room,
   I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
   I was sick and you stopped to visit,
   I was in prison and you came to me.' 

 ^37-40"Then those 'sheep' are going to say, 'Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?' Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me. (MSG)

Have you ever been the one who was overlooked?

Ignored?

Have you been the one who was hurting?

In need?

Remember the people that God put in your life to give you a shoulder to cry on or offer a hand when your car was broken down.

Those acts of kindness are an expression of Jesus and His Love for others.

By showing the undying, unfailing, unconditional Love of Jesus to those you encounter you could be providing hope for another day worth living or planting a seed for salvation, leading to eternal life.

It is that important.

You have probably noticed the quote from Mother Teresa that is on the top right hand corner of this blog.

She said, "If you judge people you have no time to love them.  Each one of them is Jesus in disguise."

Start viewing your neighbor, whether stranger on the street or your best friend since childhood, as "Jesus in disguise."

It will change how you perceive the people around you and cause you to Show the Love of Jesus to everyone you encounter.

Please join me in deciding every minute of every day to live as 

"Little Jesus."

As always Remember:

God Loves You!

God Created You!

God Accepts You!

Until Next Time,

SavedByGrace

The Twenty-First Time- by Monk and Neagle