MERCY

God's mercy moved Him to bring us to Himself. If we are merciful,
we will be brought to Him and will be like Him. Without mercy, any
religious act or Christian work is useless. Without mercy, it is only
an empty act. God desires us to be merciful above all else.

Read Hosea 6:6

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and acknowledgment of God
rather than burnt offerings." (NIV)

"For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God
more than burnt offerings." (KJV)

RIGHT MOTIVES IN PRAYER

Prayer is a precious gift from God where we can communicate with Him
freely and openly. Some use prayer as an opportunity to tell God what they think He should do. When God does not answer, they become angry with God and complain that He does not really care. Really consider what you pray. Search your heart and mind for your real motive. Your true motives will determine if God listens to your prayer.

Read James 4:3

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong
motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (NIV)

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume
it upon your lusts." (KJV)

LIVE FOR HIS RETURN

It is in our own control to keep our minds ready to meet with whatever
this world brings our way. What we do now should be with the future of
Christ's return in mind. Hold on to the promise of God's grace no matter
what happens in your life now. His promise is sure. Trust Him and you
will not be disappointed.

Read 1 Peter 1:13

"Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your
hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed."
(NIV)

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (KJV)

HOW STRONG IS YOUR FAITH?

Is our commitment to the Lord God such that we can be stripped
of every good thing, be abandoned by all, and be passing through
the threshold of death, yet still fully trust that He is faithful and
just, worthy of all honor and praise? This is true faith. Oh, that He
would find this faith in us!

Read Job 13:15

"Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my
ways to His face." (NIV)

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine
own ways before him." (KJV)

CASTING YOUR CARES

We can literally throw our worries and concerns on the Lord with
full confidence that He will protect us so that we do not fall under
the pressure of them. He is ever faithful to those who have a heart
of obedience and desire to please Him. As long as we live in this
world, it is unlikely we will be free of trials and sufferings, but we
have total access to be free of the worry and concern that accompany
them.

Read Psalm 55:22

"Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never
let the righteous fall." (NIV)

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall
never suffer the righteous to be moved." (KJV)

TRUE RELIGION

The original Latin meaning of the word religion is to tie, fasten, or bind,
like a ligament functions in the muscle structure of the human body. When our religion consists of being tied to tradition and rituals, it makes us rigid and susceptible to breaking apart. When the effect of our religion is mercy and giving to the needs of others, we become a living tie between the flowing, living love of the Lord and others around us. Being tied (bound) to the Lord is our choice. It is a choice that gives us the power to stay spiritually free from worldly ways. That is true religion.

Read James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (NIV)

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." (KJV)

CONSIDER HIM

We are certainly living in difficult times. Often we get our eyes
off the eternal realm and on the earthly things that are going on
around us. Most of us are struggling with the trials and tribulations
common to humanity. Just stop for a moment and consider what
our Lord endured as He walked this earth. He suffered to the point
of death for being righteous and showing us the Father. If we keep
this in mind, it will help us keep the right perspective and remember
that we have not been required to suffer as He did.

Read Hebrews 12:3

"Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that
you will not grow weary and lose heart. (NIV)

"For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." (KJV)

HIS EYES ARE ON YOU

There is nothing that escapes the eyes of God. He is intently
watching, scanning, and knowing all things whether open, or
tucked away in the remotest of places. When His eyes behold
a righteous soul, one with honorable intent to please Him, God
will strengthen that one by His mighty power and love.

Read 2 Chronicles 16:9

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen
those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (NIV)

"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth,
to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect
toward him." (KJV)

THE CURSE

It is understood by looking in the Word, historical records, and looking
at the earth around us now that it is a grieving, sorrowful world. The
whole earth and all creation were put under a curse when Adam and
Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. No one is immune to this curse. We
wait for that day when Christ returns and the curse is lifted. Then, there
will be no more sorrow, suffering, crying or pain.

Read Romans 8:22

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains
of childbirth right up to the present time." (NIV)

"For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain
together until now." (KJV)

JUST

What does it mean to be a "just" person? It is someone who is guided by
Truth, justice, and fairness. An honest and pure intentioned heart. The
Lord always and ever favors and protects those who are just because they
have His heart.

Read Psalm 37:28

For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones.
They will be protected forever (NIV)

"For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they
are preserved for ever." (KJV)

BLESSING AMID THE STORM

We can fully rely on God's grace and mercy when we stand firm in
His ways, in spite of difficult things happening all around us. It is so
easy to blame God and become discouraged, but these difficult times
are among the most blessed when we stay close to Him.

Read 2 Samuel 22:21

"The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me."
(NIV)

"The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness:
according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed
me." (KJV)

SUFFERING IN GOD'S WILL

There are times when we suffer because we have sinned and failed to
act in the way God has chosen for us. That suffering we must accept
and gain wisdom from it. When we suffer after having obeyed God's
Word to us, we can be sure that keeping our trust in Him will result in
His keeping us close to Him in communion and peace.

Read 1 Peter 4:19

"So then, those who suffer according to God's will should commit
themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good." (NIV)

"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit
the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful
Creator." (KJV)

DANGERS OF ILL WILL

God has made it very clear that He abhors lying, deceit, slander,
dishonesty, and evil scheming. Those who are guilty of these
things mock the love of God and love for our fellow human beings.
It's a dangerous place to be and a terrible price to pay for insisting
on harboring ill will toward others.

Read Zechariah 8:16,17

"These are the things you are to do: Speak the truth to each other, and
render true and sound judgment in your courts; do not plot evil against
your neighbor, and do not love to swear falsely. I hate all this, declares
the Lord." (NIV)

"These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth
to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:
And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD." (KJV)

THE CHOICE IS YOURS

Jesus is the Light of the world. His life and His words light up the
Truth for all to see and accept. Yet, there are those who refuse to
come into the rays of His light because they don't want to deal with
their darkness, having it exposed to others, and having to give it up.
God doesn't send anyone to eternal darkness. People choose to go
there because they prefer their own way and are deceived into thinking
they are safe. (NIV)

Read John 3:19

"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved
darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil." (NIV)

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds
were evil." (KJV)

A BLESSING FOR OTHERS

It is a gesture of love to ask for God's blessing on others. Doing
so shows our own right relationship with the Lord and our desire
to see Him bless and protect others. Ask the Lord to keep His face
toward them and smile down on them in His abundant grace and
mercy. Call for the blessing of Peace that is so rare in these times.
What a beautiful way to bless and pray for each other.

Read Numbers 6:24-26

"May the Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine
upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you
and give you peace." (NIV)

"The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine
upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his
countenance upon thee, and give thee peace." (KJV)

GOD BECAME MAN

Christ became human flesh and blood for the specific purpose of being
the sinless sacrifice for our sin, once for all. As God, He could not die.
With a body like ours, He died and took control of death from Satan. Now Satan cannot taunt us with fear about death and hell. Christ holds the key to death and the fear is gone because He has made death the passage to eternal life.

Read Hebrews 2:14

"Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death-- that is, the devil." (NIV)

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." (KJV)

PLANTED CLOSE TO THE SOURCE

Water is the vital source of life for a tree planted near its' banks where
nutrients and refreshment are available through any type of weather, mild or harsh. Likewise, the Lord is absolutely trustworthy as our source of life and renewal through any circumstances we might encounter. Plant yourself close to Him.

Read Jeremiah 17:7,8

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in
Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots
by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always
green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (NIV)

"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit." (KJV)

SUBMIT & RESIST

God will never force us to obey or serve Him. We are free to choose
willingly to make ourselves subject to Him in obedience. Likewise,
the devil will continually make attempts to taunt and tempt us, but
we are free to resist him by faith in God and he has to leave us alone.

Read James 4:7

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you." (NIV)

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will
flee from you." (KJV)

COMPLACENCY

Be alert! It may seem that God is silent, that He is sitting back, looking
away. But He sees that we have become lazy in our responsibilities as
Christians, compromising our faith, and allowing our beliefs to become
diluted with deceitful beliefs of this world. He will not remain silent. He
will call us to give an account using the standards He set for us not our
own standards or the standards of the world.

Read Isaiah 57:11

"Whom have you so dreaded and feared that you have been false to me,
and have neither remembered me nor pondered this in your hearts? Is it
not because I have long been silent that you do not fear me? (NIV)

"And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? Have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?" (KJV)

TRUE CONTENTMENT

True contentment is not affected by the state of things going on around
us. If it was, we would seldom, if ever, know contentment. In the most
desperate of circumstances, we can find God working, something to
learn, lessons that make us more mature. Knowing that God has a plan
and is in control is true contentment.

Read Philippians 4:12

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." (NIV)

"I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where
and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (KJV)

LOVE IS A COVERING

Love is active. Exposing an offense committed by someone is also active.
It is far better to act in love by letting go of an offense and keeping the door of unity open than to broadcast the offense and decrease the probability of reconciliation.

Read Proverbs 17:9

"He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the
matter separates close friends." (NIV)

"He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a
matter separateth very friends." (KJV)

LOVE FOR GOD

If we love the Lord with our whole being, there will be nothing that
can compare with our love for Him, there will be nothing we would
not give up for Him, nothing we would not do for Him, and no one we
would rather fully know than Him.

Read Matthew 22:37

"Jesus replied, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind.'" (NIV)

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (KJV)

RIGHTEOUSNESS AND TROUBLES

We may say we are in the army of God, but unless we are in active battle
with the enemy, we are nothing more than impostors in costume. Active
battle with the enemy will inevitably result in wounds and injuries. Jesus Christ is our commander and it is an honor to serve Him in this way. So there is no need to complain or worry about the trouble we encounter in this battle.

Read Psalm 34:19

"A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all." (NIV)

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." (KJV)

BUILD ON CHRIST ALONE

A foundation is the base on which everything else stands. As Christians,
our foundation is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Everything we do must come from this foundation. We are to stand on it, build on it, and grow from it. Allowing personal ideas and philosophies of the world to enter in to our building of faith is destructive and will not stand up under the hand of God.

Read 1 Corinthians 3:11

"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (NIV)

"For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus
Christ." (KJV)

GOD IS THERE WHEN OUR ROPE ENDS

When we come to the end of our rope and realize we are helpless
to do anything about our situation, is when we can get out of the way,
and God can do His mighty work in our lives.

Read Job 6:11

"What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects,
that I should be patient?" (NIV)

"What is my strength, that I should hope? And what is mine end,
that I should prolong my life?" (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/
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TRUE OVERCOMERS

Salvation is the free gift of God through faith. However, it is our
walk through this world of time on earth that shows whether we
have truly accepted that free gift. If we overcome the obstacles
and trials lying in our path, we will be counted as the true believers
and live forever with Him.

Read Revelation 2:7

"He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life,
which is in the paradise of God."(NIV)

"He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;
To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the
midst of the paradise of God." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
http://insidetheshrink-dailygrace.blogspot.com/
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HIS DIVINE PURPOSE

When it seems that the events of life or actions of other people
are surely going to destroy us, take heart. We are where God is
able to use us for this time and season. He intends it to be for our
good and the good of those around us, so that His divine purpose
is completed.

Read Genesis 50:19,20

"Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm
me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being
done, the saving of many lives." (NIV)

"And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto
good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive."
(KJV)


  
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Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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MY SHEEP FOLLOW ME

Those who hear and obey God's voice are His sheep. Those who hear
His voice, but do not follow Him and those who neither hear nor follow
are not His sheep. How do we hear His voice? By constantly abiding in
His presence, walking in His Spirit, reading and studying His Word, and
maintaining prayer, praise, and meditation with Him. Then we will know
His voice, He will know us, and we will follow Him. He will guard us and
we will have His gift of eternal life.

Read John 10:27,28

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give
them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them
out of my hand." (NIV)

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I
give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall
any man pluck them out of my hand." (KJV)


  
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Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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DON'T CONFORM, BE TRANSFORMED

To conform is an action word that implies we have a choice, full
control to accommodate or come into harmony with worldly thoughts
and practices. We are told directly in God's Word not to conform to
this world. Any changes that take place in us, as Christians, are to
come from the Holy Spirit inside us, by changing our thinking to
conform to the Word of God. Only then will God's will become
clear to us.

Read Romans 12:2

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able
to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and
perfect will." (NIV)

"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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REJOICE IN TRUTH

If we find ourselves with a little feeling of delight and satisfaction
when someone gets caught in a sinful act, we are actually rejoicing
in evil--happy at someone's failing, enjoying the details of the acts
they committed. This is not love. We should be grieving that someone
was caught in the devil's snare, even if it was an enemy or someone
who hurt us. Likewise, love will cause us to be glad when truth and
goodness is manifested, even if it is through one with whom we have
conflict.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:6

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." (NIV)

" [Love] Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth." (KJV)


  
Daily Grace
Bobbi Craigmyle
drbobbijo@yahoo.com
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