UNdeserving Grace.

THIS blog made me cry. Sitting here with tears in my eyes. Why?

Just reading how she looked up at him, all the thoughts running through her head about yelling at a kid, a sigh of not wanting to drive one to town, not reading to kids before bed.

Wanting to confess sin. not feeling worthy of his foot rubbing, wanting to pull away because of it.

I feel all those things. Never a day goes by that I don't feel regret for something, any little thing I didn't do right. Feel tense all the time about all the weight of everything from being a mom, stress of taking care of all things. never feeling rested, never feeling finished with work around the house, feeling like I wasn't a good enough mom, didn't make enough time for my kids, spent too much money............the weight of it all......just feeling like I'm never good enough.

This morning I was reading my devotional and the verses of the bible that go along with it.

I wrote on a peice of paper something I wanted to put on my chalk board in the kitchen~

"Grace is undeserved favor"

"Love others despite of their sins"

I was reading from Romans 12:17-19.

 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.  Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”says the Lord.

I think this fits right in with the blog I shared. Where she wrote she felt she should pull away. Probably because she didn't feel worthy of her husbands foot rubbing.

I feel unworthy too, not so much of my husbands foot rubbings, but of God's love and mercy and forgiveness that he so graciously gives us.

I am so far from Christlike somtimes.  I can be selfish, uncaring, unloving, and honestly, latley I have been having thoughts of repaying evil for evil. But in such a petty way.

Amazing how I can have thoughts one day about my husband and what he doesn't do for me, and how I shouldn't do things for him because of it, (which is repaying evil for evil) then the next morning God shows me a verse and it effects me enough that I want to put it on my chalk board.

UN-DESERVING Grace.

That's what Jesus gives me. He chose to die on the cross for ME. Not when I was perfect and sinless, but while I was/am a sinner.

He gives me forgiveness and love, when I don't deserve it. On days when I don't make time for him. Days when I am crabby with my kids and husband. Days when I don't make Christ look good.

I am unworthy of Christ's love, and yet, by Grace alone, he gives it to me.

I think about this, dwell on it this morning. Do I give Grace to my husband, to my kids, to strangers, to anyone, the way God gives it to me? I don't deserve it. But he gives it anyway. Conviction.

If I can receive God's grace, even though I don't deserve it, I need to start giving grace freely, even when I don't think people deserve it. Even, when I don't "feel" like it.

God doesn't look at our sin when we have Jesus Christ as a savior. When he looks at us, he sees us washed white as snow. We are washed clean of our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ. The blood he shed on that cross for us. For YOU and me.

It reminds me of my favorite necklace. I wear this necklace almost everyday. I cheerish it. When I wear it, It reminds me of what Christ did, and how I need to reflect Christ. I think about it and think, If I'm wearing this out in public, I better wear my attitude of Christlikeness, and show Christ love to people. (some days I forget!)

Recently I put this favorite necklace of mine in jewelry cleaner. It came out looking terrible. It looked dirty, stained, discolored. I was sad about it. My favorite necklace, ruined.

I called the jeweler. She said, "The smith may be able to buff it out" , so yesterday I took it there.

She took it and said, I'll take it over and see what he can do. But then I saw her standing behind the counter looking down, and I thought, "What is she doing??" I thought she was going to take it to the smith and see what he can do with it!" I was getting impatient. I had a friend and kids in the car.

She came back over with it, and it looked brand new. All shiny and silver again. I was in awe!! I said, "what did you do?" She said, " I just wiped it clean with a polishing clothe".  

Wiped it clean.  Just like Jesus did for us.

Grace.

Love.

Mercy.

Forgiveness.

JESUS.

Can I show his undeserving Grace to others?  Can I wipe clean things people have done to me and just give Grace?

Jesus Amazing Love.

It's been on my heart lately to blog about the Love of our Lord. There are many hurting people out there who don't know God, and don't know his love for them.

If you are that person, I am writing this for you. God wants me to write this for YOU.

 

Maybe you are someone who knows it already, but has forgotten how much he loves you, maybe your not "feeling" it right now or seeing it in your life at the moment. That doesn't mean he doesn't love you.

To some, God is just this distant being in the sky that they know exists but don't understand him or know him.

 

(Just for the record, the Bible is my source. No matter where you go to Church, or who your pastor is, or who you talk to, If you want the truth, read the bible. The bible is God's word.

2 Timothy 3:16~

 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

What does this mean?

From my commentary it says~

The bible is not a collection of stories or fables, myths or merly human ideas about God. It is not a human book. Through the Holy Spirit, God revealed his person and plan to certain believers who wrote down his message for his people. This process is known as inspiration. Although they used their own minds, they wrote what God wanted them to write. Scripture is completely trustworthy because God was in control of it's writing. It's words are entirely authoritative for our faith and lives. )

 

So what does God's word say about his love for us?

 

Isaiah 54:10

Though the mountains be shaken

and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,”

says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

 

Zephaniah 3:17

The LORD your God is with you,

the Mighty Warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,

but will rejoice over you with singing.”

 

Psalm 149:4

For the LORD takes delight in his people;

he crowns the humble with victory.

 

Ephesians 2:4-7

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

 

1 John 4:10

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

 

And the most important verse of all~

 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

This is some serious love.

Do you know what Jesus went through for YOU personally? Even if you were the only human on earth, Jesus would have died just for YOU. So YOU could spend eternity in heaven. That is amazing Love. Amazing Grace. Amazing Mercy.

lways like to watch this video, although it's gruesome, it's a good reminder of how much he loves us.

So, how do we get this wonderful love from Jesus and get to know him better?

It's a gift from God. Simple as that, a gift. He graciously gives us, all we have to do is accept the gift.

First we have to know and accept that we are not God, that we are not perfect, and that we are sinners.

 

We are all sinners. Every single one of us humans is a sinner. None of us are perfect.

 

Romans 3:23

 

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

 

Because we are sinners, we must die. This was not God's original plan when he created Adam and Eve. They were to live forever with God in the Garden, but after they sinned, there had to be a consequence.

 

Romans 6:23

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

But know that Jesus paid the debt for your sin, he died on the cross for you, so you don't have to spend eternity in Hell.

 

Romans 5:8

 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The gift of salvation is FREE~

 

Ephesians 2:8-9

 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

 

Jesus Christ is waiting for you to accept the gift. To open the door of your heart and mind, and let him in.

 

Revelation 3:20

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

We must receive and believe in Jesus.

John 1:12

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

So it's that easy to accept God's love. Know that we are sinners, accept Jesus as your personal saviour, know that he is your salvation, his death earns you the right to be a child of God.

Start reading the bible , spend some time with Jesus, in his word, let him speak to you. Read about him and get to know him and who he is, and you will get to know his deep love for you.

The most wonderful part of the verse in Ephesians 2:8-9 is this~

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

That means that we can do NOTHING, to earn God's love or Salvation. He loves us no matter what, he loved us first, even before we were born. God doesn't hold things against you, Jesus blood washed us white as snow, cleaned the dirty sin right out of our life.

You can't add anything to what you do in your life to "earn" salvation or God's love. It's a gift. Jesus is ALL we need. This is huge. If you read the bible you will know that Jesus death on the cross, his suffering is all you need to receive God's love and mercy and grace.

If you've been told that you need to be perfect, or do good works to earn God's love, you have been lied to. If you feel in your heart that God is out to get you, that he doesn't love you, that he's forgotten you, that your not important, that your not good enough, You have been lied to.

You are loved.

 You are important.

 You are good enough because of Jesus.

 God loves you more then anyone on this earth could love you.

 He wants you to accept that love from him.

 He's waiting for YOU.

He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants you to seek him, look for him, he's there. Waiting.

How awesome is that?

He's not distant. He's right here.

 

Look for him.

Receive him.

Bask in his love for you.

His arms are open, his lap is big.

He's waiting for you to climb up on his lap and let him wrap his loving arms around you.

Run.

Homeschooling

I could use some prayers for God to be very specific with us on where he wants our children this year. Because last year was hard for me to be the homeschooling mom/teacher, and I didn't feel I was doing an adequate job being a teacher, I considered sending my kids to a Christian school. We toured the school, talked to the principle and teachers, and honestly felt a real peace at the school. We haven't come to a decision, and today I emailed my husband and mentioned that we need to decide sooner or later.

He sent me back an email, it was a link to my blog from two years ago.

http://insanelyblessed.blogspot.com/2009/09/jake-just-left-for-school.html

It makes me sad reading it. But also makes me think. Do I really want to send my children to school? Have I really given this enough thought? Did I lose my focus on why I wanted them home in the first place 2 years ago?

After reading that blog, I think, maybe I need to rethink this. Rewind to why I wanted to home school in the first place. Did I ever really think it would be easy?  Did I do it because I thought it would be easy, or for deeper reasons? What changed? It got too hard? They don't listen to me? I'm not a disciplined enough mommy to be a teacher, yeah, they are all valid excuses. But are they good enough reasons not to home school?

I could use a few prayers for God to speak to my heart about this issue.

Thanks all.

:)

Worry.

Worry~ God doesn't want us to worry. Worry is useless. It's defeating. It's terrible for us. It effects our health, it takes over our days, it makes us miserable, and it does no good.

Worry is an action that takes our eyes off God. It says to God that we don't trust him.  That he can't handle it. It's a sin.

God tells us over and over in his word not to worry and to trust in him.

Matthew 6:27-

And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?

Philippians 4:6-

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

In one of my books the author reminds us that when God says do not worry, he is commanding us not to worry. Not suggesting it. It's not advice, it's a command!

Sometimes I have to wonder, when am I going to get it? When am I going to overcome my bad habit of worry?

The more I think about it, the more I think God allowed cancer in my life to teach me one main thing, to TRUST HIM.

I've written about this so many times how my my mom got cancer and died when I was 11, and I've always had the fear that I would get cancer, and of course I did! lol.

I was always an anxious child, I'm sure my dad can attest to that. I was always the girl that felt weak, and alone and scared and always looking for someone to hook on to. As I look back in my life, I see all the times I used friends and boyfriends for saviors. Just someone who was "there" for me, so I wasn't alone.

If only I had known Christ growing up as a teenage girl, my life could have been so different, maybe that's why I have such a heart for younger women, I want them to have what I didn't, Jesus.

I am one of those people who it takes me awhile to get something. I have to do it over and over and over to get it. I guess the good thing is , that I do keep trying and not give up. lol.

Yesterday morning I was reading my daily devotional and it says this, " Fear and anxiety still plague you"  huh, that's interesting. How does the devotional book know that? lol.  This is just another one of God's great gifts, he knows how to speak to us through others. :)  So it goes on to say, "Affirm your trust in ME".  That's huge. That is where my big struggle is. Honestly, I do get this, and I do trust him. I know God loves me, and only wants what is best for me, and only allows things that will make me more like Christ, and a stronger follower, but some days, well I forget. That's the thing, I need to make it a point DAILY to remind myself who God is. Daily, like every single morning. Every single new day when I wake up I need to remind myself who is in charge of my life. This is where I fail. When I get too busy to spend time with him, too busy with life, my mind wanders, and the evil one can fill my brain with lies.

The book says, "Blazing missiles of fear fly at you day and night; these attacks from the evil one come at you relentlessly."  That is a good way to look at it.  If I am not taking up my shield of faith daily and filling my mind with Jesus, it leaves me empty for him to fill me up with lies.  He's so full of lies. He will tell me that I still have cancer, that I'm not doing enough, that I'm not healed, that I need to obsess about it, that God is not big enough, that God is not there, God does not love me, on and on and on!  If I am not in the bible and praying,  that is what happens. Fear sets in.   The point is, Jesus is my comforter, my friend, my healer, my everything, and can be yours too. He is all I need. If I start to worry I need to pray. I need to get out my bible and read it, and I need to TRUST him.

Proverbs 3:5~

Trust in the Lord with all your heart.

Psalm 2:12~

Blessed are all those who put their trust in him.

 

In Matthew 6:25-34 there are six reasons for us not to worry~

1. You are valuable to God. Vs 26

2. Your situation is under God's control, not yours. vs 27

3. You will be taken care of. vs 28-30

4. Your needs are known to God. vs 31-32

5. Your pursuits should focus on God. vs 33

6. Your life should be lived one day at a time. vs 34

See, if we just keep ourselves in God's word, we will read, know, and remember these things.  On days when I don't feel like rolling out of bed at 5:30 I need to remember why I NEED to. I need that time with God to fill my mind with his goodness.

Here's a wonderful verse and reminder to close with.

Jeremiah 17:7-8~

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree planted by water,

that sends out its roots by the stream,

and does not fear when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious in the year of drought,

for it does not cease to bear fruit."



Beautiful Day

Last night, I was cleaning in the kitchen, and saw Grace being sneaky. When she's sneaky, she runs with things and thinks I can't see them. First she ran by with a wet wash clothe and took it outside. Next, I saw her grab a blanket from the living room and run and drag it outside, with that "you don't know what I'm up too look in her eye". Then she came in and said, "Can I paint? Outside?"  I looked her with a quizzical look, "why outside?" I asked. She just looked at me, (like I was the crazy one) and said so matter a factly, "Because it's a beautiful day!"  She's FOUR.   Here she is, enjoying her painting outside. :)

I had to grab a lawn chair and a cup of coffee and just sit and soak this in.  Most days I don't take much time to just sit and enjoy the beautiful day and relax. On an average day the kids keep me busy either serving them, or cleaning up behind them, but today Grace showed me how to take a time out, and enjoy the wonderful day. 

Sometimes we just need to take a deep breathe and enjoy the day that God has given us, the moment that God has given us. I am thankful to my daughter Gracie for her sweet spirit, and the time we took to just enjoy the day.

Slow down today. Take some time to enjoy and relax. Be thankful for the day God has given you. :)

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the LORD has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

My health blog

If your a reader of my blog, could you check out my other blog on Health? and maybe become a follower of that one too? And share both with your friends please. :)

http://www.amyvg.blogspot.com/

Thanks!

If you don't know him.

I am really writing this post for a life long friend of mine who I love and adore so much. Yes, I could have just emailed her but I want to share it because I have no idea who all reads my blog and I think God wants someone else to know this information besides her.

This weekend my friend and I had a discussion about a little boy who was in a bike accident and died. It was obviously tragic. I'm sure it was and is a horrible experience for the family of this little boy. My friend attended the funeral of this boy because she works with the father.  My sweet friend doesn't understand the whole "God thing" as she puts it. :)  I love you friend.

So, as she was telling me about the funeral of this boy, she said that the dad was happy and smiling at the funeral. That he asked her if she'd like to meet his little boy and led them to the body of the boy in the casket.

Obviously this would bring anyone to tears, especially those of who have children and the thoughts go through your head about losing your own children as you look at someone elses. She said that the family had some "religion" that she was not sure what it was, but to her it seems crazy that the dad could be there happy and smiling. Maybe that's what some people think of us Christians, "crazy". But I hope that after they have that thought that we are crazy, that they might have a second thought in their mind, maybe that they wonder where that hope comes from, and maybe pursue it and find out.

This morning I was led to read in 2 Samuel, chapter 22.

I was reading verse 31~

As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.

HE is a shield for ALL who take refuge in him.

Shield was the word that really hit me.  He IS our shield. Just like the first week when I found out I had cancer and I had a strange peace about it, that was God shielding me. Giving me peace.

Here's some of Websters definitions of Shield~

1. (n.) A broad piece of defensive armor, carried on the arm, -- formerly in general use in war, for the protection of the body.

2. (n.) Anything which protects or defends; defense; shelter; protection.

3. (n.) Figuratively, one who protects or defends.

 

 

4. (n.) To cover with, or as with, a shield; to cover from danger; to defend; to protect from assault or injury.

5. (n.) To ward off; to keep off or out.

 

This is what God does for those of us crazy Christians. He's a shield for us. How could that man stand there at his little son's funeral with a smile?

Well, for one, his son is in a much better place then this. He's in heaven and won't have to deal with any of the junk that goes on in this world.

But the other reason is that that man has hope in our Lord, and God has given him the peace that transcends all understanding.

 

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God has given that father peace about his sons death. God can do that. Give us peace and the world that doesn't know Christ, doesn't understand it, but sometimes, it will lead some to want it. That man is a light for Christ, showing people God's peace.

Does it mean that the father isn't heartbroken that he has lost his son? No. I'm sure he's devastated and misses his son like crazy, does it mean that us Christians are not bothered if we lose children? Of course not! I pray for my chidrens saftey and health all the time.

But when tradjedy does strike us, we have hope in the Lord, and a peace in our heart. Isn't that something worth seeking?

My friend said, " It's just not right that God would take an 8 year old boy". No life isn't fair. Here on this earth full of sin, it stinks. 

I don't beleive God "took" him. I beleive God "allowed" it to happen.  But not to punish his parents or siblings. When you read the bible, and get to know our God, you will know he's nothing but a loving God.

Not only is he loving, but his ways are perfect.

Which was the first verse I read this morning.

2 Samuel 22:31-

As for God, his ways are perfect.

It's hard for our little minds to grasp the greatness of God. He is our daddy who loves us dearly and only wants the best for us, and allows things in our lives that make us grow, and bring us closer to HIM.

If your a parent you will understand. Sometimes we do things that hurt our children, but it's only for their own good. At the time, our children think we are "stupid" and "mean", and they just don't understand our logic! But we know, we are only doing it or allowing it for their own good. We love them.

That's how it is with God. He's our big daddy that loves us more then we know. He loves that little boy more then his parents do. Hard to beleive that I know. Sometimes when I worry about my own kids, (I know, hard to beleive, me, worrying, lol) But I have to tell myself that very thing, "God loves them more then you do Amy, so trust him with their little life."

I think I strayed from my original point to my friend.  :)

That dad, he's not crazy. He has a strong relationship with our big God, and knows that his son is in a much better place, that he WILL see him again, because God does not send any children to hell, baptized or not, and God has given him a peace that most can't understand. He has hope in the one true God that loves us so much.

If you don't know him, you might want to get to know him, you might just find that same peace.

I wrote about who God is in my last post, but I don't think I had shield in there. It's another to add to the list.

He's a comforter, councelor, friend, refuge, rescuer, deliverer, saviour. He's amazing.
Let me just throw this out there too, if you have questions, please feel free to email me at Insanelyblessed@gmail.com .
I do not have ALL the answers, but If you want to know Christ, I can probably give you a little advice how to get started on that. :) Much love and blessing to you.

Third Day Nothing Compares with lyrics - WOW!!

Natalie Grant - Your great name w/ lyrics

All about Jesus.

I'm just all about Jesus this morning. Thanks to my mom Mary I was making a list of Jesus qualities which led me to the computer and then to youtube. lol.

I just wanted to share some of who Jesus is today.

He is~

Our redeemer

Our Saviour

The Might God

The only begotten Son

Our hope

Our councelor

Our healer

The way

The bread of life

The true light

Our strength

Our refuge

Our Rock

He is forgiving

Loving

Our friend

Merciful

Faithful

Glorious

Mighty

Our Helper

Our Hope

Our Redemption

Faithful

Perfect

He was rejected, despised, betrayed, condemed, scourged, mocked, wounded, forsaken, and crucified, for YOU. He loves YOU.