Shepherd of Grace

Who is God?

Gen 50: God is faithful and good. He take the things that are bad and evil in our lives and uses them for good.
Psalm 23: God is our shepherd. Our best interest is in His mind. When I rest in Him “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”
Acts 15:1-21: God is gracious. He calls us to Him no based on our own merit, but on His. Jesus paid for our sins, so we don’t have to work for salvation.
Matt 10:1-20: Jesus has authority over unclean spirits and physical affliction. Jesus calls us to do His work through His power.

How do I enjoy Him?

Although there are down times in my life, it is not outside of God’s plan. He takes care of me and gives me the strength to get through. He is my shepherd, and during those tuff times I can rest in Him. I might feel like I’m all alone but He is there guiding me the whole time.

I cannot earn God’s love/grace. He reached out and saved me, even though I was running from Him. Whatever I am doing to try to earn His love, I need to stop. I need to rest in the grace that Has been given. I need to trust in the work that has been done for me already.

When I feel like I am all alone and that I can’t stand up against the world, I need to remember that Jesus has given me the Holy Spirit to overcome. His strength is in me.

Today’s goal is to reflect on these questions:
What area’s have my life have no hope?
How am I trying to earn God’s love?
Where am I not trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit?

Share the News

Who is God?

Acts 14: God proclaims His glory to everyone one. He does this through His creation and through His people.
Matt 9:27-38: Jesus is a teacher, evangelist, and healer (v. 35) Jesus is compassionate to the harassed and helpless.
Psalm 22:12-31: God hears our troubles and pains. He listens to our problems. He is the King over everything. He has the power to bring peace into our lives. He is also righteous and just.
Gen 49: God blesses people through us. God uses foolish people to make up His people.

How do I enjoy God?

Joy and peace comes as we rest in Jesus and become more like Him. We see in all these verses that God is compassionate and righteous. We see that Jesus cared for those who were not cared for and preached the gospel to them. He calls us to the be the harvesters. We are to care for the outcasts and share the good news of Jesus to them just like Paul. My joy in Christ will increase as I share it with those around me.

My goal for today is to share the good news of Jesus with those that are around me.

Jesus Frees Us from our Worries/Sorrows

Who is God?

Psalm 22:1-11: God is someone who cares about our troubles and worries.
Gen 48: God is faithful to answer His promises. God doesn’t alway do it the way the world thinks it should be done though.
Acts 13:26-52: Jesus brings freedom that we will never find in anything else. By trusting in Him we are filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Matt 9:14-26: Jesus is our joy and healer.

How do I enjoy Him?

I see in these passages that God is someone we can confide in. We can trust Him. He listens to our worries and sorrows, and He ultimately has a plan for us. Whatever is bogging us done, Jesus is the answer to our freedom. He is our joy and healer. We are to be like His disciples and rejoice because He is alive, and He has made us alive.

My goal for today is spend some time sharing my worries with Jesus, because He is the one that can free/heal me from them.