Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 2:1-10
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 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.
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.
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Trusting God’s Goodness
Author: Cheryl Zelenka
The widow was left alone to tend the farm. Her husband and son had died in the war and now she alone had to bring in the harvest. She could hire laborers, but there was no money to pay them. She needed the produce to make it through the winter and buy seed for the spring.
Still reeling with grief, she lacked the energy and desire to finish the task. How could she manage the harvest? Why had God left her to weather such an impossible storm?
Adversities, and the problems we find within them, often suck the air right out of us. We see a mountain before us and cannot see any way around it, and the thought of climbing it is overwhelming. It is beyond our strength. We spend nights awake filled with worry. Stressed, we forget God is aware of our circumstances and has the power to help if we but cry out to Him and TRUST.
In reality, in this life many of the things we face are beyond our strength. God designs circumstances with the hope that we will cry out to Him for assistance. He wants us to rely on Him.
As our Creator, “He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14
We can either let the trial crush us or ask God to strengthen and help us overcome the foreboding obstacle. Continue reading “Trusting God’s Goodness”
Matthew 6:5-15
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’
For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.
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