God’s Glory Not Ours – Our Lives Have Meaning

Hey Beautiful!

Don’t look around, I’m talking to you!

So you may not have the superficial good looks that Hollywood celebrates, but you do have something much, much more.

Deep inside.

A beauty more real and authentic.

God's glory not ours

You should look in that mirror, child of God, and remember that God thought enough of you to share you with the world!

I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in Gods thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking.” – George Macdonald, christian theologian.¹

We are here to know Him and bring Him the glory.

God’s glory not ours.

The blessings of that very real relationship are joyful and eternal.

Extraordinary Things for God’s Glory Not Ours

We know from the Bible that God often chose the most ordinary people to do great things in history.

Moses had no confidence in his speaking ability.

The apostle Paul had a mysterious thorn in the flesh to restrain any ounce of pride that might surface as he shared the gospel message.

Those are just two historical examples of God’s people who overcame circumstances in their lives to bring God the glory.

When you turned your life over to Christ, you became a beautiful new creation.

Your soul is valuable to God, and don’t let anyone who hates Christianity tell you otherwise.

In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul assures us that all of God’s people have access to God’s immeasurable love and grace. Our salvation is nothing we can do on our own.

We deserve eternal death, but are saved by His grace, through our faith.

One body of believers holding to the absolute truth of the one true God.

¹⁹So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, ²⁰having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, ²¹in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, ²²in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-22, (NASB).

Look to the Cross

Look to the cross – that’s how valuable you are to Him.

There’s nothing more beautiful than that – the One who gave us the promise of eternal life would make the ultimate sacrifice to save us from dying unredeemed in our own sins.

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¹ George MacDonald (CS Lewis mentor) quotation, courtesy of and as quoted from Christian quotes.info

Our Exceptional God

Trust God With My Whys

May 11, 2021 Gracie

Learning to Trust God With My Whys

Let’s see, how many years has it been since I was in college?

I won’t say how many, but trust me when I say it’s been many. 😉

What amazes me is how radically different my life turned out from everything I had carefully planned.

I thought “career” was everything back then.

do what you love

My one goal was to become a TV reporter and follow in the footsteps of my idol – Jane Pauley.

When I landed that first TV job, I was in heaven.

I thought,

This is it!

I want to do this the rest of my life.

But God had other plans.

My TV reporter career came to a grinding halt once my father was diagnosed with Alzheimers. He was my rock and the person I most admired. You can read more about that here.

I was devastated. When a cruel disease like that strikes a person you love, it sends you to your knees.

The right choice for me was to move back home to be with him. I will never regret that decision.

Didn’t God Care?

I got lost in a sea of “whys.” There were so many things at the time that I didn’t understand.

Why did God allow this to happen to my father?

Why didn’t God care?

Tear-stained thoughts flooded my pillow back then.

Nothing made sense.

My prayers were earnest, and finally my answer came.

I had to learn to trust God with my whys.

In time, I saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

My thirst for God turned on.

The desire to read and understand the Bible reached a fever pitch.

Not surprising, when you’re up against a wall and you realize you’re not in control.

Expect the Unexpected

Many years have passed and I look back in amazement of how God brought me through life’s many challenges.

Once you yield control, you can expect the unexpected.

Who would have ever thought that this former TV reporter would now have a passion to write about God and share my faith with others?

Who would have thought that I’d end up in a choir loft with enthusiastic brothers and sisters in Christ singing praises to God?

Unleashing the Power of Psalm 40

Psalm 40 is especially meaningful.

Trust God with my whys

When I first read David’s psalm it struck a chord like no other.

That’s it!

Those introductory verses are a great description as to what I feel when I look back on my life.

The next time tragedy strikes your life, remember we must trust in God’s sovereignty to get us through.

The Father of All Compassion hears you when you call out to Him.

O Christian, can you grasp the thought? The Eternal Father thinks of you! You are so inconsiderable that if the mind of God were not Infinite, it would not be possible that He should remember your existence! Yet He thinks upon you! How precious ought His thoughts be to you! The sum of them is great, let your gratitude for them be great, too! – Charles Spurgeon, pastor and author.

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² Quotation from Charles Spurgeon, influential Christian preacher and author, (1834-1892). Taken from The Kingdom Collective. “The Charles Spurgeon Sermon Collection: The Happy Beggar.” n.d., para. 30. Web. Accessed 4 May, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.thekingdomcollective.com/spurgeon/sermon/3040/

Our Exceptional God

Praying Silent Whispers In The Dark

May 4, 2021 Gracie

Silent Whispers in the Dark

Christian friends, I know you can think of someone you deeply care about who denies the fact that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.

It’s heartbreaking, isn’t it?

Is it a family member, a dear friend, or maybe even someone you’re about to marry?

Why won’t they listen?

The conversations you’ve started with them about salvation through Jesus seem to go nowhere.

Do any of the following responses sound familiar?

“I just don’t feel that way”

“Nope! Not interested”

“Jesus is a myth”

If only they knew how important their eternal lives are to God.

If only they knew how much you want to see them in Heaven.

Praying those silent whispers in the dark on your loved one’s behalf seem to go unanswered.

It’s troubling.

Don’t they see what’s going on in our world?

Don’t they see the growing divide between good and evil playing out before our very eyes?

Keep Praying

Our loved ones’ salvation could take a very long time.

But also, in our heart of hearts, we have to face up to the fact that some of the people that we love will not go to Heaven.

They will continue being the wonderful people they are here, but their hardened hearts will send them to Hell forever.

I know we don’t like to think about it – but it’s true.

Faith can’t be forced on someone if they are not called.

Your Silent Whispers in the Dark are Heard

silent whispers in the dark

Going forward, it doesn’t matter how long your lost loved ones continue to reject Christ, keep praying for them.

Even though it seems like they’ll never change, the Heavenly Father hears your silent whispers in the dark.

God knew the exact timing for you to come to Christ, and He knows the exact timing for your loved one . . . even if it’s years down the road.

If they are called to salvation, it will happen.

Do you want to hear something beautiful?

⁹The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:9, (NASB).

Peter, a friend and disciple of our Lord, spoke those words.

He saw deceivers coming into the church trying to influence God’s people.

confusing messages

Look around – is anything different in today’s world? There are wicked people everywhere looking to spread their hate for God to all generations.

And yet, God is not willing for any to perish.

He, not we, knows who His elect are, and that’s why it’s so important to bring the gospel to all people.

So why won’t some of the people you care about accept the gospel message?

God willing, they might, but it’s all in God’s timing.

The Lord is never late.

Praying for Lost Loved Ones

How do we pray for them then?

Some people have trouble finding the right words.

Regardless, God will hear you so don’t get caught up in trying to make it flow like you have to be perfect.

This should be a cry from the heart.

Even the length of the prayer doesn’t matter.

You’re praying for God to open their hearts to hear His Good News.

Don’t Give Up Praying Those Silent Whispers in the Dark

Here’s an example of a prayer that you’re welcome to use – maybe it could be a springboard for your own personal prayer for your lost loved ones.

Father God,

I have some special people on my heart today.

The __________ family,

___________,

and ____________.

Father, nothing seems to work.

No matter how much I pray, they don’t want to talk

about Jesus at all.

I know You hear all of my prayers.

As it says in Your Word, You love us so much that

You’re not willing for anyone to perish.

Thank You for Your patience with me,

and for Your patience with my lost loved ones.

I pray that they won’t wait until there’s no turning back.

I pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me in any future conversations I have with them about repentance and salvation. May the words of my mouth help plant those seeds that can lead them to Christ.

We fail You daily and yet, through Your compassion and mercy, You have provided us with a way to have eternal life.

As this world grows darker, help them to see that You are the only way to their salvation.

I know all things are done in Your timing. Your will be done.

I pray this through Jesus Christ, Amen.

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Our Exceptional God

Created With Love

April 27, 2021 Gracie

Created With Love From God Above

Have you looked outside lately?

If you haven’t had a chance to notice yet, colorful flowers are blooming everywhere!

springtime blessings

Springtime is definitely here, and I’m ready to frolic!

I mean that in the best way. 😉

As you can tell, flowers bring me a lot of joy.

World famous French impressionist painter — Claude Monet, once said, “I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”

To think that God designed everything in the creation around us is an amazing thought that I continue to delight in.

All of this beauty – created with love from God above.

created with love from God above

From One New Creation To Another

The colorful springtime flowers all around us are literally bursting forth with new life.

Likewise, as Christians, we have reason to celebrate our new lives in Him.

Christian brothers and sisters – how does it feel to know that you are a new creation?

I think it feels pretty great, and humbling at the same time.

The meme below says exactly what I felt the moment I accepted Jesus Christ into my heart.

Not only did my perspective on everything change, I couldn’t wait to learn more about Jesus, the Bible, and what’s to come in the future.

created with love

What You See Around You Was Created With Love

If you find yourself feeling a little down today, please take heart.

We all get that way sometimes.

I love this encouragement from Susie Larson’s Daily Blessing.

Springtime is a beautiful time to slow down and notice the fresh life springing up all around you. It’s the perfect time to consider both God’s vastness and His nearness. With a few words from His mouth, He spoke the galaxies into existence. And with great care, He crafted you into an absolute work of art. The starry skies and the sparkle in your eyes both speak of what a wonderful Father He is. He told the waters where to stop, and He stretches out His hand against the enemy of your soul.

He moves mountains, and He opens doors. He speaks peace, and He calms the storm. With a word of instruction, He sends warring angels to fight for you, and with a whisper across your heart, He reminds you how much He loves you. He sent His Son to earth to save you, restore you, and redeem every aspect of your story. The gospel isn’t old news. It’s now news. It’s the Good News. It’s the best news ever. Celebrate this springtime season with holy expectancy. New life springs forth! – Susie Larson, author.

You were made in His image.

Be blessed!

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Claude Monet Quotation, courtesy of https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/claude-monet-quotes.

Quotation from gotquestions.org, from “I am a new christian. What is the next step?” n.d., para. 5. Web. Accessed April 20, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.gotquestions.org/new-creation.html

Susie Larson, courtesy of Susie Larson.com, “New Life Springs Forth.” April 5, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.susielarson.com/daily-blessing/2021/4/5/new-life-springs-forth.

Our Exceptional God

Who Else Works Overtime?

April 20, 2021 Gracie

Who Else Works Overtime Besides You?

Who else works overtime besides you?

Here’s to all of you who have to work overtime – my hat’s off to you. 🙂

Give yourself a pat on the back for taking on those extra hours when duty calls.

I’m not just talking about hospital workers.

You know who else works long hours to help to make this country great?

Men and women serving in the military

Police officers

Secretaries

Biblical pastors writing their sermons

Delivery drivers

And many other occupations that don’t get the media accolades.

We’ve probably all worked overtime at some point in our lives.

I remember working overtime often over the years, even overnight as a reporter camped outside a breaking crime scene.

It’s just what you do to get the job done, and to do it well.

While we’re on the subject, guess who else works overtime, but not for the good like all of those dedicated workers mentioned above?

Evil Doesn’t Sleep

Spiritual Enemy No. 1, Satan, also works overtime.

The Enemy of our souls spends hour after hour, every single day, looking for ways to trip you up, make you doubt your faith, and throw every conceivable distraction at you so you don’t have time for God.

Fact: The Enemy hates every single one of us.

Satan is geared to the destruction of God’s people, primarily. Obviously he wants to damn the whole human race, but his particular preoccupation is with those who belong to God, i.e., Adam and Eve and Job and Peter and Paul and others. His hope is that if he can’t destroy their faith, he can destroy their integrity before God by a long list of indictments. – John MacArthur, pastor and bible teacher from Grace To You.¹

And so he acts the same with us.

Satan also works overtime

Satan’s time is short.

Is he invincible?

No!

Jesus Will One Day Take All Of This Evil Away

Fortunately for us, there’s someone greater, omnipotent, and sovereign who works overtime.

That someone is Jesus – our Sovereign God who has already won the battle against evil.

Christians know that troubling times continue up ahead.

It’s easy to get discouraged during all of this craziness – but don’t stay in that place for long. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

We have blessed assurance that every last repentant sinner who recognizes Jesus as Savior will be saved.

Jesus Christ, our Deliverer, works overtime praying for you and for me, and at the appointed time, He will come back for us.

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¹ John MacArthur quotation, courtesy of GTY.org/library/sermons-library. 20 February, 2000. para. 17. Web. Accessed 19, April, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.gty.org/library/sermons-library/90-236/the-character-of-satan

* Charles Spurgeon, influential pastor, quotation was accessed April 14, 2021 and retrieved from https://www.thekingdomcollective.com/spurgeon/sermon/92/. n.d., Para 39. Web. Photo used under the Pixabay License – free for commercial or private use – an artistic derivative created by me of the background photo original.

Our Exceptional God

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