True Grit Christianity

April 6, 2021 Gracie

Do You Have True Grit Christianity?

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when I say the words, “True Grit”?

Probably the movie by the same name, right?

In my opinion, no film “remake” can beat the 1969 original movie which starred the one and only John Wayne.

John Wayne movie

In his Oscar-winning performance, Wayne was the cantankerous U.S Marshall, “Rooster” Cogburn. In the film, a determined teenage girl hires Rooster to track down the heartless outlaw that killed her father.

As to whether the “true grit” description applied to her, or to the John Wayne character, it’s up for debate. I think it can apply to both.

And it also applies to us as Christians.

Do you have “true grit Christianity”?

The Odds Are Stacked But . . .

Without a doubt, these are troubling times we’re living in.

With many Christians across the country still not attending indoor church due to virus concerns, the lack of fellowship and corporate worship has taken a toll.

And Satan is loving every minute of this.

This is not the time to give up on God.

In fact, it’s never the time to give up on God’s promises, despite what Satan might be whispering in your ear.

God doesn’t exist

There is no absolute truth

When you hear lies like that, as Barney Fife used to say, “Nip it! Nip it in the bud.”

You have the option to stand your ground and be prepared for a heated debate, or you can walk away and talk about the good news to someone else who desperately wants to hear about Jesus.

Keep reading your Bible, and get back to a biblical church as fast as you possibly can.

True Grit Christianity

true grit Christianity

As Christians in today’s world, we are facing giant-sized obstacles that can keep us separated and also roadblock our mission to share the gospel with others.

True grit is holding onto faith despite those roadblocks.

As more time passes, the world will try and tell you to denounce your faith in God. That’s what secular humanists do.

We can expect it.

Will the bad news all go away if I just turn off the mainstream media?

Hardly.

We must be prepared – through prayer, reading God’s Word, and trusting our Savior.

I know you’ve heard it said before that “God is in control.”

I love that reminder because it brings everything (even the bad things we see going on) into a godly perspective.

Unlike the plans of men, God’s plans are eternal, they serve a purpose, and they will bring Him glory.

The “true grit” Christian trusts God’s will and sovereignty.

Anything under God’s control is never out of control. – Chuck Swindoll, Christian pastor and author.

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¹ John Wayne photo, courtesy of The searchers Ford Trailer screenshot 29, 2018, January 16. Wikimedia Commons, the free media repository. Accessed and retrieved April 5, 2021.

² Chuck Swindoll Quotation, influential Christian pastor and author, courtesy of AZquotes.com.

Our Exceptional God

No Plan B

July 7, 2020 Gracie

Off the Tracks and There is No Plan B

Remember that time our train went off the tracks?

Never, in a million years, did I ever think I’d be able to say that.

It was one of those times when my husband and I were looking for a fun adventure to add to our bucket list, something we’d never done before.

I know, let’s take one of those hour-long scenic train rides through the country!

Don't let the evil on display derail your faith

That memorable afternoon, my husband and I boarded a vintage train with a bunch of other adventure-seekers.

About thirty minutes into our ride – lurchhhhhhhh!

The train made a weird sound, lurched forward awkwardly, derailed, and . . . stopped . . . in the middle of nowhere.

Thankfully, no one was injured.

For the next seven hours, we waited in our seats for the rescue buses to arrive and take small groups of us back to the railway station.

Seven long hours.

My husband and I were among the last group to get back to our car that night.

I’ll never forget it.

There was no Plan B for the train.

In other words, once the train hit dirt, there was no way out.

no Plan B

There’s No Plan B for Your Salvation

Just like with that train, there is no Plan B . . . for your salvation.

There is one way to eternal life, the only way, through Jesus Christ.

You think things are heated up now?

Just wait.

In Acts 2, Peter quoted the prophet Joel during the blessed outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. This was an important proclamation that future judgments would come. What blessed assurance for us to know that, in the last days, we have the promise of our salvation as believers.

Acts 2

Don’t Let the Evil on Display Derail Your Faith

You know what dark times we’re living in right now.

I call 2020 the Year of Deceit and Disrespect.

The dividing line between believers and nonbelievers is becoming more and more evident.

Sadly, even some churches are falling away, preaching a false gospel to itching ears that only want to feel good about themselves.

This spiritual battle – as hard to watch as it is – should encourage us all the more to stand tall in our faith.

We can’t let this increasing darkness derail the hope and blessed assurance that is within us.

One of the great themes of our faith is triumphant hope—an unshakeable assurance that things will end right. In the midst of struggles and storms, battles and trials, we focus beyond the present moment and we see victory. We see relief, because in the end, God wins! – Chuck Swindoll, Christian pastor and author.²

Through Jesus, we have victory and a life of unimaginable splendor to look forward to with our Heavenly Father.

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²Chuck Swindoll quotation, courtesy of Insight.org/resources/article-library, “In the End, God Wins…and We Win…When God Wins!,” 17 April, 2018, para. 1. Web. Copyright © 2018 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Accessed 1 July, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/insight-for-living/read/articles/despite-your-circumstances-10196.html

Our Exceptional God

Finding Peace In The Chaos

September 18, 2019 Gracie

Looking For Peace Of Mind

Just gonna’ say it.

I am ready for a vacation.

So ready.

Like right now.

Trust me, these past few months at our house have been very busy and physically exhausting.

Who’d have thought I’d end up with two sprained knees and a swollen ankle when it was all over?

Not kidding.

Heavy boxes and I have a complicated relationship.

We don’t like each other.

Now it’s time to slow down, or at least that’s my goal.

Calgon, take me away!

There are so many places we’d love to visit again, including Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC.

The last time we were in Charleston it was a birthday surprise from my husband. He got a few points for that one.

Looking for peace

If you haven’t vacationed in Charleston yet, you might want to put it on your bucket list. But, there’s a “but”, as you will see below.

We stayed at this charming downtown hotel within walking distance to everything you could possibly want – from restaurants, to art galleries, shopping, and more.

It was seventh heaven.

As soon as we checked into our room, it was back downstairs so we could walk around town and sample the delicious waterfront cuisine.

By the end of the day we were exhausted and ready to hit the sack for a peaceful night’s sleep.

All was quiet until 4:30 the next morning.

We heard a very loud bang outside our upstairs window.

Both of us jolted awake.

“What the heck was that?”

And then there was another bang, and another (times about 10).

It’s so loudddd.

I cautiously opened the blinds and saw the city garbage truck down below doing its trash pickup right outside our upstairs window.

Why hadn’t we noticed that when we checked in earlier?

The noise and beeping went on and on and seemed to get louder.

The idea of pleasantly sleeping in while on a vacation floated right out that window.

Excuse me, Concierge, where can we buy some earplugs?

Garbage in Garbage Out

Our experience with the trash truck reminds me of the “noise” circulating on TV and social media on a daily basis.

Lots of “noise” and loud angry voices – full of so much hate and division-promoting rhetoric.

I don’t know about you, but I have to turn it off.

Who can live with that much anger day after day after day?

There’s still so much good left in America that I don’t listen to those who try to tear her down.

Finding Peace in the Chaos

Looking for peace amidst the chaos

No one said it’s going to be easy to blot out all of the angry noise – especially with the popularity of social media and 24-hour news coverage.

But what we can do, is continue to trust in God’s will and cultivate an active prayer life which can help calm our anxious thoughts.

When we walk in peace even though our surroundings are unpleasant, God is glorified.¹– Chuck Swindoll, Christian pastor, author, and educator.

Here’s something else to consider.

Amid the “noise” of the world, why not shower someone else with grace in the name of Jesus Christ?

Good deeds don’t get us to Heaven, but they do take the focus off ourselves as we aim our attention on others.

I recently watched a video and loved the ideas presented.

Here’s the mission: on your next birthday, whatever age you are, that’s the number of random blessings to aim for over the next year.

Let’s see, for me that would be . . . 30 years old . . . 40 . . . We’ll stop right there.

There’s a wonderful feeling you get, sometimes hard to put into words, that comes from the smiles and/or tears you witness when you anonymously bless someone else. Add a note to your anonymous gift about God’s love for them, and you’ve planted a seed. For me, it’s an excellent way for finding peace in the chaos.

God has primarily chosen to reach people through people. So engage them, and most importantly, keep praying for them. Give it a try, and you will discover what a joy it is to tell others about Jesus. I pray that God will give you a burden for people like you have never had before.² – Greg Laurie, Pastor, Bible teacher, and author.

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¹Chuck Swindoll quotation, courtesy of Insight For Today, A Daily Devotional by Chuck Swindoll. “Peace Amidst Unpleasant Circumstances.” November 28, 2017. para. 21. Web. Accessed 15 September, 2019.

²Pastor Greg Laurie quotation, courtesy of Harvest.org, “5 Ways to Love Your Neighbor.” Ebook. Page 22. Accessed 15 September, 2019.

Our Exceptional God