January 12th Study Material
Day 26 - A Warrior's Heart for Grace
"Clean My Sheets!"
By Shelly Thompson
"Clean My Sheets!"
By Shelly Thompson
Welcome to our SECOND Bible Study in our four-week 'Heart of a Warrior' January study together. Last week we discussed how Sarah did the first social media post in the Bible when she LOL'd (when the Angel of the Lord told her she would have a baby at 90...I think I would LOL...then PO, pass out!). But we know the rest of the story...she did indeed have a baby, and God was indeed faithful to His promise to Abraham to make him a Father of many nations. Last week we focused on the question God always says 'No' to...so this week, let's focus on the question God always says a resounding "YES" to...His Grace. He offers us to approach His holy throne...Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). Sister, i don't know about you, but I need it...God's grace.
Grace is God's gift to humanity (But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7). A gift is much different than a loan which requires repayment or return. Grace is a gift from God nothing is owed in return. There is no cost to the person receiving the gift. The gift of grace is free...although it was not free to the giver, who bears the full cost. The gift of our salvation did not cost us anything, but the price of this extravagant gift was paid at a high cost by our Lord Jesus. His gift was an exchange...His death for our sins. The gift is ours to keep...no take backs from God, we can't lose His grace. This is a permanent gift...no loan...no repayment...no advance required. God's grace is ours forever. Period.
Since we've been given such a gracious and life changing gift...God expects us, as His children, to show grace to others...even those with blue floral print dresses and froggy eyes (see below)...it's one way we show the love of God...by extending grace. Jesus grace.
This is where, I'd like to introduce you to Grace. My sweet neighbor, just across the way on 5th Street in my old neighborhood. You'll notice she lives in a small very white...very clean...well kept house. Even the house says 'an old lady lives here'. As a child she always seemed super old in her blue floral print dress, old lady shoes (sorry, Grace), plump little body, gray hair in a bun, coke bottle thick glasses which kind of gave her frog eyes (although I am sure her eyes were lovely underneath that thick glass), and...any words you spoke to Grace had to literally be yelled (that will be important to remember when I do the opening of the study Tuesday night...that you had to yell at her to talk to her). But despite all that...I loved sweet Grace. My mom always said she hadn't been shown much grace...so my mom put on her Jesus heart, and loved this sweet froggy eyed neighbor...with grace. Jesus grace.
And I...received the gift of watching my mom show grace. Even on the days she wasn't well, she showed grace. Grace upon grace. Jesus grace.
When we ask...God always says "Yes" to showing us grace. Unearned and undeserved, but God always says "YES" to grace...right from His Holy throne.
Let's again pray this week and ask God to give us each open hearts to hear His word and really be open to His prompting as we meet Grace. Both the person...and the gift. Let's ponder the questions below and see what God puts on our heart about...grace.
Blessings to each of you. See you at 7:30, Tuesday, January 12th on Facebook LIVE...God willing!!! Shelly
Grace is God's gift to humanity (But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Ephesians 4:7). A gift is much different than a loan which requires repayment or return. Grace is a gift from God nothing is owed in return. There is no cost to the person receiving the gift. The gift of grace is free...although it was not free to the giver, who bears the full cost. The gift of our salvation did not cost us anything, but the price of this extravagant gift was paid at a high cost by our Lord Jesus. His gift was an exchange...His death for our sins. The gift is ours to keep...no take backs from God, we can't lose His grace. This is a permanent gift...no loan...no repayment...no advance required. God's grace is ours forever. Period.
Since we've been given such a gracious and life changing gift...God expects us, as His children, to show grace to others...even those with blue floral print dresses and froggy eyes (see below)...it's one way we show the love of God...by extending grace. Jesus grace.
This is where, I'd like to introduce you to Grace. My sweet neighbor, just across the way on 5th Street in my old neighborhood. You'll notice she lives in a small very white...very clean...well kept house. Even the house says 'an old lady lives here'. As a child she always seemed super old in her blue floral print dress, old lady shoes (sorry, Grace), plump little body, gray hair in a bun, coke bottle thick glasses which kind of gave her frog eyes (although I am sure her eyes were lovely underneath that thick glass), and...any words you spoke to Grace had to literally be yelled (that will be important to remember when I do the opening of the study Tuesday night...that you had to yell at her to talk to her). But despite all that...I loved sweet Grace. My mom always said she hadn't been shown much grace...so my mom put on her Jesus heart, and loved this sweet froggy eyed neighbor...with grace. Jesus grace.
And I...received the gift of watching my mom show grace. Even on the days she wasn't well, she showed grace. Grace upon grace. Jesus grace.
When we ask...God always says "Yes" to showing us grace. Unearned and undeserved, but God always says "YES" to grace...right from His Holy throne.
Let's again pray this week and ask God to give us each open hearts to hear His word and really be open to His prompting as we meet Grace. Both the person...and the gift. Let's ponder the questions below and see what God puts on our heart about...grace.
Blessings to each of you. See you at 7:30, Tuesday, January 12th on Facebook LIVE...God willing!!! Shelly
Below is a button to open a PDF to accompany this weeks study. Here are some things to ponder and perhaps answer as God directs -
1. Have you really thought about the cost to Jesus for us to get 'free' grace.
2. Do you have someone in your life...who needs you to show them grace? Real Jesus grace?
3. Last week we talked about with God all things are possible. Is there someone, perhaps even yourself, you need to extend grace to and yet...it feels impossible?
1. Have you really thought about the cost to Jesus for us to get 'free' grace.
2. Do you have someone in your life...who needs you to show them grace? Real Jesus grace?
3. Last week we talked about with God all things are possible. Is there someone, perhaps even yourself, you need to extend grace to and yet...it feels impossible?
About Shelly Thompson, Author, and Publisher of The Notebook Cafe
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The Notebook Cafe -- Inspired Words for the Journey is an online cafe brewing up words of inspiration and encouragement to equip us for this journey. The Cafe (and The Vault Mercantile) is located in the quaint historic town of Walnut, Iowa. 'The Cafe' offers a place where women gather to share a time of fellowship, devotion, and a tour of the circa 1875 historical bank building restored by Shelly and her husband. Shelly is the Publisher of The Notebook Cafe and coauthor, Entwined, now in it's fourth printing; and Heart of a Warrior; in it's fourth printing. Shelly has a passion for writing what God places in her heart. Taking a giant leap of faith she left the corporate world to pursue a dream God gave her of developing a monthly inspirational faith based online reading café in February 2015. Today, The Notebook Café reaches over 500,000 people each month. She has found the road in unknown territory is not always easy, BUT GOD always finds a way to bring about what He has promised. Shelly has also developed The Notebook Cafe Annual Woman's Conference. The Notebook Cafe has hosted five women's conferences since October 2015. She's also passionate about all things vintage and interior design, owning The Vault Mercantile, a vintage and home decor shop. Shelly and her husband, Dave, spend time with their family and many weekends working on home renovation projects…that thankfully never seem to end.
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