FRAGRANT OFFERING

Love this verse I recently read it in a Bible study. First thing that came to me was LOVE!Word we intent to throw around a lot without the true meaning!! We can be all works.We can be the noblest.  We can give and donate. We can sing the songs. We might think Sundays are enough to go to church. We lift our hands and say yes Jesus. Right after service we're back at it again. We intend to lie. We cheat on God with other idols or relationships!!! That's not true love. I look at my husband and say I love you. But have people on the side replacing who he is for me. I did this so many times.... not only to him.... but to God!!!! I can even think of how many times I did this to my friends. I would say to people I care about you but if you come into this area things change. If you betray me that's it I don't talk to you anymore. You do something to hurt me or if I even felt a tiny hint of lies, I wouldn't even think you worth my time. I had too much pride. I thought if I keep this up no one will get close. That's crazy because Jesus needs to be personal!!!!!! It's NOT A RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT BEING PERSONAL!!! I learned that if I truly love Jesus I needed to be personal! That includes me overcoming my fears! I cant hide behind what I feel. I needed to include him in my job, school, friends in church and out of  church. I not only needed to forgive people and past relationships. I needed to look at what God did for me. I have no excuses!!! I look at his sacrifice he forgave me! I wanna stand here and stay they don't deserve my forgiveness! YEAH RIGHT! IM NOBODY!!! I needed to not only love like he loved me but also give that to others. I needed to give that to people I knew spoke bad about me. I needed to give love to people who I didn't even know!!!! So much for staying safe it was opposite of what Gods us to be! He didn't say okay wait,,,,,I want for everyone to accept me before I get to that Cross! He just gave him self up that's it! Just like that....we got salvation!

GRACE

 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. Eph. 2 : 8-10 


Grace has been on my mind this week. What is grace? approval, favor, mercy & pardon.I am far from perfect and everyone knows that. I am not squeaky clean. I have made mistakes. I have hurt others. If you're reading this and know that I have hurt or offended you I'm sorry.I am  not using this as  stage to put my apologizes out there. Just know I have made a lot people hurt. People will forever look at me and say yeah sure you're christian. I will forever be judged by my past. To most of the people who still allow me to be a part of their life I still say I am sorry. What makes me saved? its Grace. He has favor over my life. He loved me so much he died to forgive me. He gave me mercy when everyone judged me.Even though I was guilty and everyone knew it!!!He said I clear your debit. I know its because of his grace that I am saved. Its not because of my smiles or good attitude. Its  not by how much much I help the homeless. Its not by anything that I have done. I cant say I own grace. It was given to me as a gift. It was given to me as a second chance. Its because I don't own it I can say you can get it to. Regardless of your past. Regardless of what people know as. I want you to know that it can change. Know today that there is a God who loves you so much. He gave his son to die for not just me but for you. That even with all my mess he cleaned me up and made me new. He can do that for you. Just give him a chance.