running to God's grace

How much does it take to convince you that God is full of grace? For me it takes seeing grace in action through someone's life and them giving grace to someone else. Lots of people talk about the grace of God and the goodness of God, yet few people seem to really give grace.

Giving grace has everything to do with living the way God intends and letting Jesus live through us. That may be said as "Jesus with skin" or many other ways.

I sat down early this morning to read and pray. Much of what I read in finishing the book of Joel, in reading Proverbs and in reading John Burke's book No Perfect People Allowed I heard God screaming at me about His grace. No, His voice was deep in my heart. His voice was preparing me to share His grace with others. There are plenty of opportunities.

A few minutes later a guy sits down in my office. We have history. He is a neat fellow, but his story breaks my heart. After lots of pain and heartache and tough times, he was getting honest with me about bitterness and brokenness. I had the awesome responsibility to share God's grace with this friend. Pray with me that tonight and tomorrow that God's grace will hold this dude tight. By the way, getting real, being transparent hurts.

Have you noticed that when you get real that God's grace shows up?

Joel 2:12-13 (The Message) --- But there's also this, it's not too late— God's personal Message!— "Come back to me and really mean it! Come fasting and weeping, sorry for your sins!" Change your life, not just your clothes. Come back to God, your God. And here's why: God is kind and merciful.

That is huge grace. That is our God. "Come back to me and really mean it!" Not only for the one running to God but God himself being real and changing lives that experience and hold His grace. Here is another picture.

Joel 3:16 (The Message) --- But God is a safe hiding place, a granite safe house for the children of Israel. Then you'll know for sure that I'm your God, Living in Zion, my sacred mountain.

God is safe for those who come running to His grace. Have you done that? Get real with yourself and with others and let His grace shine through you. Share His grace. Give His grace to someone who needs to know and experience God. The place I want to be and I want to take others to is running to God's grace!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Catalyst ticket arrived

My ticket to the Catalyst Conference, in Atlanta Oct 8-10, just arrived. I'm excited!

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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