SALT

It seems as if  I am always burning something in the kitchen, including but not limited to: soup, toast, pizza, eggs, quesadillas, my hands, and my arms.  A couple of years ago, I burned my arm while I was cooking Zach a pizza for lunch.  I had put my hot pad mitt on and opened up the door.  As I proceeded to pull the wire rack out, my arm BUMPED the higher wire rack above.  I am not kidding when I say bumped!  As I felt the heat, I promptly pulled my arm away.  However,  immediately a small burn "line" formed on my arm.  I was surprised because my arm might have touched the hot rack for about one second. However, within 5 minutes a large oblong clear blister formed on my skin.  As I marveled how fast I had received a burn, I couldn't help but relate the hot oven to sin in my life.  Sin is not pretty.  Sin is not harmless.  Sin burns!  Eve...

Grace. What love He has for us. Grace is simply God's free, unmerited favor to undeserving sinners. We are all sinners, born in sin from birth, but through the unselfish act of dying on the cross for you and me, through Jesus' bloodshed on the cross, we to, can receive His unconditional grace, love and the bestowal of His blessings.  What a mighty act of love and a beautiful gift God gives freely to the ones who don't deserve it, but who trust in Him, follow Him fully and love Him with all their heart. Grace is not a one time act or gift from our Savior.  The Lord gives it continuously throughout our entire lifetime.  God desires and wants us to have His unceasing, immeasurable grace; not necessarily because of anything we have done to earn it, but because He loves us that much. Wow! I'm so amazed at what a wonderful gift Jesus gives us...for free! Aren't you?  Why would anyone not want His grace?  Many people these days are without hope; hope in Jesus Chris...

Are you resting today?  Oh, I know most of us are very busy on a Monday morning.   We may be busy working, taking care of our home, schooling our children, preparing our taxes and much more! However, are you resting? The rest I am talking about is much more than a great nap or a good night's sleep.  The rest I am talking about is much more than a day off to shop or to watch movies.  I am talking about true rest; rest that only comes through Christ.  When we "rest" in Christ, we rest in His finished work of the cross, His deep and redeeming love for us and the fact that He won't let us go.  When our true identity is found in Christ, then we can find rest and peace in the middle of the storms of life.  We can know that in Christ we are enough.  We don't have to strive for importance or value, we already have it as a daughter of the King. I want to encourage you to take a minute today to let God refresh and remind you that only IN Christ you can f...