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Backpacks and Bullies. Is Your Child Prepared?
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Polishing the Mirror
Several years ago, during an interview with Bernie Siegel on precognitive intuition and the role it plays in his life, this distinguished doctor and bestselling author recounted a story about a patient who criticized him for his anger. Siegel responded, ...
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"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift." -Ephesians 4:7
When Jesus ascended on high, He gave gifts to men. He gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers.
Merriam-Webster defines grace as "unmerited divine assistance given for regeneration or sanctification; Favor; Mercy" all coming from God. A measure is "an adequate or due portion." In other words, God helps us get in a place that we can be spiritually reborn or restored to a higher or better state and cleansed and set apart for service. He gives us favor when we need it, and He is also lenient and compassionate when He must chastise us.
What we must remember is that He doesn't do this at random. He has specific guidelines set in place on the subject. The amount of grace you get, will be what is due you, according to the gift that God has given you. First of all, we don't know what the amount of grace given is for each particular gift.
Secondly, many of us don't even know which gift we were given. We assume that the higher the calling, the more grace we get. It sounds logical. But being that His ways are NOT our ways, it probably wouldn't be wise to live according to that theory. Sooner or later, we must get to a place of maturity where we do what we know is right, just because it is right.
At some point, we should be able to sanctify ourselves. (Leviticus 11:44) God takes it easy on us when we are babes, but what you do and get away with as a child, you will not be able to do and get away with as an adult. Even in the natural, if a child and an adult commit the same crime, the adults' punishment will be far greater than the child's. And so will it be in the spiritual.
When your grace runs out, you WILL pay the price for the choices you make. We choose to sin, we choose to hate, to lie, to steal, to be envious, or just plain mean. We make educated choices, knowing full well what the consequences are. Why? Because in the back of our minds, we "know" that if we confess and repent of our sins, God will ALWAYS forgive us. But will He?
Romans 1:18-32 is very clear
on what will happen if we choose to continually sin and live unrighteous lives. The Amplified says, 20 "For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made. So [men] are without excuses [altogether without any defense or justification]..." 28 "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind..."
In other words, sooner or later your grace will run out. Do you want to take the chance that the "last time" was the last time you were covered by God's grace? The time to "choose" to live according to God's Word is now! You may not have "just one more time."
Be Blessed!
About the Author
My name is Rudelle Thomas and I currently reside in the Metro Atlanta area. I write Inspirational non-fiction, fiction, poetry and devotionals. Some of my devotionals are featured on shelovesgod.com, ideamarketers.com, and sermoncentral.com. I have poetry published with the International Library of Poetry and am in the process of writing two books, one fiction and one non-fiction. "In The Midst Of It All" is the story of one woman's journey through life's struggles, and how her faith in God gave her the strength to keep fighting. "Able To Stand!" is a book that teaches us that the only way we can "withstand in this evil day" is to equip ourselves with the armor of God. It also teaches what the armor of God is, why we need it, and how to put it on.
My greatest achievement is my online magazine. I am the Editor and Publisher of an online magazine titled, "Divine Eloquence Ezine". Divine Eloquence is devoted to not only spreading the Gospel, but also to promoting your writing and published works. We have recently been presented with a number of Web Excellence awards. I am also the CEO of my own Desktop Publishing company, "Divine Designs 777, Inc. We specialize in Administrative needs, Webdesign, Logo design, Business cards, etc.
It is my desire use the gifts and talents that God has blessed me with to be a blessing to others!
Be Blessed!
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Affrilacian poet address Transylvania graduatesLexington Herald LeaderAffrilachian poet Bianca Spriggs, a 2003 Transylvania graduate, performed a poetry reading accompanied by graduating senior Caleb Ritchie on keyboard. Spriggs talked to the students about measuring time in non-traditional ways, such as remembering how ... |
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