May 2010
It is always exciting to
hear that you look forward to each month's
view. I pray that God may always be glorified,
and not myself, because of what He has done
in my life. Jesus made it quite clear that
"...apart from Him, we can do nothing."1
Sharing God's Grace
As a follower of Jesus,
my purpose is to share God's grace, which
is His favor and ability working through
me to do what I can't. The apostle Paul
provides an example: "...whatever I
am now, it is all because God poured out
His special favor on me--and not without
results. For I worked harder than all the
other apostles, yet it was not I, but God
who was working through me by His grace."2
You may wonder how God
could possibly use you to share His grace.
In a recent view, I suggested that you tell
a friend or foe about the testimony of Jesus.
The following is a praise report from a
Christian sister named Carol who wrote:
" I hope you don't
mind, but I wrote about you in one of
my Weight Watcher's blogs. We write one
each day about people who inspire us to
do better. I wrote about your story and
how you have changed your life around
and what you are doing to help so many
other people. Everyone was very positive
about it. They all said how wonderful
it was that I hated the sin, but still
loved the sinner. No one was judgmental,
and they all thought that your aboundinglove.org
was a truly great thing.
Many of them visited
your web site and wrote to me about what
they got out of it. A lot of positive
energy. You have many, many more people
praying for you now. You do know that
what you have done has impacted a lot
of lives. I know what happened so long
ago was done by another Charles...but
maybe you were destined to go down this
path.
Maybe as awful a path
that it has been, God wanted to use you
as His disciple in prison to spread His
word. Maybe if this never happened, you
would not have ever truly found God. He
does work in mysterious ways. Of that
I am sure. I would never have found you
if you were not where you were at. And
my life would be so much less without
you as a part of it.
I wrote in my blog that
Charles Watson was my friend, and I was
proud to be able to say this with all
the confidence in my heart. You are my
friend, Charles, and I will never take
that for granted, and I will always cherish
it. You give me hope. Hope that this messed
up world we live in really can have a
shiny lining. Hope that there is another
life waiting for me after this one. Hope
that one day I may be like you and make
a change for the better in someone else."
Carol's hopes are coming
true, especially her hope to "...make
a change for the better in someone else."
Her praise report reflects that all those
on her Weight Watcher's blog were touched
by God's grace. You too can make a difference
in the life of someone else by reaching
out to those who you are in daily contact.
Act now by sharing God's grace!
A Word to the Victims
Though my sins against
God and society took place many decades
ago, their affect still reverberates through
the lives of so many. I am so very sorry
for the continuing pain.
I made the choice to enter
that corrupt lifestyle and to commit the
crimes. I am fully responsible. I've never
considered myself a victim by blaming Manson.
Today, I see myself as a victor, only because
of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As
a result, He has given me this vision of
God's abounding love that is set before
you.
I'm reminded of the Scripture,
"But where sin increased, grace all
the more."3 And, "My grace is
sufficient for you, for My power is made
perfect in weakness."4
One thing I know, God has
forgiven me for my sin, when many others
have not. For the ones who have, it is God's
grace working through them. They tell me
that it was for their healing and not necessarily
for mine. I am so thankful for God's amazing
grace. All I can do is continue to grow
in grace and help others to see that healing
is possible for all who will believe and
receive.
It has helped me to identify
with the words of the apostle Paul, "Although
I am less than the least of God's people,
this grace was given to me: to preach to
the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ."5 I realize
I really don't deserve to be in the Christian
ministry, but I'm doing so by the grace
of God--by His free, unmerited, unearned,
and undeserved favor.
It is Possible...
I dare to say that -- IT
IS POSSIBLE for those who are willing to
reckon on the power of the Lord for victory;
to lead a life in which His promises are
taken as they are written and are found
to be True.
IT IS POSSIBLE to cast
all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy
deep peace in doing so.
IT IS POSSIBLE to have
the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts
purified in the deepest meaning of the word,
through faith.
IT IS POSSIBLE, by taking
refuge in divine power, to become strong
through and through. Where previously our
weakness upset all our resolve to be patient
or pure or humble, we are now empowered
with His ability to have victory over sin
and its consequences. Jesus Christ, Who
loved us, works in us by His power and His
presence to make us an instrument of His
will. He makes sin powerless in us, so we
can be used to provide a witness of the
victory to others. This is the great commission;
to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
all creation.6
These things are DIVINE
POSSIBILITIES, and because they are His
work, the true experience of them will always
cause us to bow lower at His feet and to
learn to thirst and long for more! We cannot
possibly be satisfied with anything less
than each day, each hour, each moment, in
Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit--TO
WALK WITH GOD!
A Prayer For You ...
Holy Father, we sing a
new song: one of the marvelous things Your
have done. Your right hand and holy arm
have gained Your Son the victory. Jesus
has made know Your salvation. His righteousness
has been revealed to all nations. You have
remembered us in Your Mercy and faithfulness.
You have used us to proclaim to all the
world, the salvation of our God.
We sing joyfully of the
forgiveness You have freely given us. The
healing it provides is priceless. As we
have been forgiven, empower us to forgive
and thereby receive the peace which exceeds
all understanding. We pray this in the Name
of Him who redeems us, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture References:
Acknowledgement: A special thanks
to Sherry for transcribing this months view!
|
