Category: Daily Devotionals

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Portraits of Grace – Alycia Cruse

“Amazed By Grace”

I am Alycia Cruse: a third generation missionary married to a third-generation preacher, raising 3 beautiful children in the heart of our nation, Washington DC, as we minister to those who affect us most – our leaders on Capitol Hill. When I’m not doing laundry to pack for our next deputation meeting, or wiping runny noses and kissing scraped knees, I enjoy writing on my devotional blog – www.becominghermoments.home.blog. I love my husband passionately and thank God every day that I get to serve Him alongside my best friend.

“Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:25

Have you ever stopped and thought of your personal salvation testimony? 

I learned in college that your testimony is the most powerful thing you have. It is? Yes! Because it is the story of something supernatural,     miraculous! Your repentance and turning of mind to Christ and his work on the cross for you is the same message by which others may be saved. What a gift!

When I was 5, I made a profession of faith but never felt sorry for anything I had done, because what had I done? It wasn’t until I was 13 that the Holy Spirit’s work in my heart brought me to a place of conviction and repentance. I knew I had not been living a life that was anticipating growing in Christ, because I did not have those desires!

My faith deepened two years later when I surrendered to commit my life to serving God in full-time ministry. I no longer had a desire to pursue a career once I attended college back in the states. Eternal worth was what I saw demonstrated in my parents’ lives and it was exactly what I wanted to prioritize in my own life.

Now I am a missionary myself, living by faith, depending upon God to meet our needs and seeking to use each daily conversation as a way to share my testimony of God’s saving grace. When we work diligently for God, spreading the powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ, we can be sure of a counterattack by God’s enemy, Satan. He has brought doubts into my mind – Since you didn’t do many bad things, what did you repent of? …did you even repent? …are you even saved? …how can you witness to others if you are unsaved yourself? 

My friend, the devil is the accuser of the brethren. He causes us to doubt God’s facts. How sweet it is to revisit that special moment in my life, when God not only forgave my past but he changed my future. It also helps me to reaffirm my salvation – it was God’s work not mine! I used to be discouraged that my testimony wasn’t as amazing as others, being saved from a lifestyle of sin, and the change of salvation being so visible in their life. But the same saving grace it took to reach down and rescue those from a dark past, is the same saving grace it took to save me from a dark future! My future without Christ would have been so dark – seeking my own path, blindly walking, groping with no light to find happiness.

Jesus Christ my joy. He saved me. He changed my future. I will get to walk every day in the beauty of our nation’s Capitol, speaking and praying with those whose jobs determine so many things in our lives. I am amazed at His grace of saving me from my sins. But oh, how I am even more amazed at His grace for my future!

Your future is bright in Christ. Keep seeking Him, keep thanking Him for His grace in your past, and be amazed at His grace for your future!

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Portraits of Grace – Erica Madden

Living Grace

I would like to preface this devotional with a little about myself. I have been saved for 12 years. I am married to my best friend and soulmate. I am a stay-at-home mom to our 3 daughters and our Boxer fur baby named Nova, the first lady of Eldorado Baptist Church in Troy, NC, a piano teacher, and a lover of the Lord. I am not worthy of all the many blessings He’s sent my way.

He’s God, and He’s good!

I could begin to tell you about the grace that was extended to me as a 15-year-old girl when Jesus passed by my way on April 20, 2007 and saved my hell-deserving soul. About the grace that brought me up out of the horrible pit of miry clay I was in and placed my feet upon the Solid Rock and established my goings. How He put a new song of praise in my heart and made me a new creature altogether…but time would never allow me to tell you the whole story.

I could begin to tell you about the grace it took as a young teenager, saved out of the bus ministry, trying to live a godly life in a not-so-godly home, dreaming of having my own family one day, and how He so graciously gave me the desires of mine heart and allowed me to marry a preacher! And I could tell you about the grace He poured out when my dear pastor was taken to glory just 2 weeks before He was to marry us.

I could tell you about the grace He gave when I birthed all three of my children by c-section (not an easy or peaceful task!) I could tell you how His grace and mercy filled that hospital room for 8 days while I cuddled and rocked my newborn as she struggled to breathe due to RSV.

I could tell you all these different stories and situations where God has expressed His grace, but I could never begin to tell you the whole of how God has been gracious! 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee…” That word “is” puts this verse in present tense. It doesn’t say “was” or “will be.” It “IS” sufficient! That means that every single moment that I live, His grace IS sufficient for me! Whatever problem or situation I encounter, His grace IS sufficient for me! It is living grace! It is an active and functioning grace that meets me right where I am, day in and day out.

As a wife to a pastor, I need grace! As a mother to two toddlers and an infant, you better believe I need grace! As a  daughter, a sister, and aunt, a friend, and most of all, a child of God, I need grace! What a glorious feeling it is to know that whatever I may face, there is new grace there waiting for me. As one of my favorite songs puts it: “Grace not yet  discovered, Grace not yet uncovered…And He’ll give new grace I’ve not needed before.”

What about you, friend? Have you tasted of the Lord’s grace lately? Remember, His grace IS sufficient for every need!

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Portraits of Grace – Tina Hice

      My name is Tina Hice. My husband is a Pastor in Salamanca, NY. I have 5 children and 3 grandchildren. My two passions besides my family are helping ladies overcome their brokenness while learning to use it for good and teaching families how to use God’s creation to better their health both physically and mentally. I love teaching on these topics and do so as often as I get the opportunity! I have a Facebook page called Broken But Not Finished. Psalm 147:3 “He health the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.” My business is Oil is Well and my healthy website is www.myyl.com/oil.iswell  III John 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

My name is not “Divorced”

      When I was asked to write this testimony, I was a little uneasy at the way I believe the Lord was asking me to write it. See we all have things in our lives that tend to define us if we let them. Things like abuse, divorce, death etc. These things although difficult to overcome, do not have to define who we are! Failure is an event, it is never a person! The only time failure becomes a person is if you quit after the last failure.

      We all have a story! We all have brokenness; my brokenness does not define me. It does not make anyone else’s brokenness more or less difficult to bear. It is simply my story of God’s grace!

      My story is tainted with abuse, divorce, a chronically ill child, 2 total loss house fires, infidelity of a spouse, miscarriages and more. Yes, I am a broken person with a broken past and probably some brokenness in the future, but I am so much more… I am a Child of the Living God! I am a product of His mercy and Grace!! Jeremiah 29:11 “ For I know the thoughts I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you and expected end.” He knows where you should end up and if you let Him, He will get you there in spite of our failures!

      To sum it up, I was in an abusive marriage for 10 years. I could write books on God’s love, protection and grace towards me and my children during those years. I did everything I knew to do, prayed and sought Godly counsel from my preacher. I did not and still do not believe in divorce, but in the end, it happened. I remember listening to Bible on cassette almost 24 hours a day to keep my mind right. God held me through those times and answered so many prayers! I did not deserve His love, but He reached down and gave me peace that truly passed all understanding!! What a wonderful, merciful God.

      I write all this to say, I am divorced but that doesn’t define me! I am a Child Of God, and that is what defines me. God has blessed me beyond measure. I truly believe if I had pursued a divorce or left the Lord and sought my own happiness, He would not have blessed me as much. Even though He has blessed me, sin comes with a price. Whether mine or yours, sin affects those around us. I have watched my kids have to go through such difficulties as a result. But I have also watched as God has showed them His power first hand. I want to say, if you are married, fight for your marriage!!!! If you have already suffered a divorce, or any brokenness, that does not mean God is done with you! Get up and serve Him! He loves you!

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Portraits of Grace – Joan Barnett

GRACE IN SHOES

I know that I said that I was going to be having other ladies to write the devotionals for this month, but I needed to fill a day. So, I chose to write this devotional today in honor of my mother, Joan (pronounced Jō-ӑnn, not Jōn) Barnett. What better day than on Mother’s Day!

This month’s theme is grace. If we were to get our Greek and our Hebrew dictionaries out and really studied this word, we would find that it means deliverance … and particularly in relation to salvation. But, in our daily lives, grace is also seen … wearing shoes.

“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” I Thessalonians 5:24

My mother was born and raised in the corn fields of southeastern Iowa. She is the 4th child out of 8. She met my father, who was born and raised in the mountains of western North Carolina, while attending Bob Jones University. They got  married on June 6, 1964, so will be celebrating their 55th wedding anniversary next month!

My parents left immediately after their wedding for British Columbia headed to Alaska for a summer of youth ministry. Their summer was filled with youth ministry in several different villages and towns. During that time, God confirmed their definite calling to Alaska for full time service. So soon after returning to the states, they began their preparations to return to Alaska.

August 1965 found them setting up house in a little fishing village called King Cove, located in the eastern part of the  Aleutian Islands. Even though I was not born then, nor remember my earliest years, my first memories were of my parents serving God. In that service to God over the years, countless times I have seen them extend grace to those around them.

You see grace is not just for special occasions. No, my friend! Grace is for every day! I am grateful for God’s grace that was lived in our home. I saw it in my parent’s ministry in the church. I saw it in their love and connection with youth as “Auntie Joan” and “Uncle Earl” and even “Mom” and “Dad” to many others. I saw it as they ministered to young struggling couples … we had more than one young family come to live with us before. I saw it through their very generous hospitality with inviting complete strangers into our home after church for meals or taking them clam digging or sightseeing.

What I have seen and experienced through my parent’s lives is grace that not only talks, but it walks. It has worn shoes and it has left footprints of grace on the hearts of all of their children and I even see it in our daughter! As I get older, I catch myself more and more in moments that bring this thought … “I am becoming like my mother!” This is a good thing because that simply means that God’s grace is now wearing shoes in my life … leaving footprints on the hearts of others.

Grace does wear shoes, my friend! Can you see its footprints in your daily life? If not, ask God to show you His GRACE IN SHOES!

[Note: My parents returned to the village of King Cove in June 2012 and are leaving footprints of grace on the next generations of those that they were “Auntie Joan” and “Uncle Earl” to 54 years ago!]

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Portraits of Grace – Chastity Whittemore

      I came to know the Lord as a teenager, and have been pastor’s wife over twenty years; currently serving in Watertown, SD as a missionary/church planter. God has placed a love in my heart for the bus ministry. I am thankful to have some precious “sheep” that I have the privilege of investing in their life in our ladies ministry, and enjoy playing the piano for our church services. I also work in our church radio ministry, KPGT, and you can listen on thetruthfm.org. In addition to being busy with the ministry, I am also a cosmetologist and own a small salon.

      “Quit” is not in my vocabulary; I’m too stubborn for that. Have you ever went through a trial, and heard people say, “Don’t quit?” I wonder if they see me standing on the edge, about to jump, and in some feeble attempt of not knowing what to say, they yell,

“Don’t Quit! Don’t give up!”

      Why do people quit? Probably the number one reason is being hurt. If you are in any type of ministry, sadly, the first thing you learn is people hurt people. While it may be unintentional sometimes, it happens. Often, it is temporary, and we do a quick “I’m sorry,” and normal life resumes. But, sometimes the hurt is so deep, the questions of “why” flood our hearts and minds, and we begin to question the motives of every person around us. Our eyes jerk quickly back and forth in every direction as we try to anticipate the enemies next move. Then suddenly from a corner you thought was safe, POUNCE, the enemy strikes again! I consider it to a form of PTSD. Small things trigger that automatic response and we are so frantically into “protective mode” that we miss what the Lord has for us at that moment.

      Our circumstances didn’t take God by surprise! Our frustration, fear and failure of handling the situation only sends us into a spiral because we tried to handle it. I find myself praying, “Lord, give me grace to deal with the one who hurt me next time I see them in the grocery store. Lord, help me not to ‘go off’ on them.” I should be praying, “Lord, they hurt me. That wound is real, open and tender. Help me to love them like you love them.” I can’t say I am there, but I want to be. Through it all, I know all is well in my Lord’s hands, and I don’t feel the need to retaliate and handle matters myself. God’s grace did that work of forgiveness in our lives. We’ve hurt God, disappointed Him, and brought shame to His name. Yet, every time we come to Him broken, embarrassed, humbled, and even reluctantly, God gives grace and remembers our offense no more. God, help us to follow His example and “forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) God has a place for you to be in life, and that place is not reached by quitting.

      Next time you are at the grocery store, confronted with the ones who hurt you, and even if the look in their eyes tells you they would do it again, smile and keep going on to aisle number five. (I hear there is a sale on chocolate there!) And, there is nothing sweeter than resting in the promises that God will keep you and give you grace to help you through the next trial.

Chastity Whittemore ~ Watertown, SD

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Portraits of Grace – Mary Chacon

My name is Mary Chacón. My husband is Evangelist Carlos Chacon. We have been serving the Lord For almost 18 years. God has allowed me to be the mother of two beautiful daughters, Carla and Celeste.

When we started our ministry we had only one thing, “Faith.” We did not have vehicles. We did not have a tent or equipment. We did not have a house nor children. We had only that simple faith, that two young people starting their life together believed that the grace of God could do something with their lives and we only prayed for our requests.

A few months passed and I found out that I was pregnant with two babies (twins). That joy of motherhood was in our lives, but in a few months I suddenly lost my pregnancy (Miscarriage). A sadness flooded my heart. We were traveling and were far from our family and in case it was not enough my husband arrived late to a missionary appointment in a church that evening that he had to keep. We were living off of love offerings only at that time. When he got home, I asked him how it went. Did you present the ministry? He said no because he was late. Oh, but did you explain why? Yes. I had another question, but did the church pray for me at least? He answered, “No.”

A feeling of sadness flooded my heart thinking, “Lord, we are alone!” The Lord with his sweet voice said to me, “Yes, daughter, I am trying to teach you a lesson. You and your husband are alone, both in my hand.”

Isaiah 41:9-10 Thou whom I have taken from the end of the earth. And called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee,thou art my servant;I have chosen thee and not cast thee away. Fear thou not;for I am with thee:be not dismayed; for I am thy God:I will strengthen thee: yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

[Bettina’s note: Mary has been a long time writer of Spanish devotionals on Facebook. You can find and follow her page at “Hadasa Devocionales by Mary Chacón.”]

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Portraits of Grace – Norma Mullinax

“GRACE IS NOT ALWAYS GOOD “

     God’s grace that sustains us, because of the meaning associated with the word grace, is often thought of in light of God’s goodness and love. Well, of course, God is good. Everything He has ever done has been called good. Even after each day of creation, God said what He had done was good.

     However, there’s a difference between what is good and what is good for us. Candy tastes good but there were times when I didn’t allow my three daughters to have candy because too much of it was not good for them. In Romans 8:28, the Bible reads, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who the called according to His purpose.” What God affords us through His grace is good, and it is up to Him to decide if things are good for us.

     All the things in my life have worked together for good. Now, that’s a lot of years and decisions and choices and ups and downs and growth and decline and even more. All of that works together.

     You know when you make a really good biscuit, you have to have all the ingredients. Each ingredient in and of itself is not that tasty. As a matter of fact, some of the ingredients are down right distasteful. But, if you mixed all of these together, all of the ingredients together, you have one good tasty biscuit.

     Each experience of life in and of itself can be quite distasteful, even sickening; we must consider the ultimate outcome of God’s grace. What is His purpose for us through this experience? How is He applying His grace to my life? What attitude should I implore for this one ingredient of grace?

     Several years ago, my husband had a routine colonoscopy. When he awakened, the doctor was there to tell him he had cancer, stage four colon and liver cancer. Now, there’s you a potent ingredient. Within an hour, Jerry was in surgery. At the time, we were actively serving God in full-time ministry. The surgeon removed several inches of Jerry’s colon, four-fifths of his liver, twenty-seven lymph nodes, and his appendix. Jerry says that I said the doctor removed his heart, too, but that’s just hearsay.

     You can imagine how traumatic this ingredient was to swallow. Suddenly, Jerry is having chemo treatments, eleven in all. He had numerous CAT scans and PET scans. He was constantly having blood work. He wore on his side a chemo pump for forty-eight hours after his treatments while he taught his high school and college English classes.

     You see, Jerry and I were walking right in the middle of God’s grace; and it wasn’t exactly beautiful. In those moments, considering we were powerless to do anything about the situation, we had to totally depend upon God to make it all good.

     Today, Jerry is totally healthy. We both are active in God’s work. We have eight grandchildren. We learned so much from that one ingredient of God’s grace, and today, we can look back and enjoy a dose of fresh preserves and butter on God’s hot-and-ready biscuit. Now, it’s good.

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Portraits of Grace – Keren Burdick

God’s Sustaining and Overwhelming Grace

Just a little about myself before beginning the lesson. My name is Keren Burdick. I am a missionary serving under BIMI in Santa Lucia, Honduras. I just celebrated 6 years of being on the field. To say that God has not been with me the whole time would be an understatement.

I currently work with Iglesia Bautista Independiente Maranata en Santa Lucia (Maranatha Independent Baptist Church of Santa Lucia). I help with the ladies’ ministries, the Bible clubs, children’s ministries, visitation, discipleship, oversee teacher training, choir, and teach Bible in the public schools. Beyond these ministries, I help wherever I am needed.  If you would like to follow my ministry, you can find me on facebook by looking up Keren Burdick.

I accepted the Lord as my personal Savior when I was 6 years old. Six years later, I knew the Lord had something special for my life and couldn’t wait to see what it was. I felt He was calling me to the mission field. Now, before you start judging, ? I knew that I couldn’t go to a foreign field at that time, but was willing to do whatever He wanted. I began to prepare for the special job God had for me in His special timing. I finished high school and college with a Church music degree, thinking God was going to allow me to go the mission field right away, but He had other plans. The door to Honduras   didn’t open until 8 years later, but that is a whole other story!!!

How have I seen God’s grace in my life? For many years, my life verse has been Psalm 62:8 which says, “Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” What does this verse say? Does it say to trust Him just in the good times? NO! It says trust Him at ALL times. Looking back on my life, I have had many ups and downs, many valleys, and many mountain tops. Who has been there for me thru each step of the way? God has! He has filled me with an unmeasurable amount of grace. If it weren’t for God’s grace, I don’t know exactly where I would be right now.

No, life is not a bed of roses. God never promised that everything would be easy for us. He did tell us, “In everything give thanks!” That shows us that He wants us to praise Him even in the storms. What does Hebrews 13:5 promise us? “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” How does He comfort us? By giving us the grace to continue on.

Dear one, if you are at the end of your rope and just don’t know how you can continue on or take one more step, rest in the assurance that God never leaves us. He promises to be our refuge and our help in time of trouble. Claim Psalm 37:4-5 which says, “Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”

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Portraits of Grace – Yetta Grace Miller

My name is Yetta Barnett-Miller.  I am a PK and a PW but most importantly a child of the King! I enjoy being a PK (pastor’s kid), PW (pastor’s wife) and I love serving my Lord!  Because of growing up in a pastor’s home, I accepted the Lord as my Savior at young age.  I am married to Brent, an assistant pastor.  We have been serving the Lord together for almost 12 years.  One of my hobbies that I have created into a small business is called Graceful Designs.  I greatly enjoy using my talents of decorating, organization, and creativity to help others have beautiful events (wedding, reception, bridal/baby shower, party, etc.). 

I want to share some thoughts about God’s grace.  When I think of the word grace, I think of two things: it is my name and it is what God has shown me.  My parents named me Grace.  I like to think that it was not just because they liked the name or that it flowed well with my first name, but that perhaps it was a word that was special to them since they both had experienced God’s saving grace.  God’s grace is the unmerited favor He has shown us.  We don’t deserve God’s love, grace, or even compassion, but because of those things we can have eternal life thru Him.  Let’s use this acrostic to help us remember what grace can mean to us.  G – Gift from God, R – Repentance of sin, A – Accept His free gift of salvation,   C – Commit to living a life that is according to God and His Word, and E – Eternal life with a Heavenly Father. 

Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  We deserve death for our sin.  Our sin has separated us from God.  But halleluiah, we have a Savior who took the punishment for our sin on Himself!  Two important, convicting verses are Romans 3:23 and Acts 2:38. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Acts 2:38 tells us, “…Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”  We are all born as sinners        because “…as by one man sin entered in to the world…” (Romans 5:12).  We need to see that we are sinners that need a Savior!  We need to repent of our sin, submit to God’s will for our lives, and live for Him.  When we accept, repent, and submit to our loving God, we then have the Holy Spirit indwelling us to help us grow in Christ and to have conviction of sin.  One thing we sometimes forget, when we repent of our sins, is that we need to turn from those sins.  Repentance is not just asking forgiveness but is also turning from them. 

As a child of God, we need to follow God’s will for our lives.  In college, this became real to me as I was searching for what, where, and how to live my life.  The Lord showed me through sermons and my own personal devotions, that I needed to be surrendered to His will and not my own.  When I finally did this, I had amazing peace from God!  Without the Lord, I know I would not be married to the man He had for me, and I would not be serving the Lord with that man.  God has been so good to bless my life with godly parents, godly friends, and a godly husband. 

One of my favorite verses is John 3:16. It is a common verse to some, but it has great meaning to me.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” 

God loves you so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to take that punishment for your sin.  Oh, what a love that is!  Have you accepted this beautiful gift of salvation from our loving Lord?

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Portraits of Grace – Raquel Canales

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” John 1:12

My name is Raquel Canales. I was born in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. I studied in the Baptist Bible Institute in Mante, Tamaulipas, Mexico. I served the Lord in Saltillo for 13 years with my husband and family enjoying every minute of it. God’s grace was with us there all the time, providing everything for the church and our family.

Sister’s, a lot of us have heard many times about God’s grace. But, do we fully understand the importance of this concept. Let’s see its meaning first: Grace: Is Love, Kindness, mercy, and an unmerited gift. We can understand this concept better when we read this Bible verses that show us our condition. Romans 3:10 “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” We can also see in Romans 3:23 the reason: “For all have sinned”… We all have sinned, and sin is all the bad things we say, think or do.

Like lying, is a sin we often put colors to; sometimes we say: I told a white or pink lie. But that does not make it less a lie and lying is sin. That means we cannot justify ourselves and there is a terrible consequence, sin separates us from the  glory of God. Here is where we see God’s grace for mankind. One of the meanings of grace is: “an unmerited gift”. But God in His love and kindness is willing  to give us his grace. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

We see God’s grace to the world when he gave his only Son, Jesus Christ to pay for our sin. It was his sacrifice, the      shedding of his blood that made possible, for God to give us the gift of his grace. And the biggest blessing of all is that we all can have it, it is FREE. Praise the Lord! John 3:16 says that is for all whosoever believeth in him. God does not show partiality of persons. Romans 2:11. Rich or poor, tall or short, God loves us and gives us his grace. How can we receive his grace? Through faith in Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:1-2; 10:9).

Receiving Jesus Christ in our hearts as our Lord and Savior. (John 1:12) We need to share this gift of God’s grace, so that more people come to Jesus Christ and enjoy this great blessing.