I love this story. It is about us who inherited the Kingdom of God. Not by race but by faith. How? By God's mercy and grace.

Embrace your Grace (by faith). <3

Matthew 15:22-28World English Bible (WEB)

22 Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!”

23 But he answered her not a word.

His disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away; for she cries after us.”

24 But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help me.”

26 But he answered, “It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

27 But she said, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Be it done to you even as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

For it is written, “‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘to me every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess to God.’”

Romans 14:11 WEB

Embrace your Grace <3

"I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” John 10:28-30 WEB

Embrace your Grace <3

"For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are dying, but to us who are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 WEB

It is hard to explain a relationship with God to those who have never had one. Especially those who reject having one. For instance, if you have never had ice cream I cannot describe in detail enough for you to know how it tastes . All I can say is taste and see.

Some say Christians are weak and only use God as a crutch. Well what a great crunch to have. If you don't believe in the blessings of God, then it will not work for you. All I can say is...

"Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." Psalm 34:8 

Embrace you Grace <3 #blessed

"Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8 WEB

Am I the only one who see in this, if you don't pay people what you owe you don't love them? What about, those who think people owe them something in life? They do, love.

Adding this for free: 

Someone says you owe them but you think you don't. Pay, even if $5 a month. If you don't owe it God will count it as a sacrifice. He always blesses sacrifice. Plus, you restored them so you will get a double blessing for your good deed. #doubledip

If you find you cannot make that sacrifice, that is a form of pride. #stinkinthinkin This is what God has to say about it: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." Proverbs 16:18

When laid before me fall or blessing. I'll choose blessing every time. Well, not always immediately. Sometimes, after pouting, pondering and whining. lol God is not through with me yet. I would much rather feed God than my pride. Pride is a momentary feel-good. God's blessings are long-term.

Interesting how all of that came from that scripture. Hey, I'm just the Carrier bringing some mail. ;)

Embrace your Grace <3

"For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing. Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Romans 13:6-7 WEB

God gives us instruction and discipline as well as blessings and promise. Hear here. Word.

Embrace your Grace <3

"Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand, For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures," 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4 WEB

Stand on the Good News.

Embrace your Grace <3

"for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;" Romans 3:23-24 WEB

Justified = just as if you did nothing wrong. Thank you God for your saving grace.

Embrace your Grace <3

"who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed." 1 Peter 2:24 WEB
"The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5b WEB

Two of my most favorite scriptures. It can't get more plain than this. Name it and claim it. smile emoticon

You don't have to wait to feel or see it to believe. It happens in the spirit before it reaches the natural. Jesus said in John 19:30, "It is finished". That pain, that doctor's report, those sick finances that are contrary to God's promise is the devil trying to bring doubt. Remember, he is a liar. (John 8:44)

So then, if "you were healed" and "we are healed" then we "is healed" (I know, bad grammer). lol

That healing might be physical, spiritual, emotional, financial or all of the above. How big can you believe? "Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it done to you.” Matthew 9:29

So, there you are. You got this.

Embrace your Grace <3

"I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me." Galatians 2:20 WEB

Ooh Ooh Ooh!!! We should live by faith because the flesh has been crucified.

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

"His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;" Hebrews 1:3 WEB

"Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works." John 14:9b-10

God has also given you power just as He did Jesus. Christ left us a Will, His Word. Jesus said in John 14:12, "Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father."

Let me hear you holler "I'VE GOT THE POWER". The power of His Word to move mountains.

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

"For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 WEB

God gave all for many. Oh how I'm glad to be in that number number number. Remember that from "When The Saints Go Marching In"? Will you be in that number? Selah (pause calmly and think of that)

Embrace your Grace <3

"By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16 WEB

This one speaks volumes to me. Self-check time. Lay down or be put down. #rising

Embrace your Grace <3

"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf." 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NASB

Happy Resurrection Day - Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

PUSH!!! 

"For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another;" 1 John 3:11 WEB

1 John 4:11-12 (WEB)

11 Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us.

Working on my love walk. If God loved me in "this(my) way", I must love you in yours. Doesn't mean I have to love your ways, only you.

Embracing my Grace 

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37-39 WEB

There are a lot of rules man-made rules that people follow and attribute to Christianity. Many of them mean nothing to God. Man-made rules cannot save the soul. All of God's rules fall under the two commandments above. Jesus said to Simon Peter after asking if he loved him, "Feed my sheep". (John 21:17) This pertains to all of His sheep, not just the lovely ones. wink emoticon

When I refer to man-made rules I do not mean the laws of our land. We are to obey those who rule our government. Working on my love walk. How about you?

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

One of my favorites. "For God didn’t give us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7 WEB

Another interpretation:
"... but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

If God didn't give it, we don't want it. wink emoticon Face those fears and tell them to go back from whence they came. Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

For sure. This holds true for all relationships, not just romantic. 

I once heard, "Fear is down-payment on trouble before it happens". Think about it.

Job said, "For the thing which I greatly feared hath come upon me, and that which I dreaded hath come to me." Job 3:25

So what does Bible say about fear? Psalm 27 speaks volumes:

Psalm 27 World English Bible (WEB)

By David.

27 Yahweh is my light and my salvation.
    Whom shall I fear?
Yahweh is the strength of my life.
    Of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When evildoers came at me to eat up my flesh,
    even my adversaries and my foes, they stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army should encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear.
Though war should rise against me,
    even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I have asked of Yahweh, that I will seek after,
    that I may dwell in Yahweh’s house all the days of my life,
    to see Yahweh’s beauty,
    and to inquire in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble he will keep me secretly in his pavilion.
    In the covert of his tabernacle he will hide me.
    He will lift me up on a rock.
6 Now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me.
I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent.
    I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to Yahweh.
7 Hear, Yahweh, when I cry with my voice.
    Have mercy also on me, and answer me.
8 When you said, “Seek my face,”
    my heart said to you, “I will seek your face, Yahweh.”
9 Don’t hide your face from me.
    Don’t put your servant away in anger.
You have been my help.
    Don’t abandon me,
    neither forsake me, God of my salvation.
10 When my father and my mother forsake me,
    then Yahweh will take me up.
11 Teach me your way, Yahweh.
    Lead me in a straight path, because of my enemies.
12 Don’t deliver me over to the desire of my adversaries,
    for false witnesses have risen up against me,
    such as breathe out cruelty.
13 I am still confident of this:
    I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.
14 Wait for Yahweh.
    Be strong, and let your heart take courage.
Yes, wait for Yahweh.

Embrace your Grace <3

"Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed, for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 WEB

Wow scriptures about fear lately. Somebody needs it. What can I say?

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

"These words, which I command you today, shall be on your heart; and you shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up." Deuteronomy 6: 6-7 WEB

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

"Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way." Psalm 139:23-24 WEB

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

Note it says Dad not Father. How nice it would be but every Father is not a Dad. Also, a Dad doesn't have to be the Father. However, both should set a good example.

[ A Psalm by David. ] Yahweh is my shepherd: I shall lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Psalm 23:1-3 WEB

Embrace your Grace 

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 WEB

Sometimes people use the word "hope" in a doubtful sense. They will say, "I hope I get that job", "I hope I get healed". The bible uses "hope" as another word for "believe" or "faith".

Have the Abraham type of hope.

Romans 4:
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed...
19 Without weakening in his faith...
20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief..., but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,
21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.

There is an instance when this will not work. If you don't know what God has promised. It is all in the bible. That is the only way the devil will leave you alone. He did so when Jesus was in the wilderness. Each time he came Jesus let him know what was "written" in God's Word. We, as Christians, have the same authority.

Here is a scripture that covers everything, 3 John 1:2 (WEB) "Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers."

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

"He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

In Madea's voice, "Hallelujer. Thank you Lort." wink emoticon

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

"Surely he has borne our sickness, and carried our suffering; yet we considered him plagued, struck by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions. He was crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought our peace was on him; and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:4-5

He went through all of this for what? So we don't have to. The devil is a liar. "By his (Christ's) wounds we are healed." YEEEAAAHHH!!!

Embrace your Grace. heart emoticon

"The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good." Psalm 14:1 WEB

This is not about that one who is unsure. That person still has debate within their mind. Your mind does not defile you because it is an area in which the devil can plant thoughts. All thoughts are not our own.

With that said Satan cannot read your mind because he isn't all-knowing like God. He does not know your innermost thought until it comes out of your mouth. Then he can try to use it against you. Sinful thoughts are not a sin unless acted upon. This is why you should not say/do everything you think. That is when corruption comes.

Some people think they are good because they have done no bad. Bible says no one does good. The only good man was Jesus Christ. Our goodness is not God seeing us but Him seeing Christ in us. Don't be no fool.

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

Just said something right there. That's where people make their mistake. Was it Paul who said, to follow him as he follows Christ? Yep, found it 1 Corinthians 11:1

"looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 WEB

People wonder how I can ignore things people have done to me. It's really quite simple. Don't get me wrong I am human and it did not always happen so quickly as it does now. The more you know and the more you grow.

. Realize it is the devil behind it so despise his evil work not the person
. Realize to forgive is a sacrifice and God always blesses sacrifice
. Look outside of the box, beyond the offense to the blessing
. Less stress

Think of that right hand of the throne of God. It means sitting in right standing and His good grace. What is grace? Unmerited (undeserved) favor and bestowal of blessings. Wow, to get blessed beyond what is deserved. So every time you make a sacrifice it honors God and He blesses you in return. O - M - G!!!

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon

It says if you believe type AMEN. I say, if you believe and receive. Ha!!! Embrace that Grace heart emoticon

PS: Note AMEN is in all caps. Obedience has a lot to do with receiving. It's the small things that are sometimes overlooked. grin emoticon ‪#‎justsayin‬

AMEN

"in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace," Ephesians 1:7 WEB

Embrace your Grace heart emoticon