Sweet-Smelling Savor

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor."

(Ephesians 5:1-2, KJV)

Follow God as dear children. You are the Lord's child if you are saved through Christ and He is your father. A dear child that trusts his/her father will follow them in blind faith and trust, oh if we could learn to follow the Lord with that same faith and trust! With the kind of faith and trust that makes you think there is no way anything bad could happen to you if you follow your parent because they care for you and love you so much.

Also walk in love as Christ loved you though you can't do anything to deserve it. He offered Himself as a sacrifice when we were sinners and made himself as a sweet-smelling savor to the Lord. Walk in love for others as even though they might not deserve love, neither did you.

The Peace of God

"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."

(Philippians 4:7-9, KJV)

Think on the things that are honest, pure, lovely, good report! Do the things that you have heard of the Gospel! And the peace of God will be with you. Keep your mind focused on the Lord our God. Have His peace that passeth all understanding and your minds and hearts will be kept through Christ!

No Other Name

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

~Acts 4:12, KJV

That seems pretty simple to me. There aren’t multiple names or different gods you can be saved under. There is only one name given to us that we can be saved by. 

I’m sure people will always find a way to argue but I cling to the Holy book that was divinely inspired as the foundation of my faith and way of living and it says there is no other way. So I fully believe that going under the blood of CHRIST specifically is the only way to be saved.

Incredible Love

It always mystifies me how the Lord can love us, humans, so dearly.

We consistently fall below standards and we are usually proud, boastful, and arrogant, yet He loves us. It's not just the kind of love you might have for a close pet or a good friend either, it's a passionate, deep, unfathomable love. A love so deep and wide He sent His only begotten son to die on a cross for the sins of humanity.

A love so tender and caring that though we are like ants compared to Him, He wants to have personal relationships with each of us. A love so great that He will cast our horrendous sins into the sea of forgetfulness and hold us close even though we are those that killed His son.

A love so vast and all-encompassing, I can't even begin to imagine or describe it. It's incredible.

Grace Intrigued Revamped

Hey everyone,

I wanted to let everyone know that I'm revamping my blog.

My husband tells me my blog doesn't have enough of a focus so instead of writing about all different sorts of things I'm going to write about Christ on this blog.

I will still do author quotes on my Grace Marshall Facebook page and I will write about horses and animals on my blog horsestampede.blogspot.com.

Here on this blog I will post Bible verses, talk about Christ, and put thoughts and insights about God.

~Grace

Decked Out Churches

My husband and I were driving a few weeks back and we went past a church that was under construction and guess what they were constructing? A water slide.

There is just something about these churches with all their sports, and gymnasiums, and slides, that is really starting to get to me. I mean how many people are getting saved through their soccer games? How many people are meeting Jesus because "Whoo! That water slide was so thrilling!"?

The main factor of all of it that bothers me is the fact that churches make the majority of their money through donations. So those members that give money to further the gospel are getting it funneled into a water slide. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything wrong with soccer games, volleyball games, gyms, and slides. I also think that churchgoers need to have fun and putting a little bit of money here or there into some activities isn't bad. However, when that is the main focus and when people are solely going to church for the 'activities', what good is it doing? The might as well go to a recreation center.

However, when the majority of those "non-profit" donations are going into recreational activities, the churches have a serious problem. When did churches no longer become about preaching the gospel but sheer numbers? Personally, I would rather attend a church with 10 people that are actually going to church to have an encounter with Christ, then to a church with 100 people and only 10 are going for an encounter with Christ.

What happened to witnessing for Christ? When did it become witnessing for your church? Frankly I don't care if by witnessing to someone my church gets one more member if they aren't saved. I would rather them go to someone else's church as long as they find the truth. I don't care what church a person goes to, as long as the church is preaching the truth and the person is going to the church to hear the truth.

Maybe if all the money going to extravagant buildings, structures, and recreational activities went into furthering the gospel of Christ, there would be more people hearing the gospel and changing their lives. Why not take some of that money and send someone on a missions trip or fund a mission already in progress? Why not take some of that money and feed the widows and orphans? Why not take some of that money and clothe the naked? "An the King will answer them, I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for me." -Matthew 25:40.

Churches shouldn't just be social events, they should be saving events. This is a cry to the churches of America, please get back to the gospel. Please put the funds that the church receives back into furthering the reach of the Kingdom of God. Please stop worrying about your 'public rating' and stop caring if the world thinks your building is pretty and get back to the basics! God isn't going to give you brownie points for having a pretty building, but you will find favor in His eyes for helping those that can't help themselves.