prayer – Ribbons and Lace

Being a Grace Giver

September 10, 2024 Emilydvsn

If you’re anything like me, giving grace isn’t always on your radar. I’m a grudge holder. I point out others’ faults, and I am normally the last to extend grace. But this isn’t how Jesus wants us to live.

Matthew 6:15 says, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
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That verse always stops me. I want to be forgiven, so I know I must extend grace to others. I must be a grace giver like Jesus. I have to extend grace to those around me.

I normally can justify all the reasons why I don’t extend grace starting with, they don’t deserve it.

Neither did I. When Jesus went to the cross for my sins, He knew how badly I would mess up and need forgiveness. And guess what? He knew about you too. But He went anyway. He extended undeserved grace to you and me.

Now it’s our turn. We get to be grace givers to those around us. We get to extend grace so that others can see the light of Jesus.

We are grace givers not only to those outside our homes, but also to those inside. That’s when it becomes the hardest. We see all of their faults. Trust me, I am quick to point out all the mistakes made by others.

But today I challenge you to be a grace giver. Inside and outside of our homes, let’s extend undeserved grace to those around us. We can extend this grace because Jesus has extended it to us.

If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior and you’ve never received His grace, you can do that today.

Just follow the ABCs:

A – First, admit you are a sinner. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

B – Second, believe Jesus died on the cross for your sins. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

C – Last, confess Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9-10 says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

If you want to pray to receive Jesus today, pray this prayer below:

Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe you are the Son of God and that you died on the cross to save me. I confess You as my Lord and Savior and ask you to be Lord of my life. Amen.

If you accepted Jesus today or you just want to talk, I’d love to hear from you. Click the link below.

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Choose His Forgiveness

August 11, 2024 Emilydvsn

This morning I had an ah-ha moment as I was reading Priscilla Shirer’s book The Resolution for Women. This book is broken up into twelve resolutions and then individual chapters. I am now on the resolution about forgiveness.

This whole section has spoken to me quite a bit because forgiveness is something I struggle with at times. Today, though, stood out to me more than any other.

She tells the story of a girl asking how you forgive yourself. It’s a question I’ve asked and wandered myself more times than I can count. How do I get ride of the shame? Her answer hit me to my core.

She told the girl simply, you can’t.

You can’t forgive yourself.

Only Jesus can.

And if we have accepted His gift of salvation, then He has forgiven us. Romans 8:1 says,“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
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That guilt and shame you and I feel is from the devil. If you are a child of God, you have been forgiven. Jesus took it all upon Him when He died on the cross for us. You are not responsible for forgiving yourself.

Psalms 103:12 says, “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” We must choose to accept His forgiveness and live in freedom with Him.
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If you’re looking for a great book for women, I recommend the one above!

If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, I’d love to talk to you.

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Finding Joy in the Pain

February 8, 2024 Emilydvsn

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 2 Corinthians 4:17

Our church has been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I can remember reading this book early in my Christian walk and not fully understanding or grasping everything he was saying. As I read through it a second time, I’m blown away at the times God speaks to me.

Today, I read the chapter “Transformed by Trouble”. This chapter really hit home with me. I feel like when live in a culture today where we measure other people’s godliness by how much stuff they have equating that to God’s blessings. But that is such a distorted view of God’s Word.

Joni Eareckson Tada said, “When life is rosy, we may slide by with knowing about Jesus, with imitating him and quoting him and speaking of him. But only in suffering will we know Jesus.” If everything is always good, why would we need a Savior? It in the pain and suffering that grow.

Rick Warren uses an example of a jeweler to illustrate how His use’s circumstances to hammer away at our impurities. Now, I’ve never been hit with a hammer, but it can’t feel too great. The Bible uses the term “refiner’s fire” to show how God makes us like Him. This is another example of how pain forms and molds us.

We can’t rely on prosperity gospel in our Christian walk. When we think of the people in the Bible who were highly favored, they were nobody in the world’s eyes. There’s even a prostitute in the lineage of Jesus! God will use our past, our sins, our hurts, and our regrets to transform us if we will let Him.

James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” So, today I’m going to look at my circumstances differently. I’m going to trust God’s plan and purpose for my life. I know He is working all things out.

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For God’s Purpose

January 17, 2024 Emilydvsn

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Romans 11:36

This school year has been difficult to say the least. I’ve questioned everything I know, and I’ve spent more hours at home trying to help students understand the material. I have students this year that just don’t care. These aren’t students who can’t do. They just don’t want to do.

I’ve done everything I know to do from taking away recess to giving lunch detention and calling home. I’ve reached out to administration to no avail. I feel lost. And yet if these students don’t do the work, they don’t learn. Then that is reflected in state testing.

I’ve cried more and been more frustrated than I have in a long time. Then I began reading the book, The Purpose Driven Life. As I came to Day 7: The Purpose of Everything, this verse was at the top. As I read through the chapter, I couldn’t help but think about my students.

We are all here for a purpose, God’s purpose. No matter how frustrated or upset I get, I must remember that God created them for His purpose. In the moment, this can be so hard, but there are ways to remember they are God’s workmanship.

1. Pray for your students.

This is something I have started todo each and every day. I pray before I come to school. I pray during our moment of silence, and sometimes I even pray throughout the day when things get hard.

2. Take a deep breath.

Sometimes when I’m so frustrated, I need to walk away from the situation. This helps me remind myself to give grace to my kiddos. Even on the hard and trying days, I give grace because Jesus gave me grace.

3. Know your students personally.

One thing I began last year was circle up time. We make a big circle and pass a bear around. When you have the bear, you share something you did the night before or over the weekend. This opens the lines of communication, and if I ever forget, they remind me. I’ve also started going to my students’ ball games. They love when I show up to support them.

All of these things help me remember they are created for God’s purpose and so am I. I am asking God to see others as He sees them. I am striving to live my life surrendered to Him.

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The Miracle in the Storm

March 9, 2023 Emilydvsn

Forty years You sustained them in the wilderness; They lacked nothing; Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. Nehemiah 9:21

I have been reading through my Bible again this year. I’ve done it several times, and every time, the Lord reveals something to me I haven’t noticed before. Part of my reading each day is the Old Testament while the other is in the New. Right now, I’m reading through Numbers. If you’ve never read Numbers, it’s not exactly the most exciting book of the Bible.

But today I could hear God speaking. I could hear him tell me that there are miracles in the storms. If you haven’t studied much about the Israelite people, let me just tell you that they didn’t always have things easy. After God delivered them from slavery in Egypt, they then spent the next 40 years wandering the desert before they could enter the Promised Land.

However, even in that waiting, even in what seemed like a storm, God sustained them and loved them. He showed them His goodness and mercy. He gave them manna from heaven to eat and their clothes never wore out.

God still does the same for us. Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Our God doesn’t change. We serve a good God and a big God. He will see us through whatever we are facing.

Right now, my family is under attack. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” This is a spiritual attack, although it looks carnal if we focus on it. I know this has to be fought on our knees, and I know the Lord will see us through.

Genesis 50:20 says, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” This is what Joseph says after he was thrown in prison for being falsely accused of rape by Potiphar’s wife. God took that situation and moved him to an even higher position as second in command to pharaoh. God performed a miracle in that storm.

So many times we look at our bad situations and think we’re being punished or that God must not love us, but that simply does not line up with Scripture. James 1:2-3 says, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” So many faithful men and women in the Bible endured things we find unfathomable. However, God’s glory shined every time.

You, too, maybe walking through a storm like us. Sometimes God will calm that storm and it’s over quickly. Other times, that storm seems to rock your whole world. However, you have to keep your feet grounded in Christ. He will keep you and sustain you. Instead of asking God, “Why?” start asking, “What?” What is God doing in this situation? How will He use this for His glory?

I believe we will see miracles through our situation. I believe we will see God work in a mighty way. I believe His glory will shine. We serve a big, big God who loves us. He can do big things if we allow Him to. I’m ready to receive His miracles through this storm.

If you’re going through something in your life right now, I’d be glad to pray with you. Let me know in the comments below.

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It’s All About a Relationship

December 8, 2018December 9, 2018 Emilydvsn

Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Galatians 4:7

I have spent my whole life in the church. I can remember my Grandma carrying me to revivals at her charismatic church, while we attended somewhere much more reserved. We eventually changed churches, hopping from one denomination to another. Nothing shocks me in worship, as I’ve experienced it already at some point in my life.

But sometimes, we can become numb. Even though, I have experienced true worship with my Savior, I still sometimes feel as though I’m going through the motions. This morning while doing my Beth Moore Bible study. I became convicted. This Bible study is going through the Psalm of Ascents, and today we were talking about hardships. Sometimes those hardships move us to push God away, and our worship becomes less than authentic. We want to keep Him at a safe distance, but not too far away.

It’s all about a relationship.

That’s what I could hear Him whisper in my spirit. No matter what is going on in our lives, we should bring it all to Him. The great thing about being in a relationship with our Savior is that He allows us to give it all to Him.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

He tells us to come to Him. Come to Him when your world is falling apart. Come to Him when life is messy. Come to Him when your heart is in a million pieces. Come to Him because He already knows. He’s not surprised by your anger or your fear or your doubt. He wants you to give it all to Him, so He can begin to heal you.

We don’t understand all that God does. Isaiah 55:8 says, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” However, part of being in a relationship, is being able to voice those things we don’t understand.

We need to realize that God is here for us. We don’t always understand Him, nor will we until we get to heaven. We need to realize that salvation isn’t just fire insurance. It’s so much more. He is inviting us into a real relationship with Him, an authentic relationship.

If you don’t have a true relationship with my Savior today, and want to know how to do that, please reach out to me. There is nothing greater than a real relationship with the Creator of the universe!

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In His Presence

December 7, 2018December 7, 2018 Emilydvsn

You will show the path life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalms 16:11

Some days are just hard. Not because of anything particularly disturbing. It’s just that, right now, with little kids, I feel like I’m in the trenches. Today was a hard day, and I just feel defeated. After taking off and lugging three kids to the dentist, the doctor for flu shots, and to Kroger with a screaming toddler, I’m exhausted. I haven’t been able to do much more. As I sat and listened to Ann Elizabeth read her devotional, I realized that my joy and hope do not rely on my outward circumstances.

I know that my Spirit is renewed when I spend time in the presence of my Savior. You see, when I really spend time with Him, my shift focuses. I’m no longer focused on me and my situation. I can’t if I’m truly in His presence. It becomes all about Him.

Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalms 95:2

You see, when you come before the God of creation, you become humbled. You realize that whatever is happening in your life is minuscule in the grand scheme of things. You begin to worship, and your worship begins to change things. In Joshua 6, God tells His people to march around the walls of Jericho once a day for six days. On the seventh day, they were commanded to march seven times. On the seventh time around, the priests were to blow the trumpets, and then the people were to shout. On that seventh day, the walls of Jericho fell down flat. When we praise Him, strongholds begin to fall.

I realized tonight that even though,my day turned out less than ideal, that all I needed was time with my Savior. Acts 3:19 says, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.” I know that my spirit is truly refreshed when I’m in His presence. I just have to take it all to Him.