Where is the lamb?

Due to circumstances in my life I find it very hard to trust people. I think to some degree all of us have been let down and dissapointed by others. My trust is not something I give easily. This not being able to trust is something that has leaked into my willingness to trust God. It is something that I constantly have to work on. I am reminded of the verse that says "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." My strength does not come from myself, therefore I can do nothing on my own. It is necessary that I trust God. I love the story of Abraham and Isaac. God tells Abraham to go to the mountain and sacrifice his son (Gen 22). He doesn't tell him which mountain, he just says go and I will show you. Abraham takes his son and wood and some servants and he leaves. I can't imagine what must have been going through his mind. He was going to have to sacrifice his son that he loved so much. Well, when they get to the mountain he leaves behind his servants and takes Isaac with him. I love this part of the story because Isaac asks, "Where is the lamb?" and Abraham replies, "God will provide one." It was a circle of trust. Abraham was trusting God to provide and Isaac was trusting his father. Then comes the test...Abraham binds Isaac and lays him on the altar and just as he is about to kill him the angel of the Lord stops him. We can read the rest of the story and know that a ram was provided. I love this story because we see how God called Abraham to lay what was most important to him on the altar of sacrifice. It shows me that it is not always easy to trust God, but it is so important. Because Abraham obeyed God and trusted him, God was able to bless him in a mighty way. I encourage you to place yourself and all of your wants and desires on the altar of sacrifice. See what God can do...

I love Grace!

Yesterday I was driving home from work and having been sick all day I wasn't paying attention to how fast I was going. The only thing I could think of was getting home and going to bed. As I looked in my rear view mirror I noticed the flicker of blue and red lights. I was being pulled over, for the first time in my life, for speeding. The police officer came to my window and asked to see my driver's license and proof of insurance. Then he asked me if I knew I was going ten miles over the speed limit. I said no. Then he asked me what was my hurry. I told him I had been sick all day and just wanted to get home. He took my license and insurance to his car and while he was gone I began preparing myself to get my first ticket. I watched as he walked back to my car, handed me my license, and told me to slow down and feel better. I was amazed, I told him thank you and went ten miles under the speed limit the whole way home.

I was reminded through this experience of God's grace. I completely deserved to get a ticket yesterday. That police officer had every right to fine me for breaking the law, but instead he chose to show me grace. Grace can be defined as unmerited favor, or something we don't deserve. God tells us in Romans 5:8, But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. We are all undeserving of God's grace. We are all guilty of breaking his law. Romans 3:10 tells us, As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one. All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We are all lost in our sins if we do not have Christ. If Christ had not provided a way to eternal life by his death, then we would all be condemned to hell for eternity. I am in love with God's grace. I do not deserve it, I did nothing to get it. It is a gift of his that he gives us. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. It is a gift that God offers freely to all men. If you have never prayed and asked God to forgive you of your sins and to come into your heart, why don't you do it right now. You don't have to pray a fancy prayer, just talk to God, admit to him that you are a sinner in need of a savior, believe that he sent his son, Jesus, to die on the cross for your sin, and then confess your sin to him. Fall in love with Grace, it is an amazing gift.