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.

Pray?

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." We are at a pivotal time in our nations history. The decisions that will be made in the next few days will forever change our lives. The United States of America is in a spiritual state of emergency and it is imperative that we as Christians prepare for battle. If God is for us who can stand against us? First of all though, we must have our hearts right before him. We must not shirk our duty to pray and seek his help. We must always remember God does not play favorites...we must be on our knees humble asking him to help us. I want to encourage each of you to not be overcome by evil, but rather overcome evil with good. The days ahead look dark and it doesn't seem like there is much hope, but God brings hope to the hopeless. Pray for our country, pray for our leaders, pray for the people of the united states of America, that God would open our eyes to our wickedness. We can not survive without his hand of grace. We must pray, we must repent, we must seek his face, and we must do all we can to reach a lost, dying country and world for HIM.