​The title for my blog is Grace Notes.  You may ask why this title? 
 
First, of all, my name is Grace.   I was born on a Tuesday night in 1942 and we had church service on that night. At that time, Dad’s were not allowed in the delivery room when a baby was born.  So,nmy Dad was in church (where else would he be?) and at the time that I was born the congregation was singing the hymn: "Grace, Grace, God’s Grace".  Even though my parents had another name picked out for me, my Dad believed that God had my name picked out and so I was named Grace. 
 
Secondly, I have played the piano since I was 6 years old and there is a phrase “grace note” that is found in music theory.  The character and effect of a grace note is determined by the tempo and style of the music. The idea is to use a grace note to give its main note a little lift. The best grace notes are those that are a half-step or a whole step away from the full melody note.
 
Thirdly, I made a commitment to Christ when I was young and as I grew in the work of the Lord I then understood His Grace and Mercy in my life. 
 
So what does the Grace of God really mean? We speak of it often but it is very difficult to understand.  We are told that it is unmerited favor. That means we did not deserve it but we received it anyhow because of His love! There is nothing we can do to make God love us more.  There is nothing we can do to make God love us less.  It is a mind- boggling thought that the eternal, all- powerful God loves us in spite of who we are…enough to die for us:
 
For scarcely for a Righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God Commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:7-8 KJV).

For those of us who are Christians, who are Believers, God’s Grace brings salvation.  If we had all the wealth of the world we could not pay for one drop of the precious blood of Jesus Christ.  God’s Grace is available to ALL.  There is no class distinction, no culture or creed exemption.  God’s Grace is accessible and obtainable for everyone.

Grace is Chesed in Hebrew which means decency, mercy and the goodness of the Lord.   Grace is Charis in the Greek and it means grace, kindness and life.  Jesus is God's Grace.  Grace is all about what Jesus accomplished when He came to earth.  Grace is putting faith in what Jesus has done.  Grace is choosing to believe in the good news. Grace is putting my trust in what Jesus has done for me on the cross of Calvary.  Grace is not what I do for Him.  Grace is receiving the finished work of Jesus.  Remember we are living the Christian life and serving the Lord by the Grace of God.

Grace is one of the most important subjects in the whole of scripture because it is by God’s Grace that we are saved and it is through Grace; through God’s help, that we are able to continue our Christian journey
 
(Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace (Goodness of God) are ye Saved through Faith (Faith in Christ); and that not of yourselves (None of this is us); it is the gift of God (Gift speaks of Jesus His Son and His work on the Cross): Not of works (Man cannot earn Salvation), lest any man should boast (No boasting in ourselves only boasting in the Cross).
 
In his book, What’s So Amazing About Grace? Philip Yancey, tells something that happened during a British conference on comparative religions.  The title of the chapter is Lovesick Father.  He tells that there were experts from around the world and they were debating the question:  Was there any belief that was unique to the Christian faith?  They eliminated some topics such as Incarnation, Resurrection but the debate went on for quite a while until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room.  He heard the commotion going on so he asked what his colleagues were discussing.  They asked what is Christianity’s unique contribution among the world religions.  Lewis responded, “Oh, that is easy.  It is grace.”
 
Wow they all agreed that the notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. All the other world religions have strings attached such as: The Buddhist eight-fold path, the Hindu doctrine of karma, the Jewish covenant, the Muslim code of law-each of these offers a way to clear approval.  Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional!
 
In the Bible a man by the name of Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and basically asked Jesus: Who are You that You do these miracles except that God be with You.  Jesus answered and said: Verily, verily I say unto you except a man a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.   Nicodemus was trying to understand born again but he could only relate to it that he already had a natural birth. Jesus told him yes, that man has a natural birth but man (that includes women) must also have a Spiritual Birth which comes by Faith in Jesus Christ and what He has done for us at the Cross.
 
If you are reading this blog and believe that you have messed up your life so badly then you are reading the right article.  Go to God and tell Him that you have messed up your life.  He already knows it because He has been watching you your entire life and He knows that you have wasted your years and it is time for you to come to yourself have a talk with yourself and the Lord and say “Lord I really need your forgiveness. “ There is not one prayer that saves it is the repentance and faith behind the words that lays hold of salvation.  It is all about repentance and faith.  Get before the Lord and admit that you are a sinner, ask for forgiveness, believe that Jesus died for you on that cross and that Jesus rose from the dead.  Invite Jesus to come into your life and your heart.  Trust and follow Him as your Lord and Savior.

Has anyone noticed that we Americans have become an ungrateful people?  Even though we live in one of the top 11 wealthiest countries in the world; we seem to be hearing and seeing people always complaining and whining.  Even when we do get some things, it is never enough.  Our attitude is, “Well, it’s about time I received something; however, others still have more than me.”  In our culture, we are constantly bombarded with messages that say we MUST get the next newest thing: a car, cell phone, computer and even the next wife or husband.   It is the cause for dissatisfaction among American Christians although we already have more than we need!  This is referred to as an Entitlement Mentality.

As Christians we either believe that everything is from the Lord or it isn’t.  In Nahum 1:7 “The Lord is good, a stronghold in a day of distress; He cares for those who take refuge in Him.”   Unfortunately, in this world there are many things designed to distract us from the graciousness of God. That means we must learn to cultivate a mindset of looking for God’s goodness in the mess of our lives. Remember that all things are not good. However, God makes all things work to the good for those that love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).  Don’t be distracted by the things you see and hear on radio, television and newspapers. As Believers we are to set our eyes on the goodness of God in Jesus, this will give us a reason to be grateful!! When we see how gracious God is then gratitude is our natural response!
A grateful attitude doesn’t happen by accident which means it is to be a habit of attitude and action so make it part of your daily routine.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 it says: 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Psalm 100 says: Serve the Lord God with gladness. Gladness here means delight, overflowing joy, festivity, mirth or laughter. You can’t serve God with grumbling inactivity.
 
Let me give you an example of what I mean.  German pastor Martin Rinkart served in the walled town of Eilenburg during the horrors of the Thirty Years War from 1618-1648. Eilenburg became an overcrowded refuge for the surrounding area. The fugitives suffered from epidemic and famine. At the beginning of 1637, the year of the Great Pestilence, there were four ministers in Eilenburg. However, one abandoned his post for healthier areas and could not be persuaded to return. Pastor Rinkhart officiated at the funerals of the other two.
 
As the only pastor left, he often conducted funeral services for all those who died- about  5000 in all. In May of that year, his own wife died. By the end of the year, the refugees had to be buried in trenches without services.
 
In the face of overwhelming pressure, constant risk and horrendous conditions, Rinkart never stopped ministering to the people of his city. He gave away nearly everything he owned to the poor and needy, though he could barely clothe and feed his own children. He mortgaged his own future income to provide for his family and his community.
 
After nearly thirty years of ceaseless struggles, it began to look like peace was within reach. Wanting to give his children a song to sing to God in thanks at the dinner table, Rinkart sat down and composed what would become one of the most well known hymns of all time — “Now Thank We All Our God"
 
Yet, while living in a world dominated by death, Rinkart wrote this timeless prayer for his children—a reminder to be grateful to God for all things, at all times:
                    Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices;
                    Who wondrous things hath done, In whom this world rejoices.
                    Who, from our mother’s arms, Hath led us on our way,
                    With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.

Life is a gift from God to be lived for God. When our mouths are full of thankfulness they can’t be full of grumbling, whining and complaining.

Being ungrateful can be deadly to our spiritual life, for it hurts God and damages our soul. Being ungrateful to Jesus means discounting his salvation and turning away from Him. That’s why the Bible teaches us to carefully examine our hearts. Only by looking to the cross of Christ can we attain God-pleasing thankfulness.

Choose wisely!

We are living in difficult and hateful times and we are all witnessing the viciousness, evil and cruelty that is going on in this world.  It is a good time for each of us to ask, am I being influenced by the culture?  Am I becoming an encourager or a discourager? 

Discouragers cause walls of division between people; but we forget that we need the support of one another. 

Do we major in encouragement (building people up) or in discouragement (tearing people down)? 

Do we nag and harass our family and friends about their weaknesses or do we praise them for their strengths?  

When you enter a room or people see you at the shopping mall;  do they avoid you because they know you have an ever ready list of the faults of everyone and anyone?  Or do people cheer because you are a bright light of sunshine...one of those gracious gifts of God who sees the good in people...even in some people where something good is hard to find.  Well, are you an encourager or a discourager?

I remember reading a true story when Lou Gehrig, the great baseball hero, was starting his baseball career.  He went into a slump and grew so discouraged he was thinking of quitting.   After several bad games, he doubted his talent and ability, and his spirits collapsed.  A friend heard that he was in a slump, and he took a train to Hartford, Connecticut, and invited Lou to join him for a steak dinner.  During that dinner Lou poured out his frustrations, and his friend could see that the player’s confidence was shot.  So his friend spent the evening telling Lou that all hitters go through slumps, that even Ty Cobb failed to get hits six or seven times out of every ten tries.  But he told him that eventually good hitters start hitting again, and his friend reminded him that he was a good hitter.  After dinner Gehrig walked with his friend to the train station and thanked him for coming.  The next day, Lou started blasting the ball again, and over the next eleven games he came through with twenty-two hits, including six home runs-and his career took off.  He decided not to quit after all.
 
Yes, we are all entitled to our own opinions but remember what Grandma used to say?  “If you don’t have anything nice to say, Don’t say anything at all?”    Be the hand that lifts someone up when they have fallen.   Be the hug or the smile that someone needs when they have no one else. Lend a listening ear when someone needs to talk. You never know YOU just might be that person who keeps someone from committing suicide or doing something that they really shouldn’t be doing! Be someone’s blessing.
 
 
Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will never forget you. - William Arthur Ward

I recently watched the funeral of the Reverend Billy Graham, as did many millions of others around the world. As a Christian it did my heart good to see how the family reacted to his death.  Yes, they were sad that he was gone but there was an attitude of celebration, a spirit of hope.  Most funerals and most lives today are perpetuating a spirit of hopelessness.  Many non-Christian people are sensing for the first time a genuine hopelessness.  Anxiety is all around us as we see terrorist attacks, political fanaticism, social unrest, hate and evil in front of our faces.
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What hope can there possibly be for a better world for our children, grandchildren and even our great grandchildren?  Where can we find new hope for the present, let alone our future? Where can our friends, family, and neighbors turn for hope? The Bible fully understands that hope is vital to all living people.  Proverbs 13:12 (KJV) says:  Hope deferred makes the heart sick; but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.  Hope outside of Christ is never realized. Yes, there are so many ways that hope is shattered: sickness, disaster, divorce, violence, debt, addictions, crime, bereavement, defeat, disappointments.  These all seem to be symptoms of our modern society and are affecting millions of people, depriving them of peace, happiness and ultimately hope.
 
In the New Testament the Greek word for hope means the happy anticipation of good.  As a Christian we not only have a hope by which to live but we also have a hope by which to die.  Hope is the absolute certainty we have that God is good and that His promises are true.  Hope is actually personalized in Jesus himself, He is our hope!

              Colossians 1:27 …….Christ in you, the hope of glory (all made possible by the Cross).
 
So wake up Christians because this world needs people with a confident hope. Not a misplaced hope but a secure hope. The words of Jesus himself teach us that things are going to get worse before they get better, especially for the Christian.  There is no chapter or verse in the entire Bible that says that God’s people are expected to live dictated to by world circumstances, NO, but there are many verses that tell us that we are to live by the principles and promises of God’s kingdom.  We have the greatest hope of all in Titus 2:13 (KJV) Looking for that Blessed Hope --the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.  We have a confident expectation that our lives and futures are in the hands of the One greater than the worlds strongest and most awful leaders.  Other men see only a hopeless end; but the Christian rejoices in an endless hope.
 
Listen to the David Crowder song All Our Hope Is In Jesus.   It is a good reminder of what the Bible says about Hope.
 
Christians rejoice in the God of hope, for our hope is a deep, internal certainty rooted in our trust of what God has said.              
                                                                      CHOOSE WISELY!