Got Trust?

Got milk? the ad asks. The implication is if you drink milk you'll enjoy all it's benefits.

Got TRUST? The same applies. Here are just a few examples. . .

Joy & peace - Rom 15:13 ~ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you TRUST in Him... . Anyone out there who doesn't want joy and peace?

Refuge - Nahum 1:7 ~ The Lord is good. When trouble comes, he is a strong refuge. And he knows everyone who trusts in him. Are you in some kind of trouble. TRUST him; he's the best refuge.

The Future - Ps 31: 14-15 ~ But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God!" My future is in your hands.

Freedom from fear - Ps 56:3-4 ~ But when I am afraid, I put my trust in you. O God, I praise your word. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?

Eternal security - 2 Tim 1:12 ~ ...I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.

There isn't much you can put your trust in today. But when you trust in God and his word, it's a sure thing. So ~ are you going to trust him ~ or not?

grace in ACTION usa application: the curriculum is still in the hands of the layout/graphics people...it must be printed and ready to ship to conference in a few days. Am I going to trust Him, or not?

What Difference Can I Make?

Yesterday, we had lunch with friends who minister among people in poverty in the Dominican Republic. "Pilotage International is a nonprofit, faith-based organization that teaches culturally relevant, economically sensitive and holistically integrated Biblical principles to help individuals discover their place in the world, develop their resources and positively impact their culture." Whew! The short version is they're trying to help them learn the value and use of money from a Biblical perspective.

As we shared our hearts for the poor, it was evident that at times, we each wonder, "What difference can I make?" The needs are so great and so overwhelming!

Then Charles told the story of a woman who served in the Dominican Republic for ten years. She was never able to learn the language or find ways to impact the lives of many of the nationals. But she faithfully taught the scriptures to three men who wanted to learn the Bible and English. Now those three are spiritual leaders in the D.R. "What difference did she make?"

What difference can you and I make in a world full of sin and poverty? Ask the Lord to give you a young person to invest your life in; teach him/her their value and purpose as a child of God; and help him/her acquire the life skills they need to "make a difference" in their world.

Let grace in ACTION usa help you make a difference.

Want to live "the good life?"

. . or A good life? Many choose THE good life.

In his second book, Peter describes the way to experience both. As I read this passage I thought, "I need to include this in the Leader's lessons on Character and Morals." Leaders are teens raised in poverty, for whom grace in ACTION usa is preparing the LifeTime Learning curriculum. But before we teach the teens, we must tell the Discoverers (5-8 year olds) how to become "Kids with Character" and then help the Achievers (9-12) see the benefits of living a good life so they can live the good life in the "Character Counts" lessons.

Here's how it works, according to 2 Peter 1:2-8. May God bless you with his special favor and wonderful peace as you come to know Jesus, our God and Lord, better and better. As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness. And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.

So make every effort to apply the benefits of these promises to your life. Then your faith will produce a life of moral excellence. A life of moral excellence leads to knowing God better. Knowing God leads to self-control. Self-control leads to patient endurance, and patience endurance leads to godliness. Godliness leads to love for other Christians, and finally you will grow to have genuine love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more you will become productive and useful in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Father, help us teach these precious children how to live a really good life." Amen.

You go, girl! Dream Big!

Louisa MayAlcott said, Far away, there in the sunshine, are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, believe in them, and try to follow where they lead.

I say ~ You go, girl! Dream big!!

Those words encouraged me this morning, at a time when I'm a bit discouraged by the struggle to reach the high aspirations of grace in ACTION usa. There is a force at work against me, stronger than gravity, and pulling me down ~ away from the big dreams. It's whispering, "Give up ~ you'll never make it."

How will we prevail against that pull? Keep looking up at the beauty of the goal...preparing children to become productive citizens.

Thank you, Miss Alcott, for the reminder. But here's an even better one, written by Paul, the apostle in Romans (15:13). May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hop by the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, today, I'll look up at our high aspirations and see their beauty in the sunshine!