Loved & Made Worthy

28. Experiencing God, Grace, and Freedom

I’m not sure we’re capable of understanding the depths of God’s grace. No matter how much we learn about Jesus, no matter how much we have forgiven, no matter how much we forgive others. Sure, all of those things give us great perspective and one step closer to grasping the concept of all-consuming grace, but I don’t believe we have the brain space to understand just exactly how gracious God has been with us.   And yet, even in our shallow understanding, even in our humanness, God grants us this level of grace that is truly life changing. But not just during the time we spend on this earth, no, this grace echoes into eternity.   Let’s talk about it.   Send me a message: lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com [lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com] Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share [https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share] Get a Bible Reading Companion: https://amzn.to/3Q37j76 [https://amzn.to/3Q37j76] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Eph 2:8-9 ESV - For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.   Rom 5:8 ESV - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Act 15:11 ESV - But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."   1Pe 5:10 ESV - And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.   Rom 6:14 ESV - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

27. Glorifying God Above All: The Call to Reflect His Majesty

Can you imagine what it was like to be Moses, standing on Mt. Sinai in the presence of God’s glory? Or even Aaron and the Israelites watching as Moses descended from the mountain with his whole face glowing, a reflection of God’s glory.   I’ve always wondered what it would be like to see Moses after this encounter and how I would react. Would it be with fear? With awe?   The truth is, it doesn’t really matter. But it does make me wonder: do I stand face to face with God’s glory today, in my everyday life, and reflect that back into the world?   Or do I try to keep a little of that glory for myself? And because I tend toward people-pleasing, do I glorify others in place of or in addition to God?   What about you? How do you handle God’s glory?   Some big questions. Let’s talk about it. Send me a message: lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com [lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com] Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share [https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share] Get a Bible Reading Companion: https://amzn.to/3Q37j76 [https://amzn.to/3Q37j76] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Isa 6:3 ESV - And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"   Exo 33:18-23 ESV - Moses said, "Please show me your glory." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."   Exo 34:5-7 ESV - The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."   Psa 19:1 ESV - To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.   1Co 10:31 ESV - So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

26. Rooted in God’s Truth: The Battle Against Lies and Deception

God is true.   And his truth is our standard. In a world where lies and deception are prevalent, we have to be rooted in the truth of God's word because the enemy seeks to undermine God's truth at every turn by spreading lies and confusion.   In John 8:44, Jesus describes Satan as the father of lies. Satan seeks to deceive us and lead us away from the truth of God's word, and unfortunately he is successful all too often.   But not all hope is lost. God gives us tools to fight against it.   God's truth is our shield and our protection.   Let’s talk about it. Send me a message: lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com [lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com] Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share [https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share] Get a Bible Reading Companion: https://amzn.to/3Q37j76 [https://amzn.to/3Q37j76] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Psalm 117:2 - "For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!"   John 8:32 - "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."   John 8:44 - "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."   John 14:6 - "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'"   Ephesians 4:15 - "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ."   1 Timothy 2:13 - "if we are faithless, he remains faithful—for he cannot deny himself."   John 1:14 - "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."   1 John 5:20 - "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."

25. Resting in God’s Patience

God is patient.   This truth is displayed over and over again throughout the entirety of scripture, but I’m willing to bet you also see this in your lifeIn episode 22 we talked about how God is Love.   We know this, we see it all over the bible, but in 1 John 4:8 it says, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”   So follow this thread with me: God is love. It is a defining factor of who he is.   But what if we’re trying to define love? In 1 Corinthians 13 it lists out all the things that love is and is not. In verse 4 it says, “love is patient and kind”   So if God is love and love is patient, then it would stand to reason that God is patient.   But where does this show up in scripture? And what does that mean for us?   Stick around and let’s talk about it.   Send me a message: lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com [lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com] Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share [https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share] Get a Bible Reading Companion: https://amzn.to/3Q37j76 [https://amzn.to/3Q37j76] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 1 John 4:8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.   1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

24. Engaging in God’s Wisdom

God is wise and grants that wisdom freely. How are you engaging in that wisdom once it’s granted?   Send me a message: lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com [lovedandmadeworthy@gmail.com] Join the Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share [https://www.facebook.com/groups/lovedandmadeworthy/?ref=share] Get a Bible Reading Companion: https://amzn.to/3Q37j76 [https://amzn.to/3Q37j76] Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good New Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Psa 111:10 ESV - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!   1Co 1:30 ESV - And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,   Jas 1:5 ESV - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.   1Ki 4:29-30 ESV - And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.   1Ki 11:1-13