March 2017 - Page 2 of 3 - GraceAndWorks

I suppose as you read this title, many thoughts came to mind. I look  around the neighborhood and see signs in many yards that advertised their home is protected by security systems. That’s all well and fine, however, they are not fail proof. We put new tires on our vehicles to protect us when driving down the road, however, there may be flaws and they are not fail proof. I’m sure some of you thought about safe sex when you saw the title, however, what ever the protection, it is not fail proof. We can put safeguards on our bank accounts and credit cards, however, those safeguards are not fail proof. We go to the doctor for checkups to make sure we are OK, however, no matter what he does or says, he can’t make our health fail proof. We have police on our streets and in our neighborhoods to keep us safe and protect us, however, they can’t guarantee our safety because they may not be there when you need them. We lock our doors on our homes, cars, and businesses to protect us and our belongings, however, a thief can nearly always break in and those locks aren’t fail safe. The list could go on and on, but I think you get the idea.

There is one protection that IS fail proof. God!! In Ephesians Chapter Six  verses 10-20, it talks about putting on the full armor of God. Firemen, policemen, and soldiers put on armor to protect themselves, however that is not what Paul is talking about in this letter. He says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may stand against the wiles of evil.” Verse 14 tells us to gird your waist with truth (God’s Word-The Bible) and put on the breastplate of righteousness (doing as God commands to live the right life). These verses also tell us to always be prepared with the Gospel of Peace (God’s word). Above all take the shield of FAITH, so you can stop all the evil you will encounter.  Take the “helmet” of salvation and the “sword” of the Spirit, which is the word of God; Pray always with prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Now be watchful to the end with all perseverance and steadfastness in the Word. The full armor of God: The Bible, Faith, and righteousness living.

God will protect you. He IS fail proof!!

Have a good day all!! Please share if you like this blog.

I was listening to a talk sports radio show in my car a couple days ago and they were talking about how bad the Referees were. One guy said he really didn’t want to say anything bad about the refs, but he asked, “How many times have you heard someone say, Those Refs tonight were really good?” I started laughing and about drove off the road. The more I thought about it , the more it became true to me. Every since kids were old enough to play pee-wee baseball, flag foot ball, or grade school basketball, all they have heard is someone complaining about the Refs. Why as adults would they not be the same way?

Referees have a lot of control in ball games. It’s college “March Madness” time so let’s just look at basketball for the moment. Refs call fouls, and if you get 5 before the end of the game, you are ejected and can’t play anymore in that game. They make judgement calls on a lot of the fouls, traveling, etc. They are only human after all. They will make mistakes. Then there are technical fouls. If you done something bad enough to get “T’d Up”, most times it not real bad and then there are other times you could get ejected from the game and you can’t play anymore that night. Most refs just want to protect and enforce the rules of the game, others want to have control to the extent that it influences the outcome of the game. How ever one wants to look at it, Refs are inconsistent, will make bad calls and we as parents and fans are going to boo and complain (Especially if our team loses). “It’s the Refs fault” we say.

However there is one Referee that is consistent, fair, and will never make a bad decision. He is the same today as He was yesterday and He will still be the same tomorrow. He has rules to follow and will enforce them. He is full of Grace and Forgiveness. He won’t take you out of the game and make you sit on the bench. Quite the contrary, He wants you to keep on keeping on, fight the good fight, and finish the race to receive the crown of life. Of course, the Referee I’m talking about is God. Get to know Him, He’ll treat you right. The one Referee you don’t have to boo or complain about.

Have a good day all and SMILE God loves YOU!!

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I was looking at a neighbor’s tool shed the other day and it was piled to the ceiling with “Stuff”. I’d wager they don’t have much of an idea what is in there. I’m sure there are some of you in the same situation. Some, however know exactly what is in the shed. There are all kinds of things we put in there, fertilizer for the plants and yard, lawnmowers, tools, holiday supplies, clothes, pots and pans, hedge trimmers, extension cords, jumper cables, and the list goes on. There are times the shed needs cleaned out and you think to yourself, what am I going to do with all this “Stuff’? Maybe a yard sale? Maybe we’ll just give it to the garbage man? Maybe just give it away? After all one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. Whatever the case, it just has to be gone!!

Now for the REAL question. What about your personal tool shed? What do you have stored away? Grudges? Sorrow? Family issues? Job problems? Health issues? Money woes? Discouraged? Depressed? Drug/Alcohol problems? Homosexuality? Just what is in there? You can probably add to this list. Soooo, what to do? You need to clean house. Call the garbage man? NO. Have a sale? NO. Give them to someone else? NO. Who would want your problems? They certainly aren’t treasures for someone else!!.

After you have given this much thought, you call on God. You start talking to Him through prayer and one by one He accepts your garbage. Pretty soon you have your “house” cleaned. God will never leave you or forsake you no matter how bad things seem to be. Get all the stress out of your life!! Start now and you’ll be surprised how quick God has all the issues and you are free from the burdens.

Have a good day all. SMILE God loves YOU!!